Re: Anyone know a source for the chintzy original duct hose 1941-47 Clippers?
Posted by HH56 On 2023/6/8 21:09:56
Dwight and the other vendors seem to only sell the short lengths of 5 inch duct used for the air vent and heater in 51-6 cars. What Mike is looking for is a 3 inch diameter by roughly 4-6 ft piece used for the optional fresh air vent in 41-7 Clippers. That option has a screw on adapter with a valve at the firewall end which feeds fresh air to the heater and an intake end adapter positioned on the passenger side radiator shroud with the length of duct connecting them.
Since the duct is high and in your face he would like to find something close to the original in look and preferably without needing to buy a 25 ft or longer length. Modern material seems to be a thin vinyl material used for ducts like dryer vents or a thick corrugated neoprene hose like material, both of which are very shiny and modern looking in comparison to the original dull black fabric duct. Even the modern defroster duct seems to have gone the shiny vinyl route.
IMO the reason the older stuff is getting hard to find is it is probably harder to make and harder to use. It appears to be made of layers of impregnated fabric glued together so probably needs a spiral winding process to get the pieces under and over the wire support and glued together. I expect that is expensive in comparison to the modern stuff which looks like it is made of vinyl and probably made by sending molten material and the slinky like support wire thru a continuous extrusion process. More expensive and stiff so harder to use in a congested dash or engine cmpt probably means low demand.
Attach file:
fresh air option.jpg (89.89 KB)
fresh air adapters.png (954.73 KB)
Since the duct is high and in your face he would like to find something close to the original in look and preferably without needing to buy a 25 ft or longer length. Modern material seems to be a thin vinyl material used for ducts like dryer vents or a thick corrugated neoprene hose like material, both of which are very shiny and modern looking in comparison to the original dull black fabric duct. Even the modern defroster duct seems to have gone the shiny vinyl route.
IMO the reason the older stuff is getting hard to find is it is probably harder to make and harder to use. It appears to be made of layers of impregnated fabric glued together so probably needs a spiral winding process to get the pieces under and over the wire support and glued together. I expect that is expensive in comparison to the modern stuff which looks like it is made of vinyl and probably made by sending molten material and the slinky like support wire thru a continuous extrusion process. More expensive and stiff so harder to use in a congested dash or engine cmpt probably means low demand.
Attach file:
fresh air option.jpg (89.89 KB)
fresh air adapters.png (954.73 KB)
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