"Shaved" cowl questions - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

ChevLoRay · 07-14-2007, 09:41 AM

When the cowl is "shaved", how are folks routing fresh air to the plenums for the heat and a/c system? I have rudimentary ideas on doing it, recalling the ducting on a '56 Mercury I used to have. My thinking is to use flexible ducting, okay a hose of some variety. How big a hose? I'm thinking of a 2" I.D. hose. What are other folks doing? Any pix?

**FRENCHBLUE72** · 07-14-2007, 11:41 AM

I have not got that far.. But I shave the kick pannel vents too thinking that a old aire or vintage air system would work for air circulation..

**Classic Heartbeat** · 07-14-2007, 12:28 PM

Old air or Vintage air just cool and recool the air in the cab. Fresh air has to come in from the vents witch get their air from the cowl. That is what that area is under your cowl panel. One big air intake duct. If you seal off the cowl by shaving the slots in the cowl panel, that would cause any air that you get through the side vents to come from mainly the engine compartment. You would still get some from around the outside of the panel, because it is not sealed to the body, but the air mix from the engine compartment would go up. That is air you do not want inside your truck cab.
If I were to shave the cowl panel, I would also shave the vents inside the cab and use the side windows to get fresh air. WES

NONHOG · 07-14-2007, 12:51 PM

Not sure if this is acurate but didn't the early 50's chevy cars have a big air
duct from the firewall to the core support ?
that wouldn't be too hard to fab up , just keep away as best as possible from
radiator ??????????

jamis · 07-14-2007, 02:53 PM

Yep.... my 53 Belair had steel tubes about 2 1/2" dia going from the firewall to the rad support for venting. But that kinda looks butt ugly unless you use some polished tubes.

It might be cool to have a vent door in the cowl like the older trucks, havnt seen that done.

**FRENCHBLUE72** · 07-14-2007, 03:58 PM

The engine air getting inside my cab would be one reason I made removable shield thet cover the square holes under the cowl vent they are just screwed on and can be removed if I need to access the wiper arm system..

ChevLoRay · 07-14-2007, 06:57 PM

Fresh air has to come from somewhere to feed the heater and A/C. I don't want it to come from the engine compartment....I got me some blowby to deal with. I remember the 53-54 Chevy's with the steel tubes. Basically, I just have to get clean air from the front of the vehicle and direct it to the system. If eliminating the kick panel vents is or should be part of this process, I reckon it'll be on the "to do" list.

68caliRat · 07-14-2007, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChevLoRay

Fresh air has to come from somewhere to feed the heater and A/C. I don't want it to come from the engine compartment....I got me some blowby to deal with. I remember the 53-54 Chevy's with the steel tubes. Basically, I just have to get clean air from the front of the vehicle and direct it to the system. If eliminating the kick panel vents is or should be part of this process, I reckon it'll be on the "to do" list.

I haven't done this but couldn't fresh air be routed from the kick panel to the front via the fender? maybe hide it between the fender and the inner fender?

07-14-2007, 09:41 AM	#1
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	"Shaved" cowl questions When the cowl is "shaved", how are folks routing fresh air to the plenums for the heat and a/c system? I have rudimentary ideas on doing it, recalling the ducting on a '56 Mercury I used to have. My thinking is to use flexible ducting, okay a hose of some variety. How big a hose? I'm thinking of a 2" I.D. hose. What are other folks doing? Any pix? __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

07-14-2007, 11:41 AM	#2
FRENCHBLUE72 PROJECT 7DEUCE Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: GRANTS PASS OR Posts: 21,608	Re: "Shaved" cowl questions I have not got that far.. But I shave the kick pannel vents too thinking that a old aire or vintage air system would work for air circulation.. __________________ GO BIG GREEN GO DUCKS MEMBER #6377 72 k-5 daily driver 6'' lift 35'' 350-350-205 slowly getting rust free. Project "7DEUCE" check out my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=267665 Tim Powell..R.I.P EastSideLowlife..... R.I.P..

07-14-2007, 12:28 PM	#3
Classic Heartbeat Project Junkie! Fishing Poor!! Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Olympia,Wa. 98512 Posts: 10,768	Re: "Shaved" cowl questions Old air or Vintage air just cool and recool the air in the cab. Fresh air has to come in from the vents witch get their air from the cowl. That is what that area is under your cowl panel. One big air intake duct. If you seal off the cowl by shaving the slots in the cowl panel, that would cause any air that you get through the side vents to come from mainly the engine compartment. You would still get some from around the outside of the panel, because it is not sealed to the body, but the air mix from the engine compartment would go up. That is air you do not want inside your truck cab. If I were to shave the cowl panel, I would also shave the vents inside the cab and use the side windows to get fresh air. WES __________________ On-line catolog Classic Heartbeat Pickup Parts WEHEPP@comcast.net Call us Toll Free (888) 338-2502 Like Us on Facebook No appointment necessary. 72 BB Chevy Custom Deluxe / Custom Camper 67 I-6 (Soon to be 5.7 LS1) Panel 68 BB Chevy Short Bed 72 6.0 LQ9 Short Bed Chevy 4X4 Olympia's fastest growing truck parts supplier. Olympia's home for Wayward Chevys

07-14-2007, 12:51 PM	#4
NONHOG Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Marana, Arizona Posts: 3,446	Re: "Shaved" cowl questions Not sure if this is acurate but didn't the early 50's chevy cars have a big air duct from the firewall to the core support ? that wouldn't be too hard to fab up , just keep away as best as possible from radiator ?????????? __________________ "I feel the need for speed!"... as soon as I am done with my nap.

07-14-2007, 02:53 PM	#5
jamis F.A.S.T. president Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 1,883	Re: "Shaved" cowl questions Yep.... my 53 Belair had steel tubes about 2 1/2" dia going from the firewall to the rad support for venting. But that kinda looks butt ugly unless you use some polished tubes. It might be cool to have a vent door in the cowl like the older trucks, havnt seen that done. __________________ F.A.S.T. President and Founder Fabricators for the Advancement of Sawsall Technology "A fear of the Sawsall is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." ~Sigmund Freud, "General Introduction to Psychoanalysis" Last edited by jamis; 07-14-2007 at 02:55 PM.

07-14-2007, 03:58 PM	#6
FRENCHBLUE72 PROJECT 7DEUCE Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: GRANTS PASS OR Posts: 21,608	Re: "Shaved" cowl questions The engine air getting inside my cab would be one reason I made removable shield thet cover the square holes under the cowl vent they are just screwed on and can be removed if I need to access the wiper arm system.. __________________ GO BIG GREEN GO DUCKS MEMBER #6377 72 k-5 daily driver 6'' lift 35'' 350-350-205 slowly getting rust free. Project "7DEUCE" check out my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=267665 Tim Powell..R.I.P EastSideLowlife..... R.I.P..

07-14-2007, 06:57 PM	#7
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: "Shaved" cowl questions Fresh air has to come from somewhere to feed the heater and A/C. I don't want it to come from the engine compartment....I got me some blowby to deal with. I remember the 53-54 Chevy's with the steel tubes. Basically, I just have to get clean air from the front of the vehicle and direct it to the system. If eliminating the kick panel vents is or should be part of this process, I reckon it'll be on the "to do" list. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

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