I was just cleaning a set of GT style engine vents when I discovered a hinge with no apparent purpose. I thought it might be a hinge to open the leaf guard to clean out all those annoying leaves that seem to get trapped in there constantly but the piece seems to be riveted in place. (Why isn't there one! LOL )

I've attached a picture of a vent from my 88 GT without the hinge and a few pictures of the hinge on the other set. .

This is nothing more than idle curiosity, but I wonder if anyone knows the purpose or origin of the hinge.

By the way, the hinge is non-functioning. It doesn't even move... So what's the point?

From my 88 GT vent. No hinge.




Hinge from an unknown GT vent

Never seen a hinge like that. Either GM was thinking of adding that and never finished their idea. Or it's someone's modification that was not well thought out. Either way it's new to me.

It certainly looks factory so can see why your asking.

I converted my 85 SE V6 to a 86-88 GT backend style...In the process, I picked up 2 sets of GT decklid grates....One has the rigid 90* tab for the rubber bumper and one has the hinge style...I did not pay attention to which years they might be....

Possibly, during production, it was easier to store the batches of vents inside a crate with hinged tabs....Or possibly they thought it would be easier to remove from the car with the hinge and they later decided that it wasn't necessary.....I dunno....

Even if the hinge moved, you can't remove the vent from the car without opening the deck lid. The rear flange has the hold down screws and also that flange is underneath the edge of the lid.

I've never seen that.