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Front Window Defrost Guide

Kevin Means

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Our M1083 came with a defroster "guide" that looks like it's supposed to direct the defroster's air onto the windshield. (Pictured) I've seen others that are made with plexiglass, which provides the driver with a much better view of things that are close to the front of the truck. If the guide is functional, I'd much rather have the see-through version. Is the see-through version an aftermarket mod, or is it a homemade mod? If neither version works very well, I'll just remove it. Your opinions?

KevinDefrost Guide.jpg
 

Ronmar

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Another option is to make a flat plate one that lays flat on the dash with a curved front that extends out to almost touch the windshield. The gap you leave determines airflow, or you could even make triangle or half round passages on the edge, to form air ”nozzles”.

Plenty of room beneath a flat dash for air to distribute from the center air feed, and ~3” more visibility. Was thinking one made out of hardwood, stained and finished might look cool covering the dash. Really make the dash “Pop”:) The windshield I sourced from Omni has a black border that coincidentally is at almost exactly the same height as the top of the center dash…

My truck didn’t have one and that was the simple solution I came up with, so simple I have not got around to fabricating it yet:)
 

GeneralDisorder

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One of the small reasons the newer trucks are SO much better. The A1R uses the plexi-glass defrost channel. Visibility was improved since accidents due to poor visibility and lack of a ground guide are the some of the most common and most unfortunate accidents that occur in the military and they make efforts to mitigate accidents. This was one of those changes. But the list of "enhancements" made to the A1 and later the A1R is LONG and I can't even begin to list them. The gauge cluster got a sun visor on the A1R that is ridiculously expensive for no reason I can determine - going to have them reproduced since every time I see one it goes for hundreds of $$ and the military cost is also extremely rude for what amounts to a bit of sheet metal and a handful of bends. The rarity is the issue since only the A1R and A1P2 got them which means uncommon on the civilian side (for now).

You can just cut the back out of that defrost channel and go to TAP Plastics and have some lexan cut to the right size. It's just held on with double-sided foam tape. Had to replace the tape on part of mine. Another victim of the desert sun.

Deleting it will NOT be good. Defrost only exits the HVAC console in the very center. You will get zero defrost in front of the driver and passenger without the channel. Gunner will be real happy but everyone else will be blind.

You should also get some like 1/2" adhesive foam weatherstripping as you will need it for the bottom and sides to seal them against the dash and the cab side walls. It doesn't really look like you have the rubber edging that goes against the glass either..... could just be I can't see it in the picture but there is supposed to be a rubberized edging on the front to seal it against the windshield and keep the sheet metal from contacting the glass.

For that matter if you want it to work well you should dismount the whole HVAC console and replace the foam between it and the cab duct, and inside the box where the flapper doors seal unless you are swapping to an AC console in which case I wouldn't bother till that job comes up on the punch list.

These trucks enjoyed continuous improvements over their useful life and many of them aren't just for comfort. The A1 changes in particular improved the MTBF by like 300%. That's HUGE and the military recognized S&S for building THE MOST reliable thing they have ever purchased - by a landslide. Not the A0 though. That distinction goes to the A1+ trucks exclusively. A0 trucks were honestly a teething nightmare with a manufacturer that had no history of experience building anything that was road legal. Mostly they made mining and rail equipment.

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GeneralDisorder

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Another option is to make a flat plate one that lays flat on the dash with a curved front that extends out to almost touch the windshield. The gap you leave determines airflow, or you could even make triangle or half round passages on the edge, to form air ”nozzles”.

My truck didn’t have one and that was the simple solution I came up with, so simple I have not got around to fabricating it yet:)
If you make the curved channel you could use the front rubber edging like the original but leave gaps for the air to blow directly through to the glass. Just cut the weatherstrip into like 6" segments and leave gaps for the air to flow through.
 

Ronmar

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If you make the curved channel you could use the front rubber edging like the original but leave gaps for the air to blow directly through to the glass. Just cut the weatherstrip into like 6" segments and leave gaps for the air to flow through.
Yea I was thinking something like that. If I do it out of wood, I can shape it to fit close and mill passages in the front edge…
 

GeneralDisorder

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Yea I was thinking something like that. If I do it out of wood, I can shape it to fit close and mill passages in the front edge…
Filthy dead tree carcass in your cab?!? Ewe.

I hear that some sick fools like to mechanically or electrically manipulate dead tree carcasses in their "workshop" for pleasure. Horrific. 🤮
 

GeneralDisorder

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Hey, I can make the dash hood out of the same wood:)
Always consider what the folks that come to the Estate Sale you leave behind will think. Don't want to end up as a 60 Minutes episode about the sick MONSTER that derived great pleasure from slaughtering our innocent cellulose brothers and sisters and then displaying them literally on the dash of his truck. Do your neighbors know the evil festering among them?

Disgusting! 😭
 

Ronmar

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Location
Port angeles wa
Always consider what the folks that come to the Estate Sale you leave behind will think. Don't want to end up as a 60 Minutes episode about the sick MONSTER that derived great pleasure from slaughtering our innocent cellulose brothers and sisters and then displaying them literally on the dash of his truck. Do your neighbors know the evil festering among them?

Disgusting! 😭
I am sure the suspect every time I light off the chainsaw…
 
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