I'm in the process of doing a body off restoration of a 69 convertible 427/390 and we've come across a bar and actuator (appears to be vacuum related) behind the passenger at the rear of the car. It's inside the vehicle. The bar is about 15" long with the actuator on the left end when facing backwards. Anyone know what it's for?

Possibly for the Astro-ventilation? If the vacuum line is routed to your heater/ac control, it is for the astrovent behind the rear deck. Some people have told me I am wrong about the vents being controled by vacuum, but I remember reading it somewhere. Pretty sure it is also only on the factory air cars.
If you figure out what it is , please post it.
Thanks.

Astro ventilation is controlled by the small vacuum switch on the heater control. It operates when vent is selected and is only on non-AC cars. The poor man's air conditioning.
Gary

I stand corrected....non-ac cars

OK....now you guys have done it....I'm confused. My '72 has Astro Vent engraved on the windows. It is a A/C car. I thought I read somewhere that on non-a/c cars the rear vents were open all the time, but on a/c cars the vents would close when the a/c was turned on....

Now....where did I read that?

Could be I was right the irst time....a/c cars
Now if I was home right now, I could go take a look. How easy is it to see the actuator and what do I have to do to see it?
( besides open my eyes and look )
Here we go on the creeper again....where's my lift?

Hey, You guys are too fast. This car doesn't have A/C so it must be on non A/C cars. It's not hooked up to anything anymore but will be when I'm done. You don't need the creeper. Climb inside the car and get behind the passenger seat. It's on the back wall between you and the tail lights up near the top. Might be hidden by carpet. Anyway, now I'll know what it is and I won't be the only dumb one in the garage when someone else ask's what that thing with the bar is for. Thanks a lot

I have a 1970 without A/C and I have the part you are talking about. I would have never noticed it but I was working back behind the drivers seat and pulled off the vacuum line. When I drove it I heard a hiss. I know in mine when you put on the defroster it opens the back vents to let the air flow thru the car. I think Astro ventalation means that you have the vents on the center console so you can let air in on the floor or the vents on the dash that you can pull to open. One or the other. I am not sure

those doors at the rear are sealed on AC cars and vacumm operated on non ac cars. all cars had the astro ventlation wording on the side glass.

Are you sure working doors is an AC/non AC thing or is it a coupe/convertible thing? I have an air conv, and the vents don't go anywhere, you can see the ground, but I have heard that on coupes there are ducts into the rear compartment.

I have learned that newer (72-73+?) cars have a 3" shorter rear compartment than earlier sharks, so the ground not visible in all C3s.

Joe