Cleaning the krap out of the cowl - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**landy** · 09-22-2012, 08:49 PM

So there's some accumulation of small sticks, dirt, debris, etc. in the cowl area and also behind the kick panel vent doors. I thought maybe sticking a hose in there to try and wash out some of the debris. Maybe an air hose? Any other ideas?

Thanks!

*Southern Shaker* · 09-22-2012, 08:57 PM

i used my hands and a needle air hose atatchment worked great

**landy** · 09-22-2012, 09:00 PM

Hands won't fit in between the bars on the cowl area, and I can't fit my hands very well into the kick panel vents. I suppose I could remove the vent doors for better access. I don't want to remove the cowl, though.

Beetle · 09-22-2012, 09:02 PM

So I took the cowl off, got a shop vac n sucked it all out, try that.

da-burb · 09-22-2012, 09:04 PM

the vent doors pop out easy, hands, vac, and air all work. those stainless trash guards that sit under the cowl will help keep the debris out in the future.

*Southern Shaker* · 09-22-2012, 09:04 PM

i first tryed the shop vac an it worked ok but couldnt get good enough sucktion so i took it off and hands and air hose trust me i just opened my vent doors today i got leaves twigs...a pencil all sorts of thingamajigs in there

AirSpeed · 09-22-2012, 09:18 PM

Run a water hose down each vent after you remove the cowl and get all that crap out of there! If you don't get it all it will rust. The water won't hurt it but wet leaves and dirt soaking in there will. I cleaned mine out with air and thought they were clean until I ran a bunch of water through them, tons more crap came out!
Posted via Mobile Device

**Daddy Brim** · 09-22-2012, 10:25 PM

I'm in the process of cleaning mine out right now. I went as far to take the heater box out of the truck. Lots of stuff up in the fan and heater core also. With the vent doors and that all out. It is pretty easy to clean out. I will reinstall with fresh paint and new seals.

Hubscrub · 09-22-2012, 10:41 PM

i taped a heater hose to my shop vac and stuck it down and around to get stuff out.

desertnick69 · 09-22-2012, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hubscrub

i taped a heater hose to my shop vac and stuck it down and around to get stuff out.

Ditto

longorange68 · 09-22-2012, 11:29 PM

I did that 3 years ago and found a pack of pall malls, and an old drivers license when I helped a friend pick up a truck in Arizona. Arizona trucks don't see much rain, wish I had that problem up here in Washington State...
Posted via Mobile Device

**landy** · 09-23-2012, 12:04 AM

Looks like they are at least two bolts on each side and several phillips-head screws to get the cowl off? Also need to remove the wiper arms and antennae?

Thanks!

BruthaMan · 09-23-2012, 03:13 AM

A few pics of when I did mine a few months ago:

Went to Lowes, in the section where they have sheet metal, and picked up some sheet metal screen. Comes in a metal sheet (very thin, but much thicker than normal house/window screen). Had to cut out two sections, one for each side of the cowl. Painted black and (for now) used zip ties to hold in place.

I park under an oak tree (over my drive way) and it sheds a lot. Really helped keep the leaves, acorns and other debris out.

09-22-2012, 08:49 PM	#1
landy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: alb, nm Posts: 413	Cleaning the krap out of the cowl So there's some accumulation of small sticks, dirt, debris, etc. in the cowl area and also behind the kick panel vent doors. I thought maybe sticking a hose in there to try and wash out some of the debris. Maybe an air hose? Any other ideas? Thanks!

09-22-2012, 08:57 PM	#2
Southern Shaker Account Suspended Join Date: May 2012 Location: Toughest lil' Town in Texas Posts: 856	Re: Cleaning the krap out of the cowl i used my hands and a needle air hose atatchment worked great

09-22-2012, 09:00 PM	#3
landy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: alb, nm Posts: 413	Re: Cleaning the krap out of the cowl Hands won't fit in between the bars on the cowl area, and I can't fit my hands very well into the kick panel vents. I suppose I could remove the vent doors for better access. I don't want to remove the cowl, though.

