Shaved Cowl

[sjarrett71]

I know if you don't put the screen in gunk will accumulate and cause rust. The factory obviously put the slots in them for a reason. What was that reason? What are the pros/cons to shaving a cowl and removing the slots?

[Sammy]

I have always wondered why too. Figured they thought it would suck more air through at one time. But that doesn't add up does it? Adding the fine mesh screen under the cowl would solve the trash problems. Drilling a hole or enlarging the hole for a drain would solve the rust issues.

[KB71C10BBSUPER]

When you use the vent (Heater Or AC) for fresh air in the cab, this is where it comes from.

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by KB71C10BBSUPER

When you use the vent (Heater Or AC) for fresh air in the cab, this is where it comes from.

Yep, what he said.....

[14U2NV]

Isn't that where the air from the kick panel vents comes from also?

[tcb-1]

^^yes.

[westofb]

Don't mean to steal this thread, but have a question that goes along these lines. I am planning on buying an after market hvac unit for my project. Do the a.m. hvac use the vent systems on these trucks. I have not ordered one yet still shopping for one, and as far as I can tell they don't. I am thinking if that is the case, I want to weld my cowl vents in (smooth it), and block off the inside vents (maybe use them to hide wiring/ hvac lines.

[gator2511]

My Vintage Air system doesn't use the cowl air at all. I'm gonna get a hidden radio antenna and smooth over the cowl. Got my vent doors siliconed shut. I don't use them anyway, just blows hot air in. Vintage air will supply you with a plastic cover to replace the old blower in the cowl air area.

[chuckmc8]

Well, When everything is working as designed, the vents are great. My OLD AIR unit does not use outside air, just recircs inside air. ( same as "max air"" setting on the controls) I kept my vents. The key is to remove the vents and clean out inside the cowl with a shop vac and make sure that the drains arent clogged. You also need the correct weatherstrip for the hood to cowl to make sure that hot engine air isnt coming out at the back of the hood and going into the cowl vents (and into the floor, theres the 'hot air' in the prior post)
The vents are great. days like today it isnt hot enuf for a/c and the floor vents and window vents are great. New cars & trucks just dont have the ventilation like out trucks did- In those if the a/c dosent work, you roast! At least in the classics, you can get a breeze thru the cab (unless you block off the vents)

[Camper Power]

those kick panel vents are great if your wearing shorts or cruisin down the highway.

[gator2511]

The hot air I was talking about was just the outside air. When its 90 degrees and 85% humidity outside its hot air coming in the vents! I cleaned out my vents, painted the cowl area to prevent rust, glued down a fiberglass screen over the vent holes in the body under the cowl and put a screen on the back side of the cowl vents. My seal at the back edge of the hood is good but I agree if that was bad or missing you would get a lot of very hot air! My truck is parked under some trees all the time and they are a pain to keep out of the cowl.

[ZombieWeinerDog]

any pics?

[gator2511]

If you are asking me about pics I'm afraid I didn't take any.

[Hart_Rod]

I had this done:
.

.

[Ackattack]

I got a fiberglass smoothed cowl. It looked great out of the box. I haven't gotten it painted yet. I'm using Old Air A/C system too, so I won't need the vents.

[70c10]

Originally Posted by Ackattack

I got a fiberglass smoothed cowl. It looked great out of the box. I haven't gotten it painted yet. I'm using Old Air A/C system too, so I won't need the vents.

Where did you get the cowl?

[gator2511]

I'd like to know where you got the fiberglass cowl also.

[1moretoy]

i got mine from tony gonzalez it looks perfect pm me for his email adress

[Ackattack]

Originally Posted by 1moretoy

i got mine from tony gonzalez it looks perfect pm me for his email adress

same guy here too

[NPilot1975]

How much was the fiberglass cowl? Has anyone installed it yet to see how it fits?

[Jeffs70]

some great info here... I was wondering about shaving the cowl if it would cause problems with using the vents.