Hi all,
I've a lot of crap under the cowl grille (pine needles), how i remove this grille ? I've seen some screws under hood but are they some others at windshield side ? The shop manual shows "something" but i can't say if it's screws or clips .

 

There are screws in the front. Some hold the weatherstrip in place, easiest to take all. I think there are also a couple around the wipers but, not sure as I;m away from my 86. Inside, take the vents out to also do some cleaning. Behind the fender liner there is also a rubber plug that can be removed to do some cleaning. There were no fenders on an 86 cab I bought so that was easy access. The cab caught fire due to pine needles getting into the heater box and the blower resistor did the rest.

 

As said there are screws along the front edge.
There are also screws in the slots, don't remember how many maybe 4 to 6?
Now the trick is how to get it off the truck once all the screws are removed and it moves around.
I have seen it posted it may not come off because it hits the hood. I do not know how true this is as both of my trucks the hoods where removed first.
I think someone posted you can loosen the 4 bolts for the hood to hinges and move it forward as far as it will go and be able to sneak it out but again don't know.

Yes remove the inside kick panels. If you have AC you will also have to remove 4 screws holding the block off plate in place.
To get to the "duck bills" behind the lower rear fender you will have to drop the inner plastic fender liner. My fenders (complete nose) was off the truck so was easy to get to.
After I took hands full of junk out I used my shop compressed high psi air to blow the rest out. I will tell you it made a mess but my truck was striped to nothing so not a big deal.

The last thing you want to do is remove the HVAC blower motor and clean in there. There is a resistor off to 1 side and it can trap junk and when you use the blower that resistor heats up and the junk can catch fire and burn the truck up.
Dave ----

 

That's what happened to the 86 cab I got from NC.
I pulled the cowl on my 86, and had to remove the hood to do it. On my 87 I didn't have to remove the hood. Many are replacing the 80-86 cowl with 87-96(?) due to the smaller vent holes that don't let as much crap in.

 

Lower pic:

 

I can vouch the cowl can be removed with the hood installed, but it was tight. It was years ago when I did it, so the details are fuzzy. I can't remember if I had to loosen the hinges, but that wouldn't hurt. I do remember wrapping the cowl in a thin blanket to protect the paint, as clearance was very tight.

Consider this simple mod while you have the cowl off. It makes it much easier to change the wiper motor when (not if) it eventually fails:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...or-change.html

 

Lots of good details here:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...n-the-cab.html

 

I don't remember removing, or even loosening the hood on my '83. I did have to finagle it mightily though.
If I remember, with the wipers removed and the cowl loose, I had to raise and lower the hood while maneuvering the cowl off. But it did come off.

It has been awhile, so I admit that I may have had to do more than that. But I was by myself the entire time and do remember specifically moving the hood open to different levels while messing with the cowl. Which was extremely awkward.

Good luck. Sure wish the cowl on my '79 was removable!
Was just looking at it again today and bemoaning the fate of all '70's owners that have to "worry" the leaves and debris out.

Paul

 

I don't have slots as 87-91 grille or as on the pic of NumberDummy so maybe there are clips ? Or maybe i don't have well look under the grille ?
Note the crap under the lower moulding ...

 

Phil, is that picture of your truck?
If so see all the slots that let air & crap in?
Look in the slots near the glass and you will see the screws they are just like the ones across the front.

Now even if you have the later cover with the round holes there has to be screws as you can swap them and people do because the small holes will not let as much crap in.

Give a good look with a light and they will be down inside a little so have a magnet tip screw driver in hand when removing & installing.
Dave - - - -

 

Yes there are pics of my truck (or rather my daughter truck ...). I'll take a look this afternoon, thanks !

 

I recognize that scene!
I knew mine had sat under trees for most of it's previous life, and I could see lots of stuff in there. Just figured since the heater still worked, I'd get to it one day.
Well, that day came when I looked and saw plants growing out of the cowl!

And the "wells" on either side (especially the driver's if I remember) are super deep. I literally filled up three Homer buckets of pine needles and end-of-the-world stuff pulled outta there!

Paul

 

I've found the screws and move the cowl grille high enough to insert the vacuum claeaner hose (i haven't remove the grille because it needs to remove the hood). I've found 10 to 15 cm craps in the two side "wells". I've bought some metal grille screen with small pattern (1/4 ") that i'll insert below the grille. I need also to take a look at the blower resistor well.

 

Yes do check the resistor. I bought a 79 from a guy who parked it under a pine tree. Turn the blower fan on and pine needles come out the defroster vent...

 

See they hide them screws!
Did you also pull the inside kick panels and clean out down in there? That area is just around the "duck bill" drains for the cowl.
Before you put it back together I would take a hose and wash the crap out from the bottom of the glass & molding clip area and then the cowl area as the vacuum can only clean it so well.
Dave ----