Over the last few 100* days the ole 92 being black has been extremely hot. I kept noticing alot of heat coming in around the inside door handles. I pulled the door panel off the drivers side and the plastic sheet that covers the underside of the door panel was missing. I replaced that and saw where alot of heat could be coming in from the inner fender. I found some vent like openings in the front of the door that were open, I used the aluminum a/c tape and covered those up also. Checked the passenger side and the plastic was still intact but the openings in front of the door was open to the heat from the inner fender was open. I taped those up and put it all together and test rode about 20 miles and a world of difference inside the cab. No heat coming in around the door panels. Relative quick fix for incoming heat from the engine ect. that comes in behind the fender and onto the inside of the door.

 

wow 100* days! its like 95 here in CT and the heat is sucking the life out of me

good to hear you made out well

 

I'm going to give that a try. I just drove mine from san diego to keene new hampshire via the 10 through az,tex and into florida. Then up the 95 to my new home. I had no ac and it was 100*+ or close to it with humidity. Beautiful drive otherwise. I never thought the north East would be hotter than sd.

 

Just before I went to Colorado in June I installed some speakers in the front doors to keep me entertained on the drive up. I started to put the covers back on the doors and the plastic was annoying me so I ripped it all off and well.......... ......its hot in there now. Looks like Ill be doing the same trick.

 

I was just thinking that I also removed the plastic when I repaired both widow motors, hehe. I'll have to do this as well.

 

The plastic helped but I think covering the vent like holes in the front of the doors did the most. I've been thinking that maybe putting some foam strips inbetween the fender and the inner panel at the back of the fender in front of the door would have to help alot.
Oilcan64 the temp here has been from 98* to 107* and the humidity in the hi 60s% to 80% so yea it sucks the life outta you.

 

Throw some pics up, a good sticky

 

Am I the only one wondering the purpose of these "vents" from the factory?

Equalization when closing the doors? IOW, to eliminate the cab from being airtight... don't recall the vehicles, but I've had a couple that a window needed to be cracked to get the last door shut with out slamming it (one of my pet peeves)

Or maybe to ALLOW the warm(er) air from the inner fender to heat the doors/possibly mirrors for defrosting/deicing during the winter?

 

I have no idea why the vent like holes are there. On the drivers side the vents had some tape like stuff on them but had come almost completely loose. Just tore it on off and cleaned up and replaced with the aluminum a/c tape, the passenger side the tape was gone. I have a point and shoot temp gun I should have did a before and after temp comparison but didn't. But no rocket science is needed to tell the big difference in interior temp before and after.

 

I have no idea why the vent like holes are there. On the drivers side the vents had some tape like stuff on them but had come almost completely loose. Just tore it on off and cleaned up and replaced with the aluminum a/c tape, the passenger side the tape was gone. I have a point and shoot temp gun I should have did a before and after temp comparison but didn't. But no rocket science is needed to tell the big difference in interior temp before and after. I'm going to try and find some type of foam strips to put in behind the fender and at the front of the door to improve on this.

 

I was going to say as well those vents are there for a reason I'm sure but whAT that reason is nobody knows.... I'd just keep an eye on things when the temp drops see if anything has changed.

Good idea none the less, I agree it would make a nice sticky for others to see.

 

Those vents let the air balance between the inside and outside of the cab whenever you close the door otherwise when it was new you would have to really slam the door. They also aid in venting the moisture from inside the door thereby slowing down the rusting process. I think this all came into play whenever the newer style heater/ac box went from the early 70's style into the type on our trucks. I personally know a fellow who installed the older non vented doors on the newer style cab and always had a tough time closing the door. Of course most of our trucks have developed self forming vents elsewhere so this problem may not be as prevalent as it was 15 years ago.
BTW, the plastic inner door panel is primarily a vapor barrier and helps to keep water from collecting in the door pad and door sill. It would exhibit very little insulation R value in heat transfer.

 

If you guys haven't done so clean out the plenum it makes a big difference especially if yours look like mine did.... Lets see if this works..

 

Trebor the plastic is as you said a vapor barrier but it also keeps the hot air from coming in around the door handles and any other gap you may have in the door panel. I think our trucks have enough wear on them that the vents aren't needed now besides they have some fairly good sized drain slots in the bottom of the doors. It most definately helps keep the heat out.

 

Mine looked like that too Grey Wolf...when I cut the hole in it...