windlace or cowl lacing

[dotcentral]

I had tacked this onto an earlier thread, but didn't get a reply. I will repost with hope that someone that knows can help out.

Windlace, or cowl lacing, or whatever youo want to call the rubber or vinyl strip that closes the gap between the hood and the upper firewall/cab area.

Which way is up? Does it mount like a "L", or flipped around 180 degrees, like an upside down "L"?

[crazy larry]

like an L but backwards. horizontal edge down clipped edge to the firewall but the other edge goes to the bottom.

[dotcentral]

Larry, I don't follow what your saying.

I have a 70, with the 70 windlace. Clips are preinstalled.

It can only go one of two ways. Does the horizontal piece go above the clips, mounted high, so to speak. Or is the horizontal piece mounted below the clips, or low?

Sounds like you're saying the horizontal piece is low? I only get 1 chance to mount this, then it's in there. Don't think it can come out without tearing it up.

[4x4x4crewcab]

Good question. My truck is not where I can check the old one but I thought
it would be like a 7 against the cowl horizontal piece(hood would shut against it ) above the clips. I'm not sure but I wanna say that is how I remember it?

[crazy larry]

horizontal piece is low. like this-> L

[jor]

I struggled with this as well but ended up believing it should be the opposite of the Larry method. i.e. the horizontal surface up. I think it makes more sense to have the flat surface up as it's supposed to keep the water out of the engine area. Anyhow, here are a couple of photos of mine.
jor

[hardtailjohn]

Mine's the same as Jor's on my '70... or at least it was ... the flat is gone to that great deteriorated rubber land in the sky , but I can still see where it used to be.. still have the vertical piece all the way across.
John H.

[crazy larry]

No wonder i never win any shows. my damn cowl lace is upside down!

[FORDification]

Well, at least now ya know, right? To be honest with you, I didn't know either, so I was closely monitoring this thread to see what the general concensus was. I learned something new here too.

[dotcentral]

Thanks for the pics. I've decided not to put mine on until the hood goes back on. I removed it to pull the engine, and wouldn't want to damage the cowl lace getting the hood reinstalled.

I had called Dennis Carpenter & the guy that's supposed to be the expert on 67-72's was at lunch. He called back & got my machine & I couldn't figure out what he said. Everytime I called after that he was either out or with a customer.

[68F250]

Jor's is correct, the horizontal flat side goes up, like an upsidedown 'L'.

[Merc Man]

Yes Jor's is correct ,flat side up or upside down "L" .I also picked up the D.C. cowl lacing for my Merc and was interested which way it goes .Lucky for me the truck is unmolested and still has a lot of the original rubber and seal parts still in place (or whats left of some ) and so I can tell from whats left which way it goes .Here's a picture of the motor area to show I still have some left.
If you guys do need any info as to where seals and stuff should go or how it should look feel free to E-Mail me and I will check and if possible try to get a photo to show how it was ...or whats left of it

[rjewkes]

well now i don't have to ask !

[4x4x4crewcab]

Today I received a 1967 cowl lacing w/s and clips I had ordered for a friends truck. The Dennis Carpenter catalog shows a 67 only (Picture attached),68-69 ( I have not seen) and the 70-72 ( I have purchased for my truck but not here now for photo) I have wondered what the differences are? This 67 cowl lacing has much larger clips and feels thicker/stiffer than what I remember from the 70-72 style I have for my truck. The 70-72 style also has the clips build in the lacing this 67 style has predrilled holes. I will add a better photo of the 70-72 style for comparison when I can get to the lacing as it is at another location. If someone can look /compare a 67 cab to a later cab and see if the holes for the lacing mounting is visibly larger or different. Hope this helps someone? I always wondered what the difference was?

[FORDification]

I'll be at the shop on Sunday, I'll compare the holes spacing and size between my '67 and '68 cabs.