The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks vent cables 63 chevy

What do you need to install vent cables w/knobs on truck that doesn't have them?

I suppose the easiest thing to do would be to just get a set of vents with cables. You may be able to convert the others but it would probably be more work. I've only seen the cable controlled vents on the '60-'62 trucks, but they may have been available in later years too. My '61 has them.

Are the mounts for the cables inside the covers? Ive seen the covers in some cabs. Ive got manual vents.

What covers do you mean?

Oh, OK now I remember what you're talking about. I forgot they had the louvered covers on them. If memory serves correctly, the outer sheath of the cable does mount to the cover and the end of the cable connects to the vent door. It's been a while since I looked at any, but I remember having to free up the ones on my '61. I also think I saved a pair off a '60 I parted out, but I'd probably have to ask Jesus to help me find them now. That's been like 15 years ago.

I made this swap on my '62.
The cable vents are a '60-'61 deal, in '62 they went to the hand lever style.
I found them in a junkyard truck and grabbed them. It's NOT a direct bolt-in, but close.

You'll need the vent assemblies from a '60-'61. Forget the cables, knobs and their mounting brackets. These are available new from LMC or other vendors--they're clean, shiny, not corroded, and actually work, so spend the money. They also come with the mounting brackets for the pull knobs.

the first thing you'll encounter is that the screw holes for the vent don't match up with the holes in the truck's kick-panels. You'll need to redrill new holes. Keep the holes small, because they attach with sheetmetal screws, and if you make the holes too big, the screws won't bite.

Then you'll have to mark a notch in the kick panel, for the cable to pass through. I didn't know that when I first did it. If you don't make the notch (under the louvered panel's mounting flange), the vent's panel will pinch the cable. I used a die grinder to cut the notch.

The cables/knobs from LMC give you plenty of extra length on the cable and sheath--you'll need to cut and trim both to fit. Trial and error for the length.

There are threaded holes under the dash (at least on my '62) for the knob brackets to screw into.

I love 'em... pulling the cable is a hundred times easier than trying to reach under the dash while driving down the road.

-Brad

Brad:

Thanks for the write-up. Very helpful.

yeah, thanks. I cant wait to install. Also...thanks to 4-5-6chevytrucks for helping find and mail the parts needed to complete the job.