Vent cowl off
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,244
Likes: 40
Vent cowl off
I noted that the other day I had a broken vaccumn line that goes into my blower motor area. Anyway, I tore it apart today and had to cut the black and white line, as well as the solid black one. I couldn't get the connecters off so I just drilled them out a bit, enough to get the old/new hose into it. That was a success as I blew them out with compressed air and then sucked on them and got air through the hoses. I got all that put together and cleared out the leaved in my blower motor area and wd40ed my door inside the blower motor, it is a bit old and am not sure how I would get another one, but thats another matter.
I noted that I didn't have very good heat circulation through my vents, so I am thinking that leaves trapped inside my cowl area are the culprit. How do I pull the cowl off? I assume I remove the hood, ac lines, and then the windshield chrome. However, I don't want to break anything and figure there is a correct method to doing this. To prevent it I am going to stretch some chicken type mesh accross the slots on the under side, and tack weld it. It will prevent large leaves from getting in there and making this a problem again.
Thanks
I noted that I didn't have very good heat circulation through my vents, so I am thinking that leaves trapped inside my cowl area are the culprit. How do I pull the cowl off? I assume I remove the hood, ac lines, and then the windshield chrome. However, I don't want to break anything and figure there is a correct method to doing this. To prevent it I am going to stretch some chicken type mesh accross the slots on the under side, and tack weld it. It will prevent large leaves from getting in there and making this a problem again.
Thanks
This space for rent...
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,001
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From: In the garage
You need to remove the wiper blade arms and undo the screws in the cowl piece. You don't need to remove the hood, just keep it open. There are screws located on the firewall and some located within the slates of the cowl piece.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 282
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From: Texas
The mesh will keep the big stuff from getting trapped in the cowl, but it won't stop the leaves from breaking down into smaller pieces and slipping through. Do your best to keep the cowl area clean. When you install the mesh, don't tack weld it, some simple gasket sealer, emblem adhesive, or even JB weld will easily attach it to the underside of the cowl.
Once you pull the cowl vent, you'll see how easy it is to do, and you can do it maybe once a year just to keep it cleaned out. When those leaves and dirt are stuck inside the cowl, the moisture builds up and causes mold, mildew, rust, and usually stinks inside the cab. I like to fire up the engine and let the blower motor run full blast and pour liquid Lysol all over the window and down in the cowl vent, then flush it for about 10 minutes with a water hose. I do this on all my cars usually once a year or twice if they are parked outside. It helps kill the smell, mildew, and mold. I guess you could call it a cowl douche.
Once you pull the cowl vent, you'll see how easy it is to do, and you can do it maybe once a year just to keep it cleaned out. When those leaves and dirt are stuck inside the cowl, the moisture builds up and causes mold, mildew, rust, and usually stinks inside the cab. I like to fire up the engine and let the blower motor run full blast and pour liquid Lysol all over the window and down in the cowl vent, then flush it for about 10 minutes with a water hose. I do this on all my cars usually once a year or twice if they are parked outside. It helps kill the smell, mildew, and mold. I guess you could call it a cowl douche.
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
The 1987+ trucks use a pin-hole-type cowl instead of the slots.
I would be inclined to try window screen material attached to the underside of the cowl.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,362
Likes: 22
From: Florence, SC
Originally Posted by ctubutis
The 1987+ trucks use a pin-hole-type cowl instead of the slots.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
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I was looking at the neighbors 89 or 91 truck the other day. Its almost like mine exactly, except its a diff color, fuel injected, auto. Its amazng just how many parts fit. I must say those Fords are quite possibly the ugliest Ford pickup ever. I've tried hard to like them but they just don't do it for me.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 6
From: Florida
Chump, I find it a pain in the rear to leave the hood on when removing the cowl. Last time I tried it I scratched the cowl, and I had even loosened up the hinges and pulled the hood farther away from the cowl.
If I were you man, I would swap to the 87-91 panel. I did the swap on my truck two years ago, and to date I still have no leaves in the cowl area, except for the occasional leaf that make's it's way past the wiper arm hole. It's a million times easier than the mesh screen. The problem with adding a screen to the 80-86 panel is that if you don't attach every inch of the screen to the cowl panel, the leaves can still enter through the seams. It helps a little bit, but not alot.
If I were you man, I would swap to the 87-91 panel. I did the swap on my truck two years ago, and to date I still have no leaves in the cowl area, except for the occasional leaf that make's it's way past the wiper arm hole. It's a million times easier than the mesh screen. The problem with adding a screen to the 80-86 panel is that if you don't attach every inch of the screen to the cowl panel, the leaves can still enter through the seams. It helps a little bit, but not alot.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,990
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From: Florida
Since people always love pictures....
This second pic was taken before I aligned the panel, so that's why the lines on the hood and the cowl don't match up. I didn't paint mine because the color was close enough that it's barely noticeable unless you look for it.
This second pic was taken before I aligned the panel, so that's why the lines on the hood and the cowl don't match up. I didn't paint mine because the color was close enough that it's barely noticeable unless you look for it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,509
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From: Wagener, SC
I had mine (nearly) off last month, but it seems to hang up because of the antenna. Couldn't see how to disconnect it. Had all the screws out, loose and got most of it up, but it hung up on the passenger side. Never did get it all the way off.
What did I do wrong?
What did I do wrong?