Refurbishing Decklid Vents

[pgackerman]

Subject says it all.  How can decklid vents be refurbished?

Is there some sneaky way to take them apart? 
Will an '87 vent fit an '88 vent?

[TopNotch]

I assume your are talking about GT vents, and i don't have any direct experience with those. But if they are like notchback vents, the underlying grating can be removed by drilling out the rivets that attach it to the vent. If you can then strip the vent. you can permanently restore it by powder coating it.

[Fierofool]

Some have drilled out the rivets that hold the screen underneath.  Other vents have stamped steel nuts pressed onto posts.  Problem is not to break the posts. 

I've often thought about taking a pair to a powder coater and let them chemically strip them, then powder coat.  If one had a small glass bead cabinet, they could most likely get all the finish off without damaging the metal.  Sandblasting can damage or blast away the metal.  Former member Joe Culver of Culver Brothers Sandblasting in Powder Springs could do the job.  They are reputed to have a powder coating line capable of doing a car frame.

[TopNotch]

If you want to temporarily restore your vents, spray them with flat black Plasti-Dip or some other brand of "peel-coat" paint. I did that on my yellow car, and I really like the way it looks.

[pgackerman]

Thanks for the info.

[Fierofool]

I used plasticoat on my 87 mirrors and grills before it was repainted.   Maybe I didnt do it correctly but the appearance was flat, collected dirt stains, and wouldn't peel off.

[TopNotch]

I actually used Rustoleum Matte Black Peel Coat on my vents. I couldn't think of the name when I first wrote, so I went out to the garage and checked the can. You can get it at AutoZone.

[Raydar]

...
Will an '87 vent fit an '88 vent?

I believe the holes for the "wingnuts" are different on an 88. I ended up drilling extra holes in mine (87 vents) to make them work on my 88.
if you have to do that, be careful. Tape up the edge of the grill, next to where you are drilling. It's easy to hit with the drill and scratch the finish.

[SpadeCustoms]

Mine are powder coated. Just better in the long run in my opinion.