[xj] Dash board vents

XJ
1

Allo Allo,

I’m down to one flaw left before I have a virtually brand
new looking interior – the two plastic vent covers on the
dash (for the defroster).

How have you guys managed to get them to lie flat? Were
they originally curved to match the dash but have aged to
where they are entirely flat or were they always flat and
just held down into their indentions?

Having everything else finished, it quite annoys me to see
them sticking up while driving. Just curious how you’ve all
dealt with this.

Thanks

Drew–
Drew Ward
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

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2

Drew,
There should be a couple plastic pins underneath that provide a friction fit
into matching retainers. These pins are easily broken off.

When I get a round toit, I plan to apply some dots of adhesive-backed
velcro.

Gene McGough
XJ6C II 1976
XK-150 FHC S834515DN----- Original Message -----
From: “XKdreams” ward@lexiconbusiness.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 9:52 PM

I’m down to one flaw left before I have a virtually brand
new looking interior – the two plastic vent covers on the
dash (for the defroster).

How have you guys managed to get them to lie flat? Were
they originally curved to match the dash but have aged to
where they are entirely flat or were they always flat and
just held down into their indentions?

Drew

Drew Ward

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3

In reply to a message from XKdreams sent Tue 14 Dec 2010:

Drew:

I made up a 3/8’’ aluminum plate the same shape as the vent.
Then, after carefully squirting some two-part epoxy glue under
the edges of the dash pad around the vent opening, clamped the
plate in place for about a day. Worked perfectly and my vents
lie nice and flat on the dash. Be sure to round over the edges
and corners of the plate so it does not leave any lines on the
dash. I used thin plastic sandwich wrap between the plate and
the dash to prevent sticking when unclamping the plate.–
The original message included these comments:

I’m down to one flaw left before I have a virtually brand
new looking interior – the two plastic vent covers on the
dash (for the defroster).
How have you guys managed to get them to lie flat? Were

–
Don 74 SII XJ12L
Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

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4

In reply to a message from Gene McGough sent Tue 14 Dec 2010:

When I encountered this problem, I used some mastic. I had a bit
left over from another project. I had used this stuff to seal a
side window in my van. It came as a small roll and is very elastic.
I took a small amount, about a 1 inch ball and separated it into 4
pieces, placed one piece at each corner of the vent. At each corner
I split the now small bit into 2 pieces and smeared one bit onto
the vent itself and one bit onto the dash where the vent sits, then
I pushed the vent into place. Been stuck firmly ever since. This
stuff does not let go unlesss you work at it, However it will come
off if you want it to and can be cleaned away entirely using
mineral spirits. FWIW I also used this method to attach the chrome
vent grill on the exterior vent that lives just in front of the
windscreen. These little plastic pins break off easily–
The original message included these comments:

There should be a couple plastic pins underneath that provide a friction fit
into matching retainers. These pins are easily broken off.

–
Alyn
Seattle WA, United States
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5

In reply to a message from Alyn sent Wed 15 Dec 2010:

And… All of that can be done out of the car so that you have a
little more room to work… The dash pad is easily removeable, so
take it in the house and enjoy the heat…

You probably also have some of the edges of vinyl that are popped
up pretty far (from memory I’d say the vents on this car stick up
maybe 3/16’’)… You may have to heat them to get them to lay flat,
or in worse case trim just a little of the curled area… Then glue
down as suggested.

A ‘‘fix’’ that I had on one car that I bought was to drill some very
small holes in the vents where the pins used to be… and then
install some very small black screws to hold them to the dash pad.
Looked pretty good, and didn’t mess anything up that wasnt already
broken…

David
EverydayXJ.com–
The original message included these comments:

There should be a couple plastic pins underneath that provide a friction fit
into matching retainers. These pins are easily broken off.

–
84 XJ6 (Driver) 86 XJ6 (Project) Parts cars piling up.
Rockwell, NC, United States
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6

I encountered this loose vent problem with both of my drivable XJ6s
and have a good and long lasting technique to suggest.

