<VV> Damper Door Adjustment

[Dale Dewald]

At 04:46 PM 2/28/05 -0500, Keith Hammett wrote:

<snip>
>The damper door went into place easily enough.  I then went to hook up the
>thermostat rod and found out that my hand would not fit into the opening in
>order to put the rod on the door.  This problem was easily fixed with a
>welding rod bent into a hook.  I then realized that there was a lot of
>tension on the rod when the door is in the closed position.  I continued to
>fool around with it and now have it set so there is little tension on the
>rod, but the door is closed all the way.  Is this correct?  If not what is
>the procedure to do this?

Then Joe Potts responded:

 >I don't think this varies according to model year (you didn't mention
 >yours). The Shop Manual says: pull the thermostat rod out all the way, hold
 >the damper door horizontal and (with your third hand) adjust the peg in or
 >out until it just goes into the hole in the little arm on the inside of the
 >damper door.
 >In my experience, this leads to one door being held closed tight, the
 >other door being just slightly loose, and two or more fingers bleeding.

This procedure applies to 61-69 Corvairs.  1960's had a thermostatic damper 
ring on the intake to the fan.

Joe has noticed that, when adjusted per the shop manual, one door is 
slightly loose compared to the other.  I believe that this was done to help 
the engine warm up evenly, since the left head (with the oil cooler) tends 
to run a bit warmer than the right.  If the damper doors are adjusted too 
loosely then in cold weather the engine may not warm up fully and the 
chokes may not fully open.

Of course, this may not be an issue for many of you who live in warmer 
climates.

Dale Dewald
Hancock, (UP) MI
Low last night; 14F, snow on the ground: 49", snow to date: 218" (this 
should be 278")