Chevy & GMC Vans

Has anyone come up with a good fix for the the air balance problem with floor level heating?
The drivers feet freeze while the passenger side cooks. My wife and I have to fight over the controls
I know these vans are not known for great air balance. I tried duct tape on the passenger side vents, still did not push air to the drivers feet.
I was thinking of running an addtional duct (1.5" dia) from the passenger side plenum to the drivers side pedal area to add more air flow.

you know i was thinking about that this weekend too i was thinking about redoing the ducting back there becuase of space and wiring issues it's a mess in there

I cut a piece of plastic from a cat litter bucket and screwed it in front of the heater duct on thye pass. side. helps to get more air on drivers side..

I did a little web search and found a Service Bulletin TSB regarding this item.
http://www.alldata.com/TSB/23/002334go.html
01-01-38-003, FEB 01, HVAC - Poor Heat Distribution in Driver Area
Has anyone looked this up or have access to TSBs?

I don't remember the particulars of the TSB, but I had it done on my Safari way back when. It seems like there was some sort of kit installed. It didn't totally fix the problem, but I do recall an improvement.

Per Fixya.com

tsb # 01-01-38-003

Poor Heat Distribution in Driver's Area of Vehicle (Install New Heat
Diverter Ducts)
1996-2001 Chevrolet and GMC M/L-Van Models

Built Prior to the following VIN Breakpoints:

Make
VIN Breakpoint

Chevrolet
1B111821

GMC
1B504468

This condition may be corrected by installing a newly designed center
heat duct and diverter tube. Use the following procedure and the part
numbers listed below to install the new ductwork.

Remove the screw covers from the top of the instrument panel (IP)
extension and remove the retaining screws.
Remove the retaining nuts from the bottom of the IP extension.
Remove the IP extension from under the IP by pulling the extension
outward and disconnecting the electrical connector.
Remove the screws (total of 3) that retain the driver's knee bolster
to the IP.
Disconnect the park brake release cable from the park brake assembly
and remove the knee bolster from the vehicle.
Place the knee bolster on a clean, flat surface with the colored side
up. The knee bolster will be resting on the lower edge tabs on the
bench. The right side tab is where the tube must be attached.
Lift the knee bolster and place the mounting of the flexible heat duct
on the right side mounting tab of the knee bolster. Mark and drill two
5 mm (13/64 in) holes in the knee bolster mounting flange.
Attach the mounting flange to the knee bolster with the screws.
Tighten
Tighten the screws to 2 N??m (18 lb in).

On panel vans, it will be necessary to remove the duct attaching
screws from the floor of the vehicle.
Remove the original center heat duct from the vehicle by grabbing at
the top left corner of the duct and then pulling the duct to the left
and out of the vehicle.
Position the new heat duct to the floor outlet, if equipped, and snap
into the heater case.
On panel vans, reinstall the retainers for the heat duct into the
floor of the vehicle. Tighten
Tighten the retaining nuts to 2 N??m (18 lbN??min).

Reinstall the knee bolster to the vehicle. Position the new heat duct
into the opening of the IP support brace and onto the outlet from the
center heat duct.
Reconnect the park release cable to the park brake assembly and
install the three knee bolster retaining screws.
Reposition the IP extension to the IP and reconnect the electrical
connector.
Install the retainers. Tighten
Tighten to the retainers to 8 N??m (71 lbN??min).

Install the screw covers to the IP extension
15754078
Duct Asm - Flr Air Outlet
1 per vehicle

15754076
Outlet, Flr Air (Passenger Vans)
1 per vehicle*

15754077
Outlet, Flr Air (Panel Vans)
1 per vehicle**

9423101
Screw, Tap
2 screws required per vehicle

Bill,
thanks for the info, I will check the prices for the new diverter duct.

Update:
Parts cost about $40 US but you have to tear the dash apart to install them.
Here is my fix.
Drivers-side: Use a hole saw to cut a 1.25" hole in the existing plastic heat duct. Add a flexible 1.25" air duct extended down to the gas peddle area.
Passenger-side: Remove the knee bolster to access the heating plenum. Replace the gaskets to stop excess air leakage.
Put tape over two of the three passenger side air slots.
Added 1/2" thick rigid insulation tight up against the heater core housing cover to reduce excess radiant heat on the passenger’s feet.
Working great so far.

JaySafari wrote:Bill,
thanks for the info, I will check the prices for the new diverter duct.

Update:
Parts cost about $40 US but you have to tear the dash apart to install them.
Here is my fix.
Drivers-side: Use a hole saw to cut a 1.25" hole in the existing plastic heat duct. Add a flexible 1.25" air duct extended down to the gas peddle area.
Passenger-side: Remove the knee bolster to access the heating plenum. Replace the gaskets to stop excess air leakage.
Put tape over two of the three passenger side air slots.
Added 1/2" thick rigid insulation tight up against the heater core housing cover to reduce excess radiant heat on the passenger’s feet.
Working great so far.

have you got any pic's of this feat for feet on the drivers side ??/ Steve

lockdoc wrote:Per Fixya.com

tsb # 01-01-38-003

Poor Heat Distribution in Driver's Area of Vehicle (Install New Heat
Diverter Ducts)
1996-2001 Chevrolet and GMC M/L-Van Models

Built Prior to the following VIN Breakpoints:

Make
VIN Breakpoint

Chevrolet
1B111821

GMC
1B504468

This condition may be corrected by installing a newly designed center
heat duct and diverter tube. Use the following procedure and the part
numbers listed below to install the new ductwork.

