I like the air vent and would not seal it. Very nice to have the cool air streaming through the cab on a hot summer day.

 

Does anyone have any details on how to motorized it. That sounds like a great idea.

 

Mine does not leak in the rain and it does help cool the cab on the hot days. But the coolest things about the cowl vent is that when my wife and I are tooling down the road with the windows open, her hair is all over the place... until I open the cowl, then it offsets the airflow and wah-lah! her hair isn't all up in her face anymore. Found that out about a month ago when I closed it and her hair went crazy... pretty cool feature to have!

Wally

1951 F1 - "Lucille"

 

Mid Fifty sells a motor kit, It's $185, 2011-2012 catalog, page 106.
Online: http://midfifty.com/item.php?INV_ID=380

 

I love my cowl vent..no leaks noted.. but then mine is not driven in the rain unless I happen to get caught in a shower returning home from a show. It's amazing how much air flows thru the cab with the vent open. No need to use my AC until the outside temps reach the 90's...

 

AX,
Is your setup the motorized setup sold by Mid Fifty? After closing and compressing the rubber seal, can you observe any reopening motion like the compressed seal is forcing the lid up a little?

Has anyone installed the Mid Fifty setup in a bonus built?

I have tried a number of things to get the lid tight and would consider motorizing it IF it cures the leak.

What is frustrating is that as built by Ford, my cowl vent did not leak. I am convinced that the new repro gaskets are the problem.

 

My 48 F-3 cowl vent leaked even with a new gasket so I sealed it up. I never really needed it but I live in a cool climate. I'm going to seal up the one on my 49 F-1 also but I haven't decided whether to weld it or not.

 

Vern, Good to see you posting. You have been missed. I also live in a cooler climate (coast of Maine) however I have memories of driving Willard, my 49, cross country in June in 1978. That cowl vent was a godsend. Willard as reincarnated will have heat, AC AND a cowl vent.

Some one of these days I will find myself in your area and we should meet. I have thought about the street rod nationals in Vt, however I have trouble with Mustangs and Camaros as street rods. I always figured that I could slip Willard in as a 48 back when that was the cutoff. (I do have the 48 ss grill trim)

 

Bill, plan on Burlington this year. There aren't that many Mustangs and Camaros at the show. I'm going to be over in Maine in June. The wife wants to see the puffins. Maybe I can look you up...

 

Vern,
Sent a PM

 

Has anyone fabricated something like this? $185 seems a little pricey.

 

The motor was already in mine from the PO, but I needed to revise the linkage as it was binding. If it leaks with a new gasket, the bottom of the well may be rusted out or the drain hose is missing.

 

I don't remember a drain hose in my Bonus Built trucks. Maybe that was something added in the 53-up trucks...

 

There is a kit on ebay for $119 + shipping. The servo is about $60 from searching on line.

 

Mine uses an actual motor similar to a wiper motor.