VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 Fresh Air Duct Question

Can anyone tell me what the material attached to the inside of the air duct is?

Hawkeye,

It's some form of jute felt or matting. After all these years, I'll bet that it's in the same condition as the insulation that was inside the air ducts in my '52 -- impregnated with all sorts of dirt and pollen, crumbles at the slightest touch, etc. I used modern high-quality carpet matting as a replacement in mine -- that was 25 years ago -- and if I ever redo this stuff, I intend to try some of this adhesive-backed firewall and floor insulation that came on the market since then. If you're thinking of replacing that stuff, that would be my suggestion since, in all but a few cases, you can't see the insulation once the duct is assembled. There's also the added benefit that a lot of this new stuff doesn't hold moisture like the jute did.

Oh -- DO NOT use fiberglass insulation. A friend of mine thought that would be a good to idea until his throat and eyes both became irritated by the tiny bits of fiber being blown out of the vent louvers.

The 1949 Engineering just describes it as "A lining of insulating material 1/4" of and inch thick to restrict transmission of noise"

Yup; that's an accurate description of the material. Having pulled the stuff out myself, I can say with certainty the material is made from jute, the same stuff they used in Grandma's day as carpet underlayment and was used to weave those old bristle door mats. If anyone wants a direct replacement for the sake originality, jute carpet padding can be found all over the web, and it's the same stuff the General used as sound deadener in air ducts, behind dash pads, beneath carpets, and as a backing on rubber floor mats:
https://www.ebay.com/i/191776370153?chn=ps&dispItem=1

Thanks for all the responses. My main concern was that the material was not asbestos. The lining in my air ducts is fine and I do not plan on replacing any. I did have to re-glue a small section near one end. Thanks again.

Hello,

Saw your post and wanted to ask you if you know where I can purchase that rubber ducting for a fresh air for my 1954 Chevy. I just bought the car a few months ago and its all duct taped together. I went to half a dozen auto parts and they dont cary anything similar.

IF NOT MISTAKEN CHEV OF 40 OR FILLING STATION HAS THEM they are called sleeves if wrong hawkeye will let you know what they are called he needed them too

Thanks, will see what he says.

Take a look at the attached photo. The rubber part that connects the air duct to the inlet attached to the firewall is called Fresh Air Inlet Sleeves. One place they are available is truckandcarshop.com in California, page 144 of the 1941-1957 catalog, item #49-07304, $7.00 a pair. Another place is Chevs of the 40's in Washington, item # 3688805, $7.99 a pair. They are the same for both sides.

Hello,

Mine is completely different. On the passenger side is where the heater ducting (metal) is on my car. On the driver side is where my fresh air is. It has a rubber like ducting similar to one on a dryer vent.
I am unable to post the pictures.

The fresh air ducts on both sides are metal,they sort of look like stove pipe.The dryer vent looking tube on your car was probably installed because the original metal duct was missing on that side.The flexible tube is not original.

Here is a photo of the correct drivers side duct. It is all metal and looks like a stove pipe as previously mentioned. If you need one, please send me a private message.

if the car had factory power steering it had a flex tube on the driver side i could not find the original went to a specialty hose shop the color was not had to paint close to the original but better material hope this helps

Thanks

Pushrod,

My car does have factory power steering. I was told that every car with power steering had fresh air. Do you know where they might sale it?

Also thanks everyone for your responses.

I am not where I could measure the one on my 54 but I think they are 4 inch diameter and
Corvair ”˜s used a 4 inch flexible tube for the heater so might check with Clark’s Corvair.

it has been a while since i done mine i found a lot of hose on line except but it was in 10 or 15 foot lengths and i did not need that much the people at the hose shop had a cut off piece and it was not cheap good quality the heat has not bothered it yet