Cowl seal

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Jul 22, 2006 | 10:43 PM

gangstakr

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From: Hemet ca.

Cowl seal

How is a Cowl seal installed? I have the seal, there are "nails" where the cowl goes. how do you remove the nails and install seal? The old seal had no holes where the nails should have been. The seal leaves me no indication of installation. So how does the seal and nail work. Do I need to buy new nails? If so where?

Robert

Jul 22, 2006 | 11:35 PM

airharley

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From: Escondido, CA

You pull to old tacks out with a pair of pliers or vise grips and then lay the new seal across the cowl. Where there is a hole in the cowl push the tack through the seal lip and lightly tap them in. Your not roofing so you don't have to drive them all the way in. Just enough to be snug. If the tacks that are in there are junk you can pick them up by matching them or buy them from MAC's. There is an article on installing the seal in one of the classic truck magazine sites.

Jul 24, 2006 | 03:08 PM

Customcab

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From: Clarksville,Tn

Too add to Airharley comment's; My new cowl seal came with a small bag of tacks. I pulled all my old tacks as mention and seal the old holes with a chaulking and after the truck was painted I installed the new seal. I place a tack about 3" from each end and then about every 6" across, I nail one into place. (I layed the seal onto the cowl, my hood was removed during this installmen.) I use a small tack hammer and tap them thru the metal and only slightly below the rubber seal. As Airharley stated; theres no needed to drive them all the way flush.
Hope this helps.

Mitch

Jul 24, 2006 | 10:04 PM

truckfarmer

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From: Illinois

I prefer to use small stainless steel screws instead of the tacks.

Jul 25, 2006 | 10:03 AM

brider

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From: Orange, CT

What is the purpose of the cowl seal? I have a new one, but haven't installed it because I don't believe my truck has one now, and couldn't figure out where it goes or HOW.

Jul 25, 2006 | 10:42 AM

airharley

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From: Escondido, CA

I don't know for sure but I believe the cowl seal was designed to allow the engine compartment air to flow straight through the bottom aiding in cooling. It also seals water from dripping down the fire wall and back of the block. Another bennifiet is it stabalizes the hood from shaking while driving.

It mounts along the top edge of the firewall on the cab. Look where your windshield wipers come out of the cab. You'll see the 4 inch long or so vents, in front of that below the back of the hood. I know most online catalogs give a better description with pictures though.

Last edited by airharley; Jul 25, 2006 at 10:47 AM. Reason: forgot some info

Jul 25, 2006 | 05:01 PM

LonW

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cowl seal

Just my 2 cents worth:

If you're just a tad off when you go through the seal aiming for the original hole with the 'nail', you won't get a flat seal. If I had to do it over (why don't I have a practice truck) I'd pull out the old 'nails', put a dab of silicone over each hole, then lay the seal down (with the aid of a helper). Once it's warmed up (you're doing this on a nice, sunny day) you can see where the seal needs the 'nails', and they may not coincide with the original holes. A very small pilot hole through both the seal and the cowl assures you perfect alignment.

FM