64 Recirc/Fresh Air Door Actuator replaced; FROM THE INSIDE.

[Norman Silverman]

I am happy to report that I have successfully replaced the Fresh Air/Recirc door actuator that is located on the blower box-and have done so without having to remove the blower box. I did it by taking out the glove box and attacking it from the back.  It took several days, LOTS of patience and some band-aids, but it is done. THE most difficult part -BY FAR- is to remove and then replace the screw that sits on the actuator arm, connecting it to the fresh air/recirc door operating arm. It took 5 hours to get it off, then 4 more to get it back on. But it is now all buttoned up and tomorrow I'll run through a complete system test. Right now, I'm tired and bloody; the entire area where you have to work is VERY tight and has sharp metal surrounding it, thereby limiting your range of movement-and the type of tool you can use to loosen/tighten the fasteners. 

[Joe DiIaconi]

from the engine bay.

[Joe DiIaconi]

I was going to send you a pic of the scars on my right hand from when I removed mine, but they don't show up well in pictures LOL I am impressed, I had to remove mine

[Clovis]

Well done Norman, I totally agree with all your statements. When working on a certain project big or small I'm not very often in a hurry. My nephew, more like a son, is often bewildered of my methodical pace. I've told him over and over, it's not the destination it's always the journey. This is what drives my passion for most things in life. 

[Norman Silverman]

Actually, no.

When i was younger and had no patience for almost anything i used lots of expletives and didn't get much done; too easily frustrated. Now that I'm older I've found that along with arthritis and gray hair I also have this thing called "Patience" which enables me to do things I was not mentally equipped to do as a kid. In fact, that's a key reason i have old cars; to perform diagnosis and repair of the type that I was all but incapable of doing when I was young. I get enormous satisfaction out of doing diagnosis and repair.

[Ian Osborne]

Norman,

Did you use every expletive in your vocabulary and maybe some you didn't even know you knew? I know I would have and it would have helped.

[Norman Silverman]

Never heard that word, but I think I do feel that way. 

Actually, I had no choice: I could not remove the hood hinge because I am one guy and it risked having the hood crash in to the windshield, also the way my AC refrigerant lines are routed it would mean having to de-gas the system in order to take the heater box off. So, I had to find a way to do it from inside. I don't think I will ever do that again; it was uncomfortable, painful, exhausting and frustrating. 

[Kevin Campbell]

and... don't ya feel chuffed too when ya do manage to do a job like that.

[Kevin Campbell]

Good on ya.... well done.