Tag Archives: Corvette Air Condition

How to Rebuild the Heat/AC Control Panel in your 1968-1976 Corvette

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If you own a 1969-1976 Corvette, you know that there are many items in the interior that need attention. By now, most of these cars have replacement interiors, but one item that is often overlooked is the C3 Corvette Heat/AC Control Panel. Although it appears to be a very complicated piece for the average hobbyist to rebuild, we’ve written out step-by-step instructions in our technical article 1968-1976 Corvette Heat/AC Control Panel Rebuild. Follow along and you’ll have the control unit rebuilt in no time.

If your unit doesn’t work at all, the article will also show you how to “set” the switches. Not only will your unit function, it will also look great inside your Corvette’s interior. You can expect a couple of hours to complete this procedure, including removing the unit from your Corvette’s console, which also requires removing the shift plate and the vacuum lines and cables from the heater/air condition unit.

This rebuild will also work for 1968 Corvettes, except they do not have any vacuum lines attached to the heater control unit.

To get started, remove the large cover and switch assembly on the left side. Be sure to put the 1/4-inch screws in a place where you will not lose them. You can reuse the compressor and lower blower switches if they are good. Check them by depressing the black plastic slide to see if the contact opens. If the contact does not open, you need to replace the switch.

Once you’ve removed both switches, it’s time to remove the vacuum switch on the left side. Some years, depending on options, will also have a 3-outlet vacuum switch on the right side. Remove them both if your Corvette has them. Once those are off, remove the blower switch in the middle of the control unit. The support bar in front that attaches both sides also needs to be removed. Then remove the four 1/4-inch screws that hold the sides to the face, then discard the old face.

Next, remove the plastic thumb wheels by using a set of pliers or dykes to cut off the retaining clip, then the wheels will slide out and you can discard them.

These are the parts you need to keep – and clean. When the parts are clean, it’s time to start reassembling.  Read 1968-1976 Corvette Heat/AC Control Panel Rebuild for complete reassembly instructions.

No matter how bad your C3 Corvette’s heater control unit looks when you start the rebuild, it’ll look like new again when you’re done. This project is well worth the few hours it’ll take.  For other great DIY projects, visit Zip’s corvettemagazine.com, your online source for Corvette technical articles and how-to’s.

 

 

Corvette Gen IV Air Condition Systems by Vintage Air

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When purchasing a Vintage Air Gen IV Air Condition System for your C1, C2 or C3 Corvette, you are getting a system that is guaranteed to cool your vehicle’s interior as if it were factory installed.

Vintage Air has been in the performance air condition cooling field since 1976 and is an industry leader for many makes and models, including Corvette.

Complete Corvette Air Condition Systems include evaporator kit plus condenser and drier package. Air conditioning, heating and defrost combination designed specifically for your Corvette. Factory air condition control assembly in your console connects to and controls this unit. Designed to mount to existing holes in your dash and firewall without drilling or fabrication. Evaporator kit comes complete with all the Corvette Parts you’ll need to complete the installation including the mounting brackets, hardware, louvers, duct hose, wiring harness and installation instructions.

Corvette Vintage Air Gen IV AC System Features:

  • Fully electronic operation – no cables or vacuum controls
  • Individual Rotary Electronic Controls for electronic operation
  • Micro-processor controlled coil temperature monitor. No capillary tube to install
  • Separate high-capacity heat and cooling coils
  • Blend air door for instant temperature adjustment
  • Steel firewall cover plate
  • All Gen IV systems allow for optional smooth firewall configuration
  • Positive shut off solenoid operated heater control valve in max A/C

Note: 1968-1976 Corvette Gen-IV SureFit Systems adapt to original “Thumb Wheel” type controls.

