The skuttle vent in my 67 250 V8 has never opened. If you pull the handle in the newspaper tray, it will "try" to open, but then springs right back to closed.

I have the dash apart right now to refinish the wood so I thought I'd try to see what the problem is. I haven't been able to.

Even with the pull mechanism disconnected, the vent won't open. It will push up maybe 1/2", but then springs back to closed.

Suggestions?

Thanks,
-Dick-

 

have you tried with the engine running or when the blower fan is running?

In the 1963-1968 S type, the scuttle vent flap opens and closes by vacuum when "VENT" is selected at the heat/vent control, not by a mechanical pull-cable. I'm not familiar with the Daimler 250 V8, but it sure sounds like it needs vacuum to stay open.

 

Sounds like the hinge is rusted in place. I haven't had mine apart since the body was restored so I can't tell you where the hinge is, but ounce located, spraying some penetrating oil on it and working it loose should solve you problem.

 

Thanks Jose and Jeff.

Jose...no vacuum on a MK 2/Daimler 250 V8. It is a mechanical connection to the skuttle vent.

Jeff...I agree, but have been unable to locate the hinge. I have made some assumptions where it might be and have doused it with PB Blaster. Hopefully that will do it.

If anyone has some specifics on where to apply the penetrating oil, I would appreciate it.

 

Dick,
In my case, the ventilator torsion bar was completely rusted and inoperable. I have tried to "save" it. It is located in the bottom of the plenum. I hope it will be strong enough to operate effectively. It will be some time before I try it out again. I hope you have better luck.

Lin

 

Lin,
Actually, my torsion bar assembly is in good shape. It was frozen, but a little penetrating oil freed it up. Not so lucky with the vent itself, unfortunately.

-Dick-

 

The scuttle vent operates off the inlet flap on the bulkhead, which is in the worst place for access on the whole car, right at the back of the dash assembly and is only really accessible from inside the car. You can try taking off the scuttle vent plate and try from the plenum chamber; the hinge is at the top of the aperture and behind it. You'll find there is (or should be !) a rubber seal around the aperture. From inside, one has to have the central instrument panel off and then one can maybe get a WD40 spray onto it. The flap hinges from the top and is usually very rusty due to all the damp air passing it. Once freed off, it needs oiling with engine oil or similar. Basically, freeing this flap off is a PITA. I managed mine because I had a bare shell to play with.

 

Thanks, Fraser.

I have managed to remove the scuttle vent plate (outer door) and the aperture. I've sprayed a lot of penetrating oil where I believe the hinge(s) are from both the cabin side and the plenum side.

I'll continue doing that every few days and try to work the vent open. I guess that is all I can do (plus hope for the best)

 

It finally broke loose today. It's been about 3 weeks of dousing it with penetrating oil and trying to move the mechanism. I still don't know where the hinges are or what they look like, but I must have found them with the oil somehow.

Thanks every one for your help!

-Dick-

 

That's good to hear ! It's been so many years that I fixed my vent I can't remember how long it took me to fee it up, but I do remember it not being easy.

 

wow, that problem does not happen in the S type, it has a very well designed scuttle-vent, operated via vacuum, and the hinges can be reached (with the right contortions), through the dash or throught the vent itself. Otherwise they are almost identical.

 

Glad to hear of your progress. It was like that with mine !! The hinge is a really crap thing but cars of the 60s were not expected to still be around in 2013, nearly 50 years later !!

Main thing is to get some real good oil onto it once it's freed up. The penetrating oil is just to free it up. This hinge had no means of lubrication and was never on a maintenance schedule.

 

Here's the hinge location - I don't recommend this approach for access.

 

Hey Doug,
Just what I am looking for! Mine is very rusty. Is it for sale, or are you using it? I am speaking about the entire plenum.
Lin

 

Ahhhh....mystery solved!

Thanks, Doug.

 

wow, that's the mother of all plenums-scuttle vent assemblies! Now I understand...

 

I'm having the same prob, soaked it in wd40 for weeks and no budge , think i'll have to get the whole unit out

 

Note there is NO provision for lubrication and its position in the car means trying to is very difficult. There should be a rubber seal around that post box shaped hole, there was on my Mark2. I did manage to free up the hinge and everything then worked very nicely. The outer cover works of the inner flap movement.