Question for the Heater/AC guru's on box internals (1991)

[Yo]

Hey all,

I did a heater core replacement in my 91 K5 yesterday. I got the box pulled and realized that the halves needed to be split apart to gain access to the core.

I removed all the screws and the temp selector bracket off the top of the box, but I realized that the adjustable linkage on top of the box that goes from the floor/vent flapper door to the air diverter also needs to be pulled.

Please bear with me as I have no diagram to refer to proper part names, but what I am calling a "diverter" is attached via threaded linkage to the right of the floor/vent flapper door, and rotates when the flapper closes to direct air to the floor. Seems as if many guys have problems with the white plastic retaining clips breaking on this assembly.

Anyway, there is a keyed ear in this diverter so that the rod that drops in from the top is properly indexed to the diverter; this keyed ear has rounded out, so when I select the floor function and the flapper door closes, the rod just spins within the diverter. What compounds the problem is that the diverter seems to "walk" around a little inside the box and bind since the indexed ears don't want to fully seat within the box.

Can someone please explain what this diverter actually does, and what my options are to fix this?

 

[British Slave]

If I understand what you describe, that diverter simples allows more air directed to the heater or a/c. In heat mode it aligns to the heater core, in A/C mode it aligns with the evaporator and in Bi-level it will align where the temp is set, to allow more heat or more A/C. Mine is loose on the shaft also, and I don't see it worth the effort to fix. IF I would do anything to fix it, I would align it up and epoxy it to the shaft. Or when I have to replace the heater core, fix it right then.

 

[Yo]

Thanks for the reply BS,

And yes, I believe you are talking ab the same thing. This piece basically is a channeled plastic part that helps to direct airflow, and it only move ab 90* or less when the vents are moved from vent to floor.

I could certainly epoxy it, it doesn't seem like anywhere sells replacement parts for heater box internals.

Anyone else have any suggestions? What happens if I bolt this all back together and leave that piece as is? Am I going to get erratic floor/vent selections?