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Are these correct for Packard? I've never seen these tubes with black ends like this before especially on the output side of the tube.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/pts/4232690240.html

I'm thinking someone tried to disguise or blend those ducts better into a dark upholstery. They look like they might have been dipped into paint. I have a pair for an ARA unit that are totally clear as are these shown in an ebay photo from another Novi unit.

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Howard,

Thanks for confirming that. These ones will get passed on then.

Looks like some cars did have those painted ends..... take a look at this car, looks to be the same tubes:

Apparently so. Perhaps something in the unit customization & made for a particular line or mfg. It may disguise the bottom so you don't see as much of the adapter connection but I don't see any particular advantage on the top -- at least not on the cars where the tops end inside the window. Those for sale look to be in fairly decent condition so maybe worth the price.

Does your unit have the center grill?

So ordered some Cadillac rear round outlet vents(louvers) that appear to look similar to what I have seen on other cars where the clear tubes are not used. (attached)

I still need to figure what I can use for the center "inlet" vent. It looks similar to the rear speaker grill I have seen on some Packards.

I wonder if both options were available together....could you have a rear speaker and rear A/C in '55? I am sure on Factory 53/54 A/C with the quarter panel inlet vents you probably could, but this uses a center package tray recirc inlet vent.

So to me, the most elegant solution is to find a rear speaker grill and use that. I have a rear defroster grill and unit, but more that likely, I wont be able to use that going forward, and I think the defrosted grill is too small to use for the A/C inlet.

So more than likely I will end up selling off the Rear Defroster unit (grill and integrated electric heater/blower)

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The original 53-4 Packard unit had two oval speaker like return grills horizontally mounted on the shelf with the rear speaker vertically between them. Believe the aftermarkets with dual inlets might have been similar only with rectangle shaped grills. I think it was either/or for the speaker or defroster and not both.

Old Air has a return grill for their trunk units -- part # 49-16 as shown being the center grill in this photo. If you are interested in that style, I bought that particular trunk unit for the 47 and won't be using the return grill. You can have it and the large hose if you want to go modern plastic. If you go that way, one may be enough if you make an adapter to have the hose cover both inlets. Otherwise, you will probably need a second one for the other air inlet. Don't know for sure but if you are getting the rest of your components from them, perhaps they will sell a separate grill. That single hose will probably be long enough for both but depends on the kind of adapter needed to fit at the Novi unit end.

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You could always do this.
Have the two exit vents as normal and mount two speaker grills with the defogger in the middle. Then just use one of the speaker grills for the return air and the other as a speaker. That way you would have all the gadgets on your car. I don't know about the noise of the returning air though.

Hi Dave,

Just sent a few bucks to our mutual friend Kev. The klutz that I am the money flew out without me saying what it's for, but I assume Kev will know that it is a Christmas contribution towards a cool Packard summer.

Sis' kitchen is next in turn.

Ole

Thanks Ole'!