Griff Help obscure dash vent parts
Discussion
Hello all.
I'm in the process of rebuilding the heating and ventilation system on a 1994 Griffith 500 and am missing some crucial parts which the TVR usual breakers do not have.
I am missing the glass fibre funnels which sit behind the facia vents which allow the concertina type tubing to attach to the rear of the vents. Namely the funnel which connects the left side vent, which I believe maybe an offset type funnel, unlike the centre funnels which appear to be in line as it were. I am missing one of these centre funnels also. So two funnels in total. I have seen them made from aluminium and don't know if they will retro fit where fibre glass ones existed. I'm also missing the T piece connector for the concertina tubing supplying the two centre vents.
I assume the concertina tubing is simple enough to source, but anything good and original is welcome as all of the concertina tubing is missing aside from one short section, which is damaged and of no use.
I am really desperate for these items if anyone can help. Thanks again.
I'm in the process of rebuilding the heating and ventilation system on a 1994 Griffith 500 and am missing some crucial parts which the TVR usual breakers do not have.
I am missing the glass fibre funnels which sit behind the facia vents which allow the concertina type tubing to attach to the rear of the vents. Namely the funnel which connects the left side vent, which I believe maybe an offset type funnel, unlike the centre funnels which appear to be in line as it were. I am missing one of these centre funnels also. So two funnels in total. I have seen them made from aluminium and don't know if they will retro fit where fibre glass ones existed. I'm also missing the T piece connector for the concertina tubing supplying the two centre vents.
I assume the concertina tubing is simple enough to source, but anything good and original is welcome as all of the concertina tubing is missing aside from one short section, which is damaged and of no use.
I am really desperate for these items if anyone can help. Thanks again.
Thank you for the info and offer. If need be I can make them myself in glass fibre. I have one of the centre adaptors to copy. Just easier and faster to buy some.
The two centre vents are both fed from a single tube from the steering column area. Interesting yours is different. I can't see how I could feed the left side centre vent from the left side of the dash.
The heater box on my Griff has a single outlet for a dash vent, which faces left directly out of the box. To use a T piece connector near here to get air to the left dash vent and the left side centre vent would be a bit of a snaking affair for the centre directing tube. Would also be somewhat troublesome to feed the tubing behind the glovebox and route through the same area where the wiring loom comes up from the footwell into the dash area. Bit of a tight squeeze I would think.
The other issue with this, not that it really matters much, is the tubing from the steering column area is not fed from the same outlet at the heater box as the left side dash vent. The tubing from the steering column area appears to come from the fibre glass channel built into the cars shell to allow for screen demist. Thus the two centre dash vents sharing the tube will blow at the same time but not so if the left side centre vent is T'd to the left side dash vent.
As the driver I'd rather have both centre vents T'd together from the same feed allowing a choice of where to direct the two vents off the dash face. Otherwise only a passenger would benefit from two vents at any one time (using the left side vent and left centre vent) and the driver only ever have one of the centre vents should the left centre vent be T'd from the left vent.
Frankly it all seems a little odd when trying to work out what air goes where as there doesn't appear to be much going on through the dash vents anyway when positioning the control to close the lower flap in the passenger footwell. If air is wanted at the dash and not the floor or screen, then it seems only the passenger side dash vent gets a feed. The two centre vents rely upon screen venting they using the tube from the steering column area. Accordingly screen demist would need to be selected to give air to the two centre vents, which in effect would close the left side passenger vent. All rather odd. But then I'd prefer to have them all working than not working at all!
HAS ANYBODY A FEW OF THOSE SPARE INSTRUMENT MOUNTING BRACKETS I'M DESPERATE FOR PLEASE?
The two centre vents are both fed from a single tube from the steering column area. Interesting yours is different. I can't see how I could feed the left side centre vent from the left side of the dash.
The heater box on my Griff has a single outlet for a dash vent, which faces left directly out of the box. To use a T piece connector near here to get air to the left dash vent and the left side centre vent would be a bit of a snaking affair for the centre directing tube. Would also be somewhat troublesome to feed the tubing behind the glovebox and route through the same area where the wiring loom comes up from the footwell into the dash area. Bit of a tight squeeze I would think.
The other issue with this, not that it really matters much, is the tubing from the steering column area is not fed from the same outlet at the heater box as the left side dash vent. The tubing from the steering column area appears to come from the fibre glass channel built into the cars shell to allow for screen demist. Thus the two centre dash vents sharing the tube will blow at the same time but not so if the left side centre vent is T'd to the left side dash vent.
