Side vent "decorations"

[weeboo]

Noob question here:
I have a '76 - and the vents on the side above the wheel are solid- closed pieces of plastic that look like they are just for decoration. I've been noticing that some have real vent covers with openings. Why the difference?

edit- they are metal, not plastic

 

[PabloCruise]

Good question, I am glad you asked, because I have been wondering the same thing!

What years were the real vents?

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! If you mean the ones next to the rear side marker, mine are open thru the fender. If your talking about the ones over the front wheels, mine are fake steel louvers. I swapped them for clear plexiglass and mounted "parking" lights inside. Not real effective, but fun to blind other drivers with on the streets. John

 

[weeboo]

Howdy! If you mean the ones next to the rear side marker, mine are open thru the fender. If your talking about the ones over the front wheels, mine are fake steel louvers. I swapped them for clear plexiglass and mounted "parking" lights inside. Not real effective, but fun to blind other drivers with on the streets. John

Neat, got pictures?

 

[snailwagon]

Are all the pigs with rear vents equiped with actual rear vents? The early pigs didn't have these, but they did have functional front vents (on the rear of teh upper fender. These are not really vents, but intakes). The driver's side goes to a fresh air vent pointing to the floor, while the passenger is the intake for the heater flower. The really early pigs in the first year and a half of production got the additional fresh air vent behind the hood. That thing is cool but they leak water if you go splashing around too much. I use mine for collecting pine needles and cypress leaves. It is very effective.

So when did the rear vents appear? Was it 76'? Does a 1975 have a solid front intake cover?

 

[Pighead]

The rear vents connect to a grill on the inside, so they are real vents...My '74 has them.
The front vents, I've collected "open" and "closed" types for both sides. Don't know why some Pigs have one or the other.

 

[bogus one]

The rear vents connect to a grill on the inside, so they are real vents...My '74 has them.
The front vents, I've collected "open" and "closed" types for both sides. Don't know why some Pigs have one or the other.

My '78 has an open front vent on the left side for the intake cooling blower. Doesn't do a fawkin' thing when on but make my temp go up.

Right side is solid

 

[Front Range 4x4]

The driver's side goes to a fresh air vent pointing to the floor, while the passenger is the intake for the heater flower.

That's nice to know, thanks. I figured out the blower supply but the DS still had me wondering.

 

[Trollhole]

So when did the rear vents appear? Was it 76'? Does a 1975 have a solid front intake cover?

75 solid.

My take. On the solid up front vents. Toyota figured out that having those lovered vents didn't work very well and blocked them off and allowed air to flow in from around the headlight area. Probably would work better if there was insulation in there keeping the engine compartment heat out.

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! Yea.P2140039.JPG

 

[inkpot]

Howdy! Yea.P2140039.JPG

 

[lc69hunter]

I was curious, and still am. My 69 pig has actual vents up front, and the 74 had solid covers. I just swapped them out and put the louvered ones on the 74.

 

[RHINO]

75 solid.

My take. On the solid up front vents. Toyota figured out that having those lovered vents didn't work very well and blocked them off and allowed air to flow in from around the headlight area. Probably would work better if there was insulation in there keeping the engine compartment heat out.

and to go one further,,, i think the headlight area was always meant to be the air intake, i think the louvered covers were to let the air out when you had the vents closed, then maybe they realized it didnt matter.

 

[PabloCruise]

Can anyone post pics of how the solid covers were painted from the factory?

Has anyone restored the rear outer grille once the "chrome" started peeling off?

 

[jtrock26]

The rear vents were started in 1973, and its my understanding that they were required by the USA to remove gas/exhaust fumes from the cargo area> my "72 doesn't have them, but I sure wish it did!

 

[cruiser_guy]

Can anyone post pics of how the solid covers were painted from the factory?

I don't think I have any solid covers but a vented cover I have here that has not been repainted is sliver/pewter on the high areas and grille and black on the recessed areas.