Fresh air / inner fender wire duct

[fusion]

I have a 1976 280z. Bought it as a shell and I am redoing everything. Under the dash, in the upper kick panel area on both sides it appears there are round openings that have been tack welded or riveted and sealed shut.  

 

 

 

I also have openings to passageways in both inner fenders up by the core support. I ran some fish tape down the passageways and I'm wondering if they connect to these openings that are blocked off. It seemed like they would connect. I would love to potentially use these to run wires through for a cleaner look.  

 

 

Can anyone shed some light on this? Maybe these were fresh air intakes? If so, how were they controlled? Are the block off plates factory or added by a previous owner? If I open them up, will I get a large amount of air coming in while driving at speed?

 

Thanks

 

 

 

Edited November 27, 2022 by fusion

[calZ]

I'm not near my car right now and don't remember the footwell area well enough to 100% confirm that's the correct spot, but I believe you're correct. The oblong holes in the engine bay are fed by ducts like these:

https://www.thezstore.com/product/5706/reproduction-fresh-air-duct-kit-70-73-240z

 

They take air from the round holes on the core support and feed those ducts. Then there would be a round knob at the bottom of the dash to control a flapper on the blocked off round holes in the interior. That mechanism looks like this:

https://www.autopartone.com/products/72-73-datsun-240z-oem-climate-control-fresh-air-vent-switch-right

 

I had been planning on doing the same thing, and I think others have run wires that way in the past. 

[Boosted12]

Yes, I ran my wiring through these in my 280Z, it worked a treat.