I removed the dash top (crash roll) from the car, cleaned the vents
and surface of the top, placed the top face up across two small work
stands, applied a generous amount of silicone sealant to the back of
the plastic vents (avoiding getting near the edges) and around the
insides of the holes in the top, placed the vents in their proper
place and then suspended some small weights on bungee cord running
through the holes in the vents so that they were pulled down fully
into their proper location. Then I let that sit overnight. In the
morning the vents were permanently attached in place and I reinstalled
the top.

The only trick is to make sure that there is no silicone sealant
visible on the side of the vents were they fit into the top, or
visible when looking through the vent holes from the top.

After curing I turned the dash top over and applied some additional
silicone sealant between the vent and the top to make sure it is
really permanently in place. The location for the additional sealant
is obvious with the top upside down. Again, you don’t want any
sealant visible when complete.

I have found that with this technique, the vents lie absolutely flat,
and they will remain in place that way for a long time.

I like fixes that work, and I don’t like doing the same job over again
for a fix that doesn’t work.

This has worked for me and the first car I tried this on has lasted
for about 7 years now.

Regards,

Paul M. Novak

1990 XJ-S Classic Collection convertible
1987 XJ6 Vanden Plas
1985 XJ6 Vanden Plas (parts)
1984 XJ6 Vanden Plas
1969 E-Type FHC
1957 MK VIII Saloon
Ramona, CA
@Paul_M_Novak1On Tue, Dec 14, 2010 at 8:52 PM, XKdreams ward@lexiconbusiness.com wrote:

Allo Allo,

I’m down to one flaw left before I have a virtually brand
new looking interior – the two plastic vent covers on the
dash (for the defroster).

How have you guys managed to get them to lie flat? Were
they originally curved to match the dash but have aged to
where they are entirely flat or were they always flat and
just held down into their indentions?

Having everything else finished, it quite annoys me to see
them sticking up while driving. Just curious how you’ve all
dealt with this.

Thanks

Drew

===================================================
The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
FAQs: http://www.jag-lovers.org/xjlovers/xjfaq/index.html
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7

The plastic can be gently reformed by letting the vent piece sit in very hot
water. Originally there was a small peg at each corner. Ham-fisted removal
usually breaks these pins - you will find them captive in the corners of the
dash cover opening.
The same technique for reforming can be used very effectively on the covers
for the fuse box access in the underscuttle on the Series III cars.

Gregory,
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
1966 3.8 Mk 2, Pale Primrose
1992 Series III V12 Vanden Plas, Black Cherry
2002 X-Type, 5 sp. manual, Anthracite
2004 XJ8, Ebony-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xj@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xj@jag-lovers.org] On Behalf Of
XKdreams
Sent: December-14-10 8:52 PM
To: xj@jag-lovers.org
Subject: [xj] Dash board vents

Allo Allo,

I’m down to one flaw left before I have a virtually brand
new looking interior – the two plastic vent covers on the
dash (for the defroster).

How have you guys managed to get them to lie flat? Were
they originally curved to match the dash but have aged to
where they are entirely flat or were they always flat and
just held down into their indentions?

===================================================
The archives and FAQ will answer many queries on the XJ series…
FAQs: http://www.jag-lovers.org/xjlovers/xjfaq/index.html
Archives: http://www.jag-lovers.org/lists/search.html

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8

In reply to a message from Dr. Gregory Andrachuk sent Wed 15 Dec 2010:

A minor point, but as Gregory points out, broken pins are
often captive in the plastic sockets at the corners.

The remaining stubs of the pins that are still attached to
the vents sometimes fail to enter the sockets because of the
broken pins inside. The vent refuses to seat and remains
proud. Removing the broken pins from the sockets allows
what’s left of the pins to seat properly.

This is particularly troublesome when the vents have been
rotated or interchanged so that intact pins are being forced
into holes with broken pins inside.–
The original message included these comments:

water. Originally there was a small peg at each corner. Ham-fisted removal
usually breaks these pins - you will find them captive in the corners of the
dash cover opening.

–
Bob Wilkinson, 73 XJ6
Saint Louis, MO, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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