I actually have two questions: First has to do with the leak, I notice that water will drip at the top of the passenger mat when it rains. The more it rains that more it drips...I presently have my dash torn apart to fix the hingeable door (did a search, great help!!) that is broken that controls air flow. I should have it ready to reinstall this weekend and while ever thing is out, defrost, air vents, etc. I want to work on finding and stopping this leak. This is a 1984 F150, straight 6, is there an area that is prone to leak over there, or is this a water hose and hope you see it type of thing?

Second thing: While I have been working on the air flow issue, I decided to pull my fan motor and check things from that view point as well. Man oh man, did I get a surprise. That area was LOADED with debris, pieces of leaves,pine straw, etc. After some serious cleaning out it is empty one more time, but I could not help but wonder how so much got in there. I know the truck is old, but Lord have mercy it was so much in there, I really do not see how the fan motor ran at all. I noticed on the hood side of the truck there are vents slots at the base of the windshield and there is nothing to keep stuff from falling in there. The newer trucks have a screen of some sort under there and the slots are now smaller holes. Does anyone know is there something missing on my truck or is that the way it was made back then? Has anyone else noticed all the junk getting into the fan housing place?

 

Anyone help a man out???

 

Since you've got the dash apart, look up above the area where the clutch master cylinder bolts to the firewall. There's a seam up there that is sealed in the cowl area. After so many years, the sealer cracks and lets water in. You can check that area by removing the cowl cover and pouring water in the cowl area. The second area to check is where the driver's side kick panel meets the firewall. I had to seal that leak through the access hole in the kick panel. Because my truck is parked under some trees, I cut out a piece of window screening and siliconed it to the undeside of the cowl cover. It's not fancy, but it does keep the junk out. Also, to keep mice out of your heater box, remove it from the firewall and pop rivet some 1/8" hardware cloth over the round opening behind the fan. Now at least I don't have to worry about my truck smelling like mouse pee anymore!

 

Anyone have info on removing the cowl piece mentioned above.....?? Man this thing just keeping getting better....when everything is fixed, I should know how to tear a Ford p/u all apart !!

 

First you have to remove the windshield arm and wipers, some has a clip near the bottom that releases the wiper arm, then you have to look for all those small screws thats along the cowl area, then it just lifts up. The reverseis simple except the wiper arms has to be in a streight line around the wiper arm posts make sure the alignment is correct or the wiper will try and go past the windshield....when they are turned on.

 

You can leave the antenna connected to the radio, but you'll want to take the two screws out that hold it to the cowl vent cover. That'll give you more room to play with. After that, you should be able to rest it on your windshield. Since your dash is apart, it might be easier to just disconnect the antenna cable and leave the antenna fastened to the cowl. Your choice.

 

There are screws at the top of the cowl (where the grates are) and than some in the front that have to come off when the hood is up(these also hold the felt weatherstrip that seals the area between the cowl and the hood. and also do as locknkey & wiseguy said also.

 

This is something that everybody should do! The resistor for the fan speed adjustment is in this housing and when running at low speed this thing heats up enough to scare hell out of you when it ignites dry leaves. The smoke got so thick in Clyde (oak leaves) I had to roll down the window just to see the road so I could pull over!!! I know a couple other people who bailed out and expected to see their truck burn to the ground!

If you haven't done it yet just pull the blower motor and reach in ... A small hose shop vac will finish off the process, just don't get too vigorous. Darn leaves will fill the blower cage and cut your fan airflow to almost nothing too.

Roger




64,500 original miles (and counting)

 

Where is the blower cage?

I went and cleaned mine out but I have to put the fan on hi just to get enough air to defrost the windshield....

 

The blower cage is another name for the "squirrel cage" part of the fan. In other words, remove the fan from the blower housing and clean out the inside part of it. Make sure all the "cups" in the fan are open and clean and that's about as much as you can do with the fan part of it.

 

You may have debrie lodged in the defrost vent, they are hard to see in, but try to stick a hanger wire up it to see if its free all the way through from the bottom upwards, but mebie you can do it from the top, at least its worth a try anyway.

 

i am concidering attaching some screen under the cowl on my truck to keep leaves and other debree out of the vents and stuff, has anyone done it? if so does it help any and how did you atach it