Hello, I have some questions about an old defroster kit I purchased a while back, I believe this was a Dealer add-on kit that was left on a dealers shelf for a long, long time. Anyway, my 70 S1 is a late (May) build date and I previously didnt think this kit is correct for my car. However, there is some interesting info on the front and back of the instructions sheet (see pics). There is one side of the instructions showing the interior dash mounting w/ words printed on it to the effect of Initial 1970 model run and w/ a Jan. 1969 drawing date. But, the reverse side of the instructions sheet shows the trunk mounting instructions and a May 1968 drawing date. The kit is for the type of defroster (motor, duct and grille) that mounts to the (rear) seat back, not the underside of the package tray. Is this the same type of motor for a convert? It seems to me that there is info indicating the parts might be correct for early 70 cars from the factory or as a Dealer added option. Info I have gleaned from reading some older threads indicate that the blower, duct and grille in this defroster kit are for either/or 68-69 A-bodies and possibly same year convertibles and later (maybe) 70-72 A-body converts because of the rear seat (bracing) mounting position. If anyone has experience with this kit or parts, please advise. Thanks. Ken
The only help I can offer is that the switch plate has the correct finish for the 70 and newer cars. The 68-69's had a ribbed finish on them.
This is a Dealer Added Accessory for all '70 A Bodies except S/Ws and Convertibles. Info comes from the Preliminary Parts Catalogue (dated Sept 1969) for A Bodies, which shows this as a "new part". This Accessory was available for cars that were not ordered with a factory Rear Defroster. HTH
A rear defroster was a factory installed option on 70-72 hardtops and I think coverts as well. Not 100% sure on convert. Rear blower was option #C50 on hardtops
Just a quick note my 1971 GS 455 convert has a factory rear glass defroster. I worked 45 years as GM tech at Buick dealers and don't remember ever seeing one in a convert. I don't know if this came from the factory with it or was installed at the dealer.
So what is this part worth? I thought it was a fctory option and is exactaly like the factory installed one in a 70 hardtop. is it being stated this isn't the same unit that came installed on a defrost equipped car? The 71/72 mounts under the dash but I thought all the 70's mounted to the trunk seperating plate?
All the ones I have seen mount on/under the package tray. The 70 versions have a metal grill with one corner radiused. The 71-2 versions were rectangular and are made from plastic. See attached pic....upper one is from 1970 in the post below: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=62579 Yes, the rear defrosts were available for conv models....very rare. We discussed it here before. http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=143303
Well, those are really the 2 questions I was trying to get input on from you guys: 1. Whether this dealer kit is technically correct as a "dealer added option" for '70 per some parts number info. It appearsw that this kit may be correct for early-1970 A-bodies. (from thread:http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=62579) 2. Input on the individual parts of this kit regarding the differences from the RPO factory defroster (mounts to the trunk-side of the underside of the package tray & different rectangle-style grille, different duct and motor, etc.) and similarities of these kit components to the convertible defroster parts (motor, duct, long/thin grille) for '70-'72. I think I read a comment from Duane in a different post commenting on the fact that there were 2 different '70 defroster styles. This may be consistent w/ a printed portion of the interior instructions sheet (in original thread post) showing "initial 1970 production run". And, I did find a pic in a thread showing a clearly different duct for a (at least) 1970 convert defroster, so I think that question is answered. That said, I am ultimately trying get a complete and correct 1970 defroster kit for my May build date '70 GS and I am concerned that this kit (that I picked up a looooong time ago) is not correct. The more I looked at this kit and read other comments in different posts, the more I realized that the parts in this kit are different than the RPO factory option (for May 1970) and resembled earlier model years, like '68-'69 and the printed descriptions of the mounting position of the defroster parts for '70-'72 A-body converts. Lastly, I have seen more than a few heavily optioned Skylark Sportwagons from '69 through '72 with the much sought after dash plate for ACCESSORY(pwr rear window or conv. top)/CRUISE/DEFROSTER ... I guess I should have paid more attention to them at the junkyards growing up.
Yes that dash plate is very valuable. I was looking for a friend and he finally found oneafter 3 years. We bid 399.00 for a set of NOS ones which had al of them in it. I ended up buying the cruise and defrost from the guy for 150.00 and then found a NOS kit like yours. I was wondering what the kits like this are worth.
i parted a 70 and a 71 skylark with assembly line defogs, they didnt look like that, they had the square vents, i know that one is in a buick box, but the thing looks exactly like an assembly line GTO deogger.......interesting...i have some defogger stuf if somone needs some, i dont have any full set ups, just parts, ive had the stuff for years.
The kit is definately a Buick number and is in its original box I wonder why they changed form this type to the center of the deck style . These look much better as the sir will go right up the back window. The dash switch plates are definately buick and were in my unopened box. What do you have for a 71/72 ?
I don' thtink there is any real mystery here. That is a early production 1970 only style rear defogger; dash switch plate is for a cruise control option as indicator light turns on. My May of 70 GS 350 had this set up, actually works. Want to sell / trade for it? I am in the market. MarkO
