How the heck do I get all the pine needles out of the slotted vent (from outside) between the hood and windshield? I looked under the hood to see if there were screws/bolts I could remove to remove and clean all the pine needles out. Any ideas that would work? I want to avoid future rust from all the moisture build up.. - Newbie Dave

 

I pulled the rubber plug in the center of the firewall up near the top edge and shop-vac'ed what I could outta there... But...

The cowl is a balloon assembly and the only way to really clean it out is with a hose and alot of patience. Look up and to the rear inside the front wheel well and you'll see an oval rubber plug. Pull it out. Yep, that's all the room ya get!!

My cowl vent chamber (behind the rubber fender seals) were packed with leaves, twigs, and what turned out to be mulch because it had been in there so long. Flush it out with a garden hose. You will likely need to use a piece of coat hanger to draw out the big stuff cuz Ford didn't exactly provide large enough drain holes... it took me darned near 20 minutes on each side to get it absolutely clean. Oh, close your fresh air vents before flushing it out.

Alternate your hosing between the cowl grill and vent chamber to make sure ya get everything out. Good luck and be prepared for sore fingers, wet feet, and a helluvalot of cussing out engineers back in the day...

 

Take out your footwell vents inside the cab. Then you can reach in a grab handfuls if crud. And yes you have to drop the e brake set up to get the drivers one out.

 

It's a PITA to the 3/8-inch screws on the passenger side. I bit the bullet and strapped on my patience and galoshes.

It's even more of a PITA with a Bumpside.

 

Sounds like it's going to be even bigger PITA with factory A/C (no floor vents)......
That is one item that was greatly improved with the 80+ trucks. Removable cowl panel. I have it off on my 80 right now, as the wiper motor quit. I'll get around to installing the replacement motor (and linkages) someday...... (rain-x rocks)

 

Rogue, YES, Rain-X does ROCK.
Did you have to remove your hood to get that cowl panel off?

 

No, I didn't take the hood off to get it out. Might take it off to put it back on, it's THAT difficult to get off/on with the hood still in place......

Also, gonna cut some screen to go under the cowl. That should prevent too much from getting back in there. This "ordeal" started with the cowl filling with sleet/snow back during the blizzard of '11......

 

I found a cowl from an '87 (with the small holes) for mine, less than $20 at the jy. I'm in the process of priming and painting it (along with the rest of the truck) right now. I think I'll just wait until I replace the hood and fenders until I swap it out. I think I'm going to prime and put some type of undercoat (or maybe even some bed-liner)under where the cowl goes.

 

Good plan, as I scraped some paint off my cowl getting it off/on the first time, and more getting it back off.....

 

Ok, my wife and I just finished cleaning all the pine needles & debris out. I removed the bolts to the rubber housing and spray from the bottom up, used a coat hanger and sprayed from the top. It took about 40 minutes total, including spraying under the hood. I am thinking about spraying some primer & paint through the slots of the cowl. Atleast it will slow any rusting down.

Wife is 7 1/2 months pregnant and working on the Ford, I am so blessed, what a gal.

 

I would recomend buying some OSPHO and pouring it down both sides of the cowl. I t is a rust stopper and just about the consistency of water so it will go everywhere that water can go let it dry and then dump some old paint down there to protect inside all the cracks and crevices. Careful as to not get the OSPHO on your good paint cause it will bleach paint but there is no other rust killer out there that I know of.

 

I will get some next week. I think I will have a lot of applications for it as I am just starting this project.

 

i think i drilled holes in the bottoms of my vent boxes and put rubber plugs in the holes. cant remember for sure though. i know i cleaned out through the vents first though. id like to know how whole leaves can get into cab corners.

 

I attempted to clean out the cowl area on my 73 F250 Camper Special today. Removed the top middle oval plug on the firewall, and removed each oval plug up under each wheel well. Used a Shop Vac as well as an air compressor. The Shop Vac worked very well as I was able to put the hose through each opening and suck out many many leaves. The shop vac ended up having about 6 inches deep of leaves, etc, as it was the first time I cleaned out the cowl area since purchasing the truck about 7 years ago.

Also purchased, from Wal-Mart, some Magnetic Register Covers for indoor home heater ducts that are usually on the floor. I cut them to size and when I'm not using my truck, I am putting these magnetic sheets over the cowl area to keep from getting any leaves in there when the truck is not in use. Smart idea IMO.

Hope this all helps you all trying to keep your cowl area clean!!!

 

Thank you very much guys & gal{pregnant wife, what a super partner she must be!}!!!