09-22-2012, 09:02 PM	#4
Beetle Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 725	Re: Cleaning the krap out of the cowl So I took the cowl off, got a shop vac n sucked it all out, try that. __________________ Jason TEAM C10 HOT ROD POWER TOUR 689 Short Step 68 Step Trucks Sold: 70 GMC, 72 K5 Members met: Andy4639 GCncsuHD CSGAS zicc1835 hotrod farm truck Mingrao Bhelton brenthiggins

09-22-2012, 09:04 PM	#5
da-burb "Ochre Ogre" Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Springfield, MN Posts: 3,558	Re: Cleaning the krap out of the cowl the vent doors pop out easy, hands, vac, and air all work. those stainless trash guards that sit under the cowl will help keep the debris out in the future. __________________ Bowtie Truck Stop Inc. Mid-West GM Truck Restoration Parts Supplier Your Key Parts, Auto Metal Direct, Dynacorn, and Goodmark dealer. like us @ www.facebook.com/BowtieTruckStop 1971 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1971 K-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 K-20 Suburban (Yellow- that just aint right!) Springfield, Minnesota 56087

09-22-2012, 09:18 PM	#7
AirSpeed Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fall River California Posts: 2,026	Re: Cleaning the krap out of the cowl Run a water hose down each vent after you remove the cowl and get all that crap out of there! If you don't get it all it will rust. The water won't hurt it but wet leaves and dirt soaking in there will. I cleaned mine out with air and thought they were clean until I ran a bunch of water through them, tons more crap came out! Posted via Mobile Device __________________ http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v655/aaronhero/

09-22-2012, 10:25 PM	#8
Daddy Brim Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Clovis Ca. Posts: 632	Re: Cleaning the krap out of the cowl I'm in the process of cleaning mine out right now. I went as far to take the heater box out of the truck. Lots of stuff up in the fan and heater core also. With the vent doors and that all out. It is pretty easy to clean out. I will reinstall with fresh paint and new seals. __________________ I'm sorry I called you stupid. I thought you knew already. 67 C-20 Custom Camper 68 Nova 396 it does wheelies 2005 Buick Century the one the wife drives 1989 Toyota Tercel to drive when I can't put gas in the first 2.

09-22-2012, 10:41 PM	#9
Hubscrub Cruzin Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: on the road Posts: 2,835	Re: Cleaning the krap out of the cowl i taped a heater hose to my shop vac and stuck it down and around to get stuff out. __________________ Lime Wife's 67https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...wZEMODaS2d94u8 Back to the Fifties 59 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...NAeStpydfrcj_U Proverbs 3:5,6 "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."Charles Kuralt In memory of our first baby daughter, daddy and mommy love you. Danica Grace 6/26/14

09-22-2012, 11:29 PM	#11
longorange68 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hockinson, Washington Posts: 115	Re: Cleaning the krap out of the cowl I did that 3 years ago and found a pack of pall malls, and an old drivers license when I helped a friend pick up a truck in Arizona. Arizona trucks don't see much rain, wish I had that problem up here in Washington State... Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1968 Chevrolet C-10, 2WD, Longbox, Vortec 350, 700R4, 3.73 gears Good judgment comes from experience, and experience, well......that comes from bad judgment. 1968 Chevy C-10 "Longshot": Bought used from my Uncle George in 1994 and proceeding to beat the hell out of it for 4 years. Sold it. Bought it back, dumped an ungodly amount of money into it since then.

09-23-2012, 12:04 AM	#12
landy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: alb, nm Posts: 413	Re: Cleaning the krap out of the cowl Looks like they are at least two bolts on each side and several phillips-head screws to get the cowl off? Also need to remove the wiper arms and antennae? Thanks!

09-23-2012, 03:13 AM	#13
BruthaMan US Army Veteran Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,049	Re: Cleaning the krap out of the cowl A few pics of when I did mine a few months ago: Went to Lowes, in the section where they have sheet metal, and picked up some sheet metal screen. Comes in a metal sheet (very thin, but much thicker than normal house/window screen). Had to cut out two sections, one for each side of the cowl. Painted black and (for now) used zip ties to hold in place. I park under an oak tree (over my drive way) and it sheds a lot. Really helped keep the leaves, acorns and other debris out. __________________ 1972 C10 Highlander - The making of a daily driver

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