Page 1 of 1

87 center upper vent duct needed

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:39 am
by Cabbyresto
Working on an 87 and I can’t find this main duct with the diverted flap in it ANYWHERE!!
Original is totally dry rotted and has been previously fixed before but now I need one and can only find ones from the 79~84 online (of course).
Any other options for this thing? Dead in the water and can’t proceed until I find this!
Jeff

Re: 87 center upper vent duct needed

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 10:30 am
by Briano1234
The upper vent duct? With a/c or Non a/c

this
Image

or

Image

As I don't know anything that can dry-rot save for the foam seals.... and the Vacuum servos.

http://www.oemepc.com/
is the ETKA for part numbers and pictures, if you could give me a bigger hint as yours it Generic and I can think of a few.

Re: 87 center upper vent duct needed

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 12:59 pm
by Cabbyresto
Item #10 in the second picture. With a/c.
Thanks for the quick response. I’m thinking I can make one out of sheet metal if I have to!

Re: 87 center upper vent duct needed

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 1:19 pm
by Cabbyresto
That website is great! I found a 1983 rabbit hatchback in the yard here but the part looked totally different from mine and ETKA says if it was a CONVERTABLE rabbit it would be same as the Cabby but only 79 and 80 regular rabbit for it to be same? Now I’m confused and maybe the PO had used a different one?
Sucks working on cars after someone else has....

Re: 87 center upper vent duct needed

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 1:52 pm
by Briano1234
The flapper is Plastic, and yes it could be built out of sheet tin.
It is usually only the Servo that breaks, but I have broken the damn thing before myself.

This part is common on Cabriolets from about 82-93.
The 83's and below are the same if a/c is installed. If it isn't a/c then it is different. The MK2 Jetta and Golfs aren't the same either.

Easy way to tell in the yards if the Dash isn't apart is to look for the Fresh air Plenum in the rain tray. Picture number 4 in bottom.
Image

If you find a later year as in 84 and up take the screen covered fresh air plenum, and the servo as that is the same servo that is used in the divertor that you are looking at.

Good Luck.

Re: 87 center upper vent duct needed

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 9:20 am
by Cabbyresto
Just to be clear I’m looking for the duct that is UNDER the dash on top of the evaporator box (#10 in the lower diagram) and not the fresh air intake box. Went back to the yard and grabbed the duct from the 83 rabbit in the hopes that I could modify it and while it’s “close” it’s going to take some doing because they changed the dash style and the older duct interferes with the glovebox in the 87.
On a good note, I scored two metal vacuum servos from the junkyard! Resealed the rain cowl intake boxes like your posts have shown and rerouted the windshield washer hose out of the passenger drain grommet and after a rain I have no more leaks from there! ( now to get the door window and top front bar leaks taken care of!)

Re: 87 center upper vent duct needed

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2018 7:06 am
by Briano1234
Yes I know what you were looking for. It is that the 81 Diesel that I owned had a Fresh air plenum that didn't have a screen on it and it allowed dirt debris bugs leaves to get sucked in to stop the heater box drain. This caused flooding in the interior that caused me to have to separate the airbox to clean the drain and 1/2 inch of crud....... (the ac condensation couldn't drain out, so i had a frozen ice cube, that when melted leaked out the passenger side vent. :) that is why i mentioned it.

If the Airbox is close then you may try Foil HVAC tape to secure it. I do know that there were two styles of Metal servos ones with fingers and one with bolts, so i would suspect that there are differences in the boxes over the years. You have to remember that Rabbits are USA built, and Cabriolets are all German Built.. Rabbits were rabbits in the USA up to 83....84 they changed to German manufacturing and Back to Euro Spec.