Remove the screw covers from the top of the instrument panel (IP)
extension and remove the retaining screws.
Remove the retaining nuts from the bottom of the IP extension.
Remove the IP extension from under the IP by pulling the extension
outward and disconnecting the electrical connector.
Remove the screws (total of 3) that retain the driver's knee bolster
to the IP.
Disconnect the park brake release cable from the park brake assembly
and remove the knee bolster from the vehicle.
Place the knee bolster on a clean, flat surface with the colored side
up. The knee bolster will be resting on the lower edge tabs on the
bench. The right side tab is where the tube must be attached.
Lift the knee bolster and place the mounting of the flexible heat duct
on the right side mounting tab of the knee bolster. Mark and drill two
5 mm (13/64 in) holes in the knee bolster mounting flange.
Attach the mounting flange to the knee bolster with the screws.
Tighten
Tighten the screws to 2 N??m (18 lb in).

On panel vans, it will be necessary to remove the duct attaching
screws from the floor of the vehicle.
Remove the original center heat duct from the vehicle by grabbing at
the top left corner of the duct and then pulling the duct to the left
and out of the vehicle.
Position the new heat duct to the floor outlet, if equipped, and snap
into the heater case.
On panel vans, reinstall the retainers for the heat duct into the
floor of the vehicle. Tighten
Tighten the retaining nuts to 2 N??m (18 lbN??min).

Reinstall the knee bolster to the vehicle. Position the new heat duct
into the opening of the IP support brace and onto the outlet from the
center heat duct.
Reconnect the park release cable to the park brake assembly and
install the three knee bolster retaining screws.
Reposition the IP extension to the IP and reconnect the electrical
connector.
Install the retainers. Tighten
Tighten to the retainers to 8 N??m (71 lbN??min).

Install the screw covers to the IP extension
15754078
Duct Asm - Flr Air Outlet
1 per vehicle

15754076
Outlet, Flr Air (Passenger Vans)
1 per vehicle*

15754077
Outlet, Flr Air (Panel Vans)
1 per vehicle**

9423101
Screw, Tap
2 screws required per vehicle

I went to the GM dealer and they indicated that they don't have the part available for the duct Assembly or the Outlet, floor air Distribution Where these GM part numbers or are they after market ??/Have you got any pic's as to the installation of these products ??/

lockdoc wrote:Per Fixya.com

tsb # 01-01-38-003

Poor Heat Distribution in Driver's Area of Vehicle (Install New Heat
Diverter Ducts)
1996-2001 Chevrolet and GMC M/L-Van Models

Built Prior to the following VIN Breakpoints:

Make
VIN Breakpoint

Chevrolet
1B111821

GMC
1B504468

This condition may be corrected by installing a newly designed center
heat duct and diverter tube. Use the following procedure and the part
numbers listed below to install the new ductwork.

Remove the screw covers from the top of the instrument panel (IP)
extension and remove the retaining screws.
Remove the retaining nuts from the bottom of the IP extension.
Remove the IP extension from under the IP by pulling the extension
outward and disconnecting the electrical connector.
Remove the screws (total of 3) that retain the driver's knee bolster
to the IP.
Disconnect the park brake release cable from the park brake assembly
and remove the knee bolster from the vehicle.
Place the knee bolster on a clean, flat surface with the colored side
up. The knee bolster will be resting on the lower edge tabs on the
bench. The right side tab is where the tube must be attached.
Lift the knee bolster and place the mounting of the flexible heat duct
on the right side mounting tab of the knee bolster. Mark and drill two
5 mm (13/64 in) holes in the knee bolster mounting flange.
Attach the mounting flange to the knee bolster with the screws.
Tighten
Tighten the screws to 2 N??m (18 lb in).

On panel vans, it will be necessary to remove the duct attaching
screws from the floor of the vehicle.
Remove the original center heat duct from the vehicle by grabbing at
the top left corner of the duct and then pulling the duct to the left
and out of the vehicle.
Position the new heat duct to the floor outlet, if equipped, and snap
into the heater case.
On panel vans, reinstall the retainers for the heat duct into the
floor of the vehicle. Tighten
Tighten the retaining nuts to 2 N??m (18 lbN??min).

Reinstall the knee bolster to the vehicle. Position the new heat duct
into the opening of the IP support brace and onto the outlet from the
center heat duct.
Reconnect the park release cable to the park brake assembly and
install the three knee bolster retaining screws.
Reposition the IP extension to the IP and reconnect the electrical
connector.
Install the retainers. Tighten
Tighten to the retainers to 8 N??m (71 lbN??min).

Install the screw covers to the IP extension
15754078
Duct Asm - Flr Air Outlet
1 per vehicle

15754076
Outlet, Flr Air (Passenger Vans)
1 per vehicle*

15754077
Outlet, Flr Air (Panel Vans)
1 per vehicle**

9423101
Screw, Tap
2 screws required per vehicle

Where did you find these parts??/ I went to GMPartsGiant where Ive shopped before and the have no reference of these part numbers in there inventory??/ They have to my knowledge the biggest available inventory around for GM vehicles ??/ I realize these was posted Post subject: Re: Drivers side cold feet
PostPosted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 2:38 am way back when??/ If you can help with your parts supplier it would be gratefully appreciated??/ please advise Steve @S&J Auto

I got mine out of a post 2001 in the JY, made all the difference!