cowl vents

[tynall44]

what are the function of the cowl vents what im talking about is the area around and in between the wipers,,, its all rusty down inside there id love to cut out the louvers and do something with it then replace it with this nice metal mesh i have ,,, has anyone did this before

[FORDification]

That's where the fresh air vents inside the cab get the air. Plus it's where the heater draws in air to heat, via the passenger-side vent.

I've been trying to come up with a cool-looking way of incorporating some kind of screen on my project's cowl vents too, just to keep leaves and pine needles from dropping down in there. I haven't come up with anything that doesn't involve major surgery, which I'd like to avoid if possible. The best idea I've come up with is to cut out a full-width section of the front of the cowl panel, inside the engine bay around where that center oval plug is located. With that removed, I could tackweld a screen on the bottom side of the vents, and then cut a patch panel for that large hole about 1/4" wider from another cab and just bolt it in, maybe with stainless hardware.

[BigRedTruck]

you could get some of that screen that they on patios and slide it in rolled up then unroll it ship in a bottle style....not sure what you would use to secure it though.

[tynall44]

i want to get down in there to stop the surface rust i can see developing,im planning on cutting out the whole center section then fabricate a piece to take its place

[FORDification]

There's a truck cab listed on E-bay (which we've been discussing in this thread) where someone has cut multiple access holes along the front section, under the hood. This is actually a great idea, I think. You could just use the factory grommets to plug the holes and not only would it be quick and easy (more or less), but would still have a semi-factory appearance:



Actually, of all the ideas I've run through my mind, this is probably at the top of the list

[trukcrazy]

"The best idea I've come up with is to cut out a full-width section of the front of the cowl panel, inside the engine bay around where that center oval plug is located. With that removed, I could tackweld a screen on the bottom side of the vents, and then cut a patch panel for that large hole about 1/4" wider from another cab and just bolt it in, maybe with stainless hardware."

Keith, I think I like this idea of yours the best. Done correctly, you could market the repair kit for this, ala early Mustang repair kits for the same ailment. Included would be a pattern for cutting the metal out and a new replcement piece that could be bolted or welded in.