As the driver I'd rather have both centre vents T'd together from the same feed allowing a choice of where to direct the two vents off the dash face. Otherwise only a passenger would benefit from two vents at any one time (using the left side vent and left centre vent) and the driver only ever have one of the centre vents should the left centre vent be T'd from the left vent.
Frankly it all seems a little odd when trying to work out what air goes where as there doesn't appear to be much going on through the dash vents anyway when positioning the control to close the lower flap in the passenger footwell. If air is wanted at the dash and not the floor or screen, then it seems only the passenger side dash vent gets a feed. The two centre vents rely upon screen venting they using the tube from the steering column area. Accordingly screen demist would need to be selected to give air to the two centre vents, which in effect would close the left side passenger vent. All rather odd. But then I'd prefer to have them all working than not working at all!
HAS ANYBODY A FEW OF THOSE SPARE INSTRUMENT MOUNTING BRACKETS I'M DESPERATE FOR PLEASE?
virgil said:
The 'left centre' vent pipe comes out of the far left side of the wing under the dash and comes across behing the glove box in front of the box you describe bellow and attached to a shaped GRP adapter to fit the back of the vent...
I have nowhere for any hose to attach to on the left side wing or anywhere else. I just have the fan in the wing and the flap below it at floor level. virgil said:
This left hand facing outlet (50mm dia 40?mm long white tube?) then feeds the passenger side vent above left of the glove box via the ali box with a short (18"?) right angle flexi-tube. Tight fit? yep!
The left facing outlet on the heater box is taped up on mine. I have nothing else except the dash vent itself. virgil said:
Teh right side of this box connects to the big fat flexitube that runs through the engine bay to the drivers sdie and (this is where I;m guessing now) feeds the cavity that feeds the right centre vent via the short flexi-tube and the drivers left knee via the outlet bello wleft of the steering column.
I'd not considered there exists a cavity there as I've never seen or noticed one. It makes sense now you mention it the dash vent would be taken from the large flexi tube rather than screen demist channel. I'll have to dig a little deeper as I assumed the small flexi feeder tube ran up to the screen demister channel above the steer coloumn.Thanks again. Will dig deeper. I too can not host pictures.
Wow Virgil!
Ok thtat's great information but even more misleading
My heater box looks identical and it is the white tube facing left that's taped over on mine. So yes I can see that's the feed for the left side dash vent. Great I can solve that one.
Here's the misleading part. Where tell does the hose go from the centre vent?
I've removed the entire heater box and there's nowhere for any other hose to attach to. Nor is there anywhere in the wing or bulkhead area from the A post forward, down the sides of the inner wing or tunnel, or roof of the footwell, for any other hose to fit. I'm confident my Griff must have the two centre vents fed from a T piece off the hose from the column.
Here's what I'm more confused by. The large hose that sweeps across the rear of the engine from the heater box, I can't fathom where it goes to on the right side of the tunnel except to say there's a cavity within the fibre glass moulding to the left of the column where the hose feeds into. I've not spotted any sort of flap or opening that's meant to let air into the cockpit. Nothing that's immediately obvious anyway.
As if that's not confusing enough, the centre vent hose routes past the column and right up into the upper most forward corner of the drivers side footwell. In other words it/s sort of right up under the screen pillar area and feels sort of forward even of the whole screen venting channel running across the underneath of the screen. I've two thoughts about this. Either it gets a feed from the screenn demist channel or it just has fresh air coming in over the top of the drivers wheelarch. If neither of these I need to dig a lot further.
Why these things haven't been documented over the years is beyond me. I just wish I had a Griffith tub I could dig around in!
Keeping the faith though. Must plod on.
Ok thtat's great information but even more misleading
My heater box looks identical and it is the white tube facing left that's taped over on mine. So yes I can see that's the feed for the left side dash vent. Great I can solve that one.
Here's the misleading part. Where tell does the hose go from the centre vent?
I've removed the entire heater box and there's nowhere for any other hose to attach to. Nor is there anywhere in the wing or bulkhead area from the A post forward, down the sides of the inner wing or tunnel, or roof of the footwell, for any other hose to fit. I'm confident my Griff must have the two centre vents fed from a T piece off the hose from the column.
