Defroster Vents

I've never seen a CMC Speedster and I don't know how large the hole is that's in the dash for the CMC vent. @356_2cool2slow just posted a question regarding the dash vents on his CMC but I can't tell what size that hole in the dash top is. I went out and measured the new vents on my Kirk-era VS that was refurbished by Greg and the vent is 1 inch wide and about 9 inches long and it is curved to match the shape of the window. Not sure if that helps you at all Mike.

@Robert M, thanks for your reply.  I will have to check if my vents would fit under that 1" width.  I have Tenax posts for the tonneau just behind the windshield rubber.  Maybe they could go through the vent flange and hold it down.

Unless I could cut the slot without removing the windshield I wouldn't make the change now.

I just found these , but have to check the size of the oem holes I have in the dashboard

Thanks, @LeadPedal & @356_2cool2slow.

I am reconsidering my statement above that I would not do it now.

Per @Alan Merklin, the bottom of my windshield post is in the wrong place even though I installed it 3" back from the bottom of the windshield as instructed in the CMC build manual.

As Alan mentioned in a long-ago post, that affects the angle of the bottom of the side posts.  I really had to crank on the center post to pull them down.

The American Car Craft covers would be much easier to install if the size worked.

Here's the Beck vent on my 550 Spyder.

Carey uses 3 vents in his Speedsters, but I used 2 vents in my Spyder.  They are just under an inch wide and under 7.5" long.

They are very nice looking and work well for me.

I ordered some Speedster vents from Stoddard.  I am hoping they will cover the hole from my CMC vents and that my Tenax posts will be able to go through the flange.

@Robert M posted:

I've never seen a CMC Speedster and I don't know how large the hole is that's in the dash for the CMC vent. @356_2cool2slow just posted a question regarding the dash vents on his CMC but I can't tell what size that hole in the dash top is. I went out and measured the new vents on my Kirk-era VS that was refurbished by Greg and the vent is 1 inch wide and about 9 inches long and it is curved to match the shape of the window. Not sure if that helps you at all Mike.

Thanks, I just ordered them, will post pictures when they arrive .

i noticed the windshield rubber has indents so it assume someone swiped them at one point ha

I received Speedster vents from Stoddard today to replace the ugly CMC outlets. It looks like they will cover the CMC opening.

Unfortunately, I will have to remove the windshield to install them and will have to figure out how to connect below them.  Also, I have 2 Tenax posts for my tonneau below each one.  The posts pretty much align with the vent slots so I may put them on top of the vents or I may abandon them.  That would leave fasteners in the tonneau with no corresponding post.

Contrary to everyone else's fear and paranoia, removing the windshield and installing it again is not that big a deal. Move slowly and carefully, clean everything, and go easy on the tension when re-installing.

I've removed mine several times(by myself) on both cars, haven't cracked any glass yet. In fact, I still have my Pilkington glass from the 2002 Spyder. It has some scratches and pits, but is still good.

Agreed.  I cracked a windshield once by accidentally leaning on it, but never by removing/installing, which I've done several times.

@Lane Anderson posted:

Agreed.  I cracked a windshield once by accidentally leaning on it, but never by removing/installing, which I've done several times.

I have to admit, last month I was painting my wipers satin black and had the rubber wipers off, upon spraying with them in the upright position, i tapped the lever when they were facing up and it snapped against the windshield, i almost had a heart attack thinking i just cracked it , after removing the blanket covering for paint covering is was fine!  whhhhoooo

@DannyP posted:

Here's the Beck vent on my 550 Spyder.

Carey uses 3 vents in his Speedsters, but I used 2 vents in my Spyder.  They are just under an inch wide and under 7.5" long.

They are very nice looking and work well for me.

I don't have a car yet, was wondering about having the defroster vents added, but was wondering how bad it might be if caught in a rainstorm and the tonneau not covering the openings.
I guess in that situation, by then it would be time for the Soft Top and the vents would help keep the windshield clear while driving?
Just wondered your experience.
Thanks

In a speedster, when it rains on the outside, it rains on the inside.  And no, the vents don't keep the inside of  the windshield clear.  Carry lots of rags with you.

@Bob: IM S6 posted:

In a speedster, when it rains on the outside, it rains on the inside.  And no, the vents don't keep the inside of  the windshield clear.  Carry lots of rags with you.

Think about killing two birds with one stone by hanging soap on a rope from your rear view mirror.

@Bob: IM S6 posted:

In a speedster, when it rains on the outside, it rains on the inside.  And no, the vents don't keep the inside of  the windshield clear.  Carry lots of rags with you.

I keep a small shower squeegee under the seat, along with a couple of rags.

@Bob: IM S6 @Alan Merklin @Carlos G 
I think I have the idea now...  Rain = Towel, Soap, Squeegee

Me after my first drive in the Rain

One year, for the Carlisle raffle, I made up a few windshield de-fogging sponges.  I already had one in my Speedster (from LL Bean) and it worked so well I figured others would like one, too.   Little did I know how many people had never heard of them or how well they worked.

Nobody knew what the hell they were.  A couple of years later people who won them in the raffle would STILL ask me what the hell they were supposed to be used for.

So, now that you know, here you go and two for the price of one.

https://www.amazon.com/Evelots...Caps%2C97&sr=8-1

I always carry one.  Keeps my wife busy...

I have one of those.  Haven’t needed it yet in the Coupe as it does have a defroster, albeit one with teeny tiny vents.

It looks like in original Speedsters the defroster vents match the color of the dash covering while on replicas they are bare aluminum.

So, should I paint them black?

I found some 1.25" x 12" vacuum nozzles and I am going to run 1.25" hose to them instead of the CMC 1.75" hose. I will install an elbow at the door post outlet to make the transition. I bought some 1.25" helmet fans to use on each side.

@Michael McKelvey posted:

It looks like in original Speedsters the defroster vents match the color of the dash covering while on replicas they are bare aluminum.

So, should I paint them black?

I found some 1.25" x 12" vacuum nozzles and I am going to run 1.25" hose to them instead of the CMC 1.75" hose. I will install an elbow at the door post outlet to make the transition. I bought some 1.25" helmet fans to use on each side.

Hi mine just came in today, they are not a perfect fit to the holes but i think I will paint a black salin black so it blends in. (They are aluminum)