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Purchase online at Zip Corvette Parts

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Corvette Heater Control Face Kits for 1968-1976 C3

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Corvette Heater/AC Control Face Kit
C3 Heater/AC Control Face Kit

Jumpy or missing indicators, thumb wheels sticking and clouded lenses are all synonymous of an original C3 Corvette heater and/or air condition control panel. Fact is, your Corvette’s original control panel was not designed to last 15,20 or even 30 years. Zip’s Corvette Heater Control Face Kits are not only going to make your Corvette’s control panel look like it did right off the assembly line, they are also easy to install and affordable! At almost a third of the cost of a new control, Zip Corvette’s face kits (once removed from the console) take approximately 20 minutes to install with only a screwdriver and a small pair of pliers. The kit includes a new bezel, face plate, lens, indicators, actuator pulleys, strings, thumb wheels, and very detailed step by step instructions with illustrations.

Purchase online at Zip Corvette Parts

Corvette Electronic Climate Control Face Kit for 1986-1889 C4

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C4 Corvette Climate Control Face Kit
C4 Corvette Climate Control Face Kit

On C4 Corvettes, the first model year for RPO C68 Automatic Climate Control or “auto HVAC” as I say, was 1986. Today, even a Chevy Cruze has automatic air but back then, Corvette was one of the first GM vehicles to have it. Back then, as a cub reporter, covering Corvette for some car magazines, I remember the big deal GM made about this option.

That was then, this is now…in recent years, there’s been a lot of interest in restorations of early C4 Corvettes and one part restorers have been hard-pressed to find are the face plates for the 1986-1989 C4 Corvette control heads.

Zip Corvette has just introduced a C4 Corvette Electronic Climate Control Face Plate for the 1986-1989 Corvette Coupes and Convertibles with hardtops and C68 option. This new reproduction Corvette part includes factory push buttons and is finished with the correct texture and color. The part does not fit Convertibles equipped with soft tops only.

Zip Corvette’s electronic climate control face plate joins an existing line of early C4 Center-Stack Trim Parts including a face plate or the 1986-1989 manual HVAC control head, driver information center (DIC) lens covers for all C4s, center-stack cluster bezels for 1984-1989 Corvettes along with the digital dash switch plate face plate used in the 1984-1989 Corvettes.

In short, if you need replacement interior trim items for early C4 Corvettes, Zip Corvette is the place to find it.

Purchase online at Zip Corvette Parts

Corvette Interior HVAC Vent Grills for 1990-1996 C4

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C4 Corvette Vent Grills
C4 Corvette Vent Grills

Your humble parts blogger (HPB) has a small fleet of Corvettes and one of them is a 1995 C4. Back in the mid-’90s, when the final interior restyle was done for model year 1992, many of the soft Corvette Interior trim pieces on the dash, covering the center stick or the center console were coated or, maybe, “painted,” with a rubberized material that remained pliable and gave interior trim a nice feel.

As these cars have aged, GM has discontinued virtually all the interior trim so, when I broke an HVAC vent grill about five years ago, I was left with having to “glue” the unit back together–which I did–or look for something from a wrecking yard–which I didn’t because I was too lazy. Problem was, even with the best repair, I could still see a tiny line where the glued seem was so I was resigned (sigh) to start a wrecking yard search.

But wait! Zip Corvette’s  new line of reproduction late C4 Corvette HVAC Grills have solved all my problems. No more gluing interior parts back together or trolling the Internet for used Corvette parts.

Zip Products has all three styles of grills for 1990-1996 C4 Corvettes. The 1990-1991 grills are reproductions of the OE parts and have the correct, metallic-gray finish. The 1992-1993 grills reproduce the original parts with vertical louvers and rubberized finish. The 1994-1996 pieces, which fit my 1995 Corvette Coupe, have the horizontal louvers and the proper rubberized finish.

These interior parts are functional and correct replacements for the stock interior trim and attach using the original fasteners. Zip Products has left and right, inner and outer HVAC vent grills, the right side dash vent grill plate for 1994-1996 Corvettes, the speedometer/tachometer bezel for the 1990-1992 model years and the center-stack/radio/instrument bezel for the 1994-1996 C4s. All are correct reproductions with the correct paint or coating color.

Purchase online at Zip Corvette Parts