Here's what I'm more confused by. The large hose that sweeps across the rear of the engine from the heater box, I can't fathom where it goes to on the right side of the tunnel except to say there's a cavity within the fibre glass moulding to the left of the column where the hose feeds into. I've not spotted any sort of flap or opening that's meant to let air into the cockpit. Nothing that's immediately obvious anyway.
As if that's not confusing enough, the centre vent hose routes past the column and right up into the upper most forward corner of the drivers side footwell. In other words it/s sort of right up under the screen pillar area and feels sort of forward even of the whole screen venting channel running across the underneath of the screen. I've two thoughts about this. Either it gets a feed from the screenn demist channel or it just has fresh air coming in over the top of the drivers wheelarch. If neither of these I need to dig a lot further.
Why these things haven't been documented over the years is beyond me. I just wish I had a Griffith tub I could dig around in!
Keeping the faith though. Must plod on.
Virgil this is a great help to me thank you ever so much.
What seems fairly straightforward is actually not quite so.
In your first picture I can see the flexi tube running over the steering column and the fibre glass connector on the end which slides directly onto the rear of the right side centre vent. Mine is the same. If you follow the flexi tube to the other side of the column, can you say where yous goes?
In the same picture are you saying the flexi tube on the centre console is that for the left side centre vent? If so how does the alloy box come into play assuming it is at the vent end. I can see in your third picture where this flexi tube is heading but in my Griff there is nothing up there for any flexi tube to connect to or a place for it to go to. Where does it go in your Griff. Is there like a hole it goes through into the bulkhead area and into the inner wing? If so does the flexi tube on the right side of the column do like wise?
On your second picture, does the large flexi pipe across the back of the engine connect onto the area where the knee vent is only? Seems a lot of fat pipe for that one only vent.
Thanks again much appreciated.
What seems fairly straightforward is actually not quite so.
In your first picture I can see the flexi tube running over the steering column and the fibre glass connector on the end which slides directly onto the rear of the right side centre vent. Mine is the same. If you follow the flexi tube to the other side of the column, can you say where yous goes?
In the same picture are you saying the flexi tube on the centre console is that for the left side centre vent? If so how does the alloy box come into play assuming it is at the vent end. I can see in your third picture where this flexi tube is heading but in my Griff there is nothing up there for any flexi tube to connect to or a place for it to go to. Where does it go in your Griff. Is there like a hole it goes through into the bulkhead area and into the inner wing? If so does the flexi tube on the right side of the column do like wise?
On your second picture, does the large flexi pipe across the back of the engine connect onto the area where the knee vent is only? Seems a lot of fat pipe for that one only vent.
Thanks again much appreciated.
Hi Virgil. Hoping you're still there and can answer these few questions of mine. Really is appreciated.
500dread said:
In your first picture I can see the flexi tube running over the steering column and the fibre glass connector on the end which slides directly onto the rear of the right side centre vent. Mine is the same. If you follow the flexi tube to the other side of the column, can you say where yous goes?
500dread said:
In the same picture are you saying the flexi tube on the centre console is that for the left side centre vent? If so how does the alloy box come into play assuming it is at the vent end. I can see in your third picture where this flexi tube is heading but in my Griff there is nothing up there for any flexi tube to connect to or a place for it to go to. Where does it go in your Griff. Is there like a hole it goes through into the bulkhead area and into the inner wing? If so does the flexi tube on the right side of the column do like wise?
500dread said:
On your second picture, does the large flexi pipe across the back of the engine connect onto the area where the knee vent is only? Seems a lot of fat pipe for that one only vent.
Thank you again. RichB said:
While people are on here giving out pearls of wisdom on Griffith 500 heaters, can I ask, what is the most recent thinking on improving/repairing/correcting the control of the hot water flow valve? - Anyone know the details?
Searching Griffith topics for several weeks as I have been, looking for any information relevant to work I'm engaged with on my Griff I came across these pages that might be of help to you too Rich.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.bertram-hill.co.uk/Pages/grifheater.asp...
The AJP Griff said:
The right hand side vent in the main dash beside the radio should connect to the flexi pipe which enters from over the steering column(this is only on cars with the optional 'booster blower' not usually found on later cars) and the other two vents(passenger and left hand dash) should come from the left hand heater box outlet after being 'split'.
