65 Cad Fresh Air Vent Cables - Where to purchase?

[OldFatBald]

I am finally getting around to putting my 65 Deville Convertible back together and I would like to get my fresh air vents working again.

The driver's side flops around a bit, had a little mouse nest, but it does open and close.
The passenger's side doesn't budge and there is a LOT of rust on the cable.

• Where can I get new cables?
• What is behind the door, it looks like some type of filter fabric?
• Do I need to remove the dash to get the whole unit out? My buddy was pulling out the passenger side unit and said that we needed to pull the dash - I told him to put the screws back in until we have more info!!

[Chas]

Can't help ya with where to buy your fresh air cables, but can explain what I did when in a similar situation. My 1964 Buick Electra has a cable operated heater control valve. It too was rusted useless. I took the cable with me to a commercial lawn mower store. They have cables in every size and length that you can think of. Once I got my purchase home, I put the appropriate size roll pin in the vice, and bent an eyelet around it.

[Scot Minesinger]

You should buy the 1965 factory shop manual, this is where it saves you time and money.  The 65-68 Cadillac climate control dash units are the easiest to remove of all the Cadillac climate control cars from 1964 thru 1976 (1964, 1969 & 1970 are the most difficult).  You remove the dash unit, by removing panel under steering column first and then get underneath dash - very easy as these go.

As for the cables, I would buy good used.  Places I recommend either Cadillac Tim (Tim knows these parts best) or Willington CAD in CT, Jeff knows exactly what you are looking for.  Otherwise Cadillac King or Cadillacs only in CA, these four are the only places I bought used parts from.  The cables of course can be rebuilt, but getting the lengths and ends just right can be an issue.  These under dash parts tend to be well protected, except off course in the car we are working on.

Also, buy Cadillac Tim's climate control book (Google him in Iva, SC), this makes the climate control a little easier to work on.

[Chuck Swanson]

• Where can I get new cables?

Try Airparts, they may be able to make some:  1-877-542-8192.

Chuck