It seems I read somewhere that some folks had used a motorcycle inner tube for the duct in the fresh air, heater system. Just wondered if anyone had done this and how it worked out for you. Seems like something I would try before spending eighty bucks with DC for the various pieces. Ralph
are you talking about under the hood/fenders or inside the car? Gates still makes the proper duct hose for inside, is why I ask. they sell it in lengths more than you actually need unless you're redoing ALL of it, and make mistakes.... cost me about 40 bucks. i'm a little awed by how extensive the '55/'56 defrost system is engineered.... when my Falcons made do with two tubes.
DO NOT buy these: http://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_mercury_late/air-duct-ventilator-connector-rubber-ford.html All the aftermarket vendors get them from Dennis Carpenter even Steele Rubber mine fell apart in less than 6 months ,total waste of money.Some guys on 54ford.com did the motorcycle tubes which are much thicker,check a local bike shop for used tubes the ducts are 4" diameter so the tubes should be these sizes to cut up: 4.00/4.60 X 16" or 4.00/5.10 X 18". The heater duct: http://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_mercury_late/heater-connector-duct-round-ford.html is 4" I made mine from metal dryer duct: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Deflecto-Semi-Rigid-Flexible-Aluminum-Duct-4-dia-x-2/24250577 ,no worry about cheap rubber rotting just paint it satin black and call it a day.This duct is holding up OK: http://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_mercury_late/heater-air-inlet-duct-square-ford.html Since you will have plenty of the 4" aluminum duct left over you might try to form it to the other ducts if the fenders were off it would be easily feasible for the side air ducts but probably a PIA with the fenders on.
Yes, I hate to take the credit but I thought up the idea of using motorcycle inner tubes on the under-the-hood heater ducts more than 20 years ago after those Carpenter pieces of junk fell apart in 6 months. I still have the same inner tube ducts on my Skyliner to this day and they are in good condition. They look more like the originals than any of the other suggested "home remedies". You need to get a tube that is for a big bike like a Harley Davidson. The local Harley shop had some used tubes that they were happy to give me for free. Alan S. Freeman
Well*****... I just bought those ventilator connectors a few weeks ago. I guess I should have asked on here first. At least now I know what to do when they***** out on me.
As a lot of you guys already know I have been the moderator for the '54 Ford Club of America for several years and now that Don Has taken over as president I was ask to be the administrator . Which has nothing to do with this thread except I am trying to get all the guys that have had problems with the air duct ventilators to let Dennis Carpenter know what you experienced with this part. They have a review that you can let them know about the poor quality of this particular part. Dennis Carpenter offers thousands of quality pieces but from what I have seen here and on the '54 Ford Club of America Forum this is part that they need to reevaluate and use a heavier material for production. This is the link. HRP http://dennis-carpenter.com/air-duct-ventilator-connector/p/BA-7001878-C/
Danny, those air duct rubbers have been defective for many years. They must know by now! I will use the link anyway. It's not so much that the rubber is too thin. They just seem to rot and fall apart after about 6 months. Alan
I used the link and rated it one star and stated they were worth less than that,we shall see if we hear back.
I agree with Alan I purchased them probably 30 years ago.I honestly after all these years do not if I got them off DC or not would have been at Hershey or Carlisle but found same thing with in short period of time they developed cracks before I had time to install.I was doing a frame off restoration so they were one of the last things to be installed.I also used inner tube.hardest part was getting it on square duct I had heater duct off also fender so I could use 2 hands to work it on without it tearing on square corners.I seem to remember using a dish soap to aid in slipping it on.still on after all these years.
Granted that they have had this problem for a long time but if enough guys complain they might take it serious. HRP
I cut my pieces from a 450/510-18 tube. Everything is all hooked up just seems to be some restrictive. The fresh air vents to inside the car were the hardest to get on, the others weren't that bad. A tube in the 600-700 range would be better, but I havne't seen any that size.
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