I have searched back to the start of 2010 thus far in the Griffith topics. In my efforts to bookmark all relevant topics I appear to have missed one. I did read a topic which showed pictures of a Griff with dash facia removed and clearly to be seen were a pair of glass fibre connector sections that push over the rear of the two centre vents. Both vents were into a T piece which connected to the flexi hose from over the steering column.
My 1993 build 500 has the tube from over the column. The tube appears to go through the bulkhead area right up in the top corner as forward as one can get. If I pull on the tube it feels attached to something inside the inner wing. I need to investigate further I'm afraid, so am still at a loss as to where this tube actually goes and where it gets its fresh air feed. Right now I suspect it receives fresh air from the nose past the inner wing and over the wheel arch.
The AJP Griff said:
The vent in the left hand side of the drivers footwell should be connected to the pipe which runs behind the engine in the engine bay and comes from the other outlet of the heater box.
I believe this to be correct for my Griff thanks.The AJP Griff said:
Also found in the drivers footwell on cars equipped with the 'booster blower' is another vent on the left hand side of the footwell.
I assume you mean right hand side of the footwell? Mine does not appear to have an additional blower in the drivers side wing.Please do keep more information coming if you have it.
Hi AJP. Definetly no 3 speed switch. No blower in the inner wing to the right side of the footwell that I have found and no hole for a tube to go to.
I have the entire dash out of the car. I have removed the heater box too. I have located where the blower is in the passenger side inner wing left of the footwell. There is also a motor operated flap under the blower area.
Because I have an incomplete ducting system I cannot establish how the system should duct in my Griff.
There exists an ambiguity due to what information is present on PH and other websites. Most of what little information there is all point to the left dash vent connected with a T piece to the left centre dash vent. But then I have seen pictures of both centre dash vents T'd from the tube over the steering column (I'm searching again to find this particular topic due to my laptop HD failing on Saturday morning).
Then there's Virgil pictures which show the left centre dash vent fed by a tube which goes somewhere to the left side of the heater box but I can't see where and it doesn't appear to be T'd to the left dash vent, looking more like Virgil's Griff has two tubes feeding both these vents individually. As Virgil hasn't responded to my latest questions I am a little clueless as to what is meant to be.
I suppose what I'm trying to establish is I don't want just the left dash vent to work on its own. It either works with the left centre vent or all three vents together. For me to work this out I need to know where the tube from above the steering column gets it's feed and if the feed is controled by a motor operated from the heater control unit. If it isn't this would suggest the right side vent just gets cold air and is not controlled by anything other than closing the vent on the dash. If this is the case it would not be practical to have both centre vents T'd to such a supply as only the left passenger vent would be under the control of the heater control unit and therefore receive both hot and cold air. In an ideal world I would enjoy to have all three dash vents under control to allow for both hot and cold air. That's the target!
I have the entire dash out of the car. I have removed the heater box too. I have located where the blower is in the passenger side inner wing left of the footwell. There is also a motor operated flap under the blower area.
Because I have an incomplete ducting system I cannot establish how the system should duct in my Griff.
There exists an ambiguity due to what information is present on PH and other websites. Most of what little information there is all point to the left dash vent connected with a T piece to the left centre dash vent. But then I have seen pictures of both centre dash vents T'd from the tube over the steering column (I'm searching again to find this particular topic due to my laptop HD failing on Saturday morning).
Then there's Virgil pictures which show the left centre dash vent fed by a tube which goes somewhere to the left side of the heater box but I can't see where and it doesn't appear to be T'd to the left dash vent, looking more like Virgil's Griff has two tubes feeding both these vents individually. As Virgil hasn't responded to my latest questions I am a little clueless as to what is meant to be.
I suppose what I'm trying to establish is I don't want just the left dash vent to work on its own. It either works with the left centre vent or all three vents together. For me to work this out I need to know where the tube from above the steering column gets it's feed and if the feed is controled by a motor operated from the heater control unit. If it isn't this would suggest the right side vent just gets cold air and is not controlled by anything other than closing the vent on the dash. If this is the case it would not be practical to have both centre vents T'd to such a supply as only the left passenger vent would be under the control of the heater control unit and therefore receive both hot and cold air. In an ideal world I would enjoy to have all three dash vents under control to allow for both hot and cold air. That's the target!
500dread said:
There exists an ambiguity due to what information is present on PH and other websites. Most of what little information there is all point to the left dash vent connected with a T piece to the left centre dash vent. But then I have seen pictures of both centre dash vents T'd from the tube over the steering column (I'm searching again to find this particular topic due to my laptop HD failing on Saturday morning).
