Heater duct rust - replace or repair?

[deeking55]

I have an 83 SC that I am still learning about and trying to figure out what the PO has done. It has manual heater controls that work well but crawling under the car I see this. Is the rust normal? Is this something to replace or remove and repair? The cables work quite well but the amount of rust is alarming to me.
many thanks-

[fastfredracing]

That rust is not overwhelmingly alarming to me. They appear to be intact, and as you have said , they function normally . As long as there are not any holes in the boxes, and the flaps move freely you should be in good shape for a while. If you do take them off, heat the nuts that hold them onto the body first. You do not want to snap off one of the studs that they are attatched to. They are a little rusty, and you could remove them, clean them up and paint them, but replacements are only 150 ish per side

[Gogar]

if they're moving freely, leave 'em. Spray some penetrant on them if you want. But that might make 'em fall apart!!

+1 you can replace them if you want, careful with the studs that hold them to the body.Lots of patience, and spray goo, etc.

[don gilbert]

You would be surprised at what navy jelly can do to that. it would clean up nice.

[OldTee]

They are fine. Move on to other things.

[Flat6pac]

The first thing you will loose if you fool with it will be the studs, they break so easy with age..especially the top one.
\Bruce

[boyt911sc]

If you decide to leave them alone, I would suggest that you spray some penetrating lubricant to the 4 studs. It might help a lot next time you decide to loosen them. A good sand blasting job and a coat of rust preventor would refurbished these heater boxes back to a better condition.

Tony

[deeking55]

Thanks for the replies, they work fine, if I don't need to worry about them I can find plenty else on the car to focus my time on!

[kach22i]

If it's not broke, don't fix it.

[schumicat]

I'm guessing that is normal for cars where there is salt on the roads. My 82 has little or no rust there, but it has lived in warm climes its whole life.