Ah found it. It appears Lord Grover's Griff has the two centre vents T'd from the tube over the column.It might be necessary to enlarge the picture for a closer view.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
virgil said:
Sorry - just got back on after a hectic Weekend!
Appreciate your efforts Virgil.virgil said:
So:
Right hand dash vent flexi pipe does indeed route over the steering column and into the right wing. I belive this now feeds off the right wing cool air motor along with the right hand drivers footwell vent.
All I can say for now is the hose on my Griff from over the column goes right up into the top corner and likely through into the wing cavity behind the wheel arch.Right hand dash vent flexi pipe does indeed route over the steering column and into the right wing. I belive this now feeds off the right wing cool air motor along with the right hand drivers footwell vent.
I don't appear to have a motor for any air in the right side footwell area. I don't have a right side floor level vent on the backsidse of the inner wing - and no switch to control such.
virgil said:
The ali box on the piece of pipe I'd left on the centre console is the far left passenger vent feed. The ali box slips over the back of the actual plastic vent...the other end of the 40mm flexi pipe fits the white left had exit (labeled 'Jason' on mine) on the heater box.
That's great information. At least I can work the left side vent out.virgil said:
The left-centre dash vent is fed from the longer flexi tube that goes behind the glove box, dissapears under the dash and goes into the left wing.
This is where it goes pear shaped for me. There is simply nowhere for a flexi tube to go to. This is what makes me think the two centre vents on the dash on my Griff should both feed off the tube from the column. Problem I have is I've no idea if this is just a fresh air supply from the nose of the car and over the wheelarch. I don't see how it can have any heated air pass through it as there is no control flap so I imagine fresh air these are. virgil said:
I have a picture I can put up later to show this, but definately does not split from the heater box feed. Not sure how it gets fed on mine...maybe only cold air from the wing?? Can't remember if it gave hot or just cold air...sorry.
Would be interesting to knowvirgil said:
Sorry I can't help more but will post pics tonight...
Your help has been invaluable. Many thanks. I conclude with my Griff that it is likely as different as different can be from others!Brilliant Virgil!
Yes my Griff is exactly the same location. It can only be supplied through the wing and over the wheel arch but I'm going to make certain.
My Griff is nothing like that. On my Griff there is an opening at the top of the inner wing wall where the end of the heater box locates so as the fan which is situated in the wing behind the inner wing wall can blow up into the heater box.
Another thing I have on the passenger side and facing directly down from under the dash is an eyeball vent. This too has no tube and I'm wondering where this vent also received its supply of air from.
I think what I will do is supply the two centre dash vents from the column tube as would seem to be how it left Blackpool. Just fresh air presumably, and controlled only by opening or closing the vents themselves.
The left side dash vent and the left side downward eyeball vent must have been T'd near the glovebox somewhere with their supply taken from the left side of the heater box. I'm assuming before I test the layout that these two vents will blow in unison with the drivers side knee vent which I do hope work from the heater control this way.
This will mean when the system is venting to the floor it will only be doing so on the passenger side from the left side floor vent under the fan housing in the inner wing wall. Drivers side will receive no floor venting it would appear.
Now to work out if it all fits as I have it worked out in my head - which hopefully it should.
Thank you again Virgil. With your help I believe I've got it worked out finally. If it changes I will post up what I find.
virgil said:
virgil said:
Another thing I have on the passenger side and facing directly down from under the dash is an eyeball vent. This too has no tube and I'm wondering where this vent also received its supply of air from.
I think what I will do is supply the two centre dash vents from the column tube as would seem to be how it left Blackpool. Just fresh air presumably, and controlled only by opening or closing the vents themselves.
The left side dash vent and the left side downward eyeball vent must have been T'd near the glovebox somewhere with their supply taken from the left side of the heater box. I'm assuming before I test the layout that these two vents will blow in unison with the drivers side knee vent which I do hope work from the heater control this way.
This will mean when the system is venting to the floor it will only be doing so on the passenger side from the left side floor vent under the fan housing in the inner wing wall. Drivers side will receive no floor venting it would appear.
Now to work out if it all fits as I have it worked out in my head - which hopefully it should.
Thank you again Virgil. With your help I believe I've got it worked out finally. If it changes I will post up what I find.
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