'51 3100 Cowl Vent Drain Tube

[Donaldo]

I am keeping the cowl vent operational, just wondering what others here have done with the drain pipe, I really don't want it dripping onto the sbc distributor...

thanks, Don

[FiftyTwo]

I smoothed my firewall and ran a small drain tube from the cowl vent down the inside of my truck and routed it outside down where the steering column goes through the firewall. Nothing shows under the hood and you don't see it inside because it's behind the carpet.

[gale]

I plan to smooth the firewall on my '54. Do you have any pictures? I'll probably use 16 ga. to reduce warping. Good idea on the tube inside.

[nvrdone]

I ran a longer hose down the curve of the firewall so the water doesn't drip on the dist. But my truck NEVER gets wet in Seattle !!

[youngrodder]

I did the same as fiftytwo, but I also T'd the drain from my vintage air unit into the same hose as thje cowl so they both exit out of the same spot.

Marc

[NEWFISHER]

I used a heater hose male/male connector and another foot of heater hose to extend it back behind the engine.

[mechanixman]

I haven't finished it yet, but I'm putting in a polished copper hose to run from the original drain connector, and running it down the firewall to the bottom of the cab.

[Donaldo]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

I did the same as fiftytwo, but I also T'd the drain from my vintage air unit into the same hose as thje cowl so they both exit out of the same spot.

Marc

Hi Marc, since you mentioned the vintager air unit - I am leaning in that direction also - what do you think if it and would you make any changes ?

Don

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Donaldo

Hi Marc, since you mentioned the vintager air unit - I am leaning in that direction also - what do you think if it and would you make any changes ?

Don

Don-

Overall I like it. If I was to do it again I would not buy it as a kit. It came with hard lines that you connect to the unit. Since mine connects to a aftermarket bulk head in the firewall (last pic), I could not use the supplied pre-bent lines as they were designed to hook up to the supplied bulk head cover. I had to remake them out of rubber hose (2nd pic). It was a tight fit (1st pic). I also shortened up by glove box liner by 4" so that I can have a functional glove box.

Here are some pics.



Marc

[gale]

Good looking work and truck. I like the color also. Do you have a picture or two showing more of you firewall smoothing? That's coming up right away for me on my '54 and I'm trying to decide how far I want to take it.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by gale

Good looking work and truck. I like the color also. Do you have a picture or two showing more of you firewall smoothing? That's coming up right away for me on my '54 and I'm trying to decide how far I want to take it.

Thanks
PM sent. I dont what to highjack this thread..

Marc

[Donaldo]

""Since mine connects to a aftermarket bulk head in the firewall (last pic),""

I do like the look of the firewall connections compared to the round hole filler contraption they offer - will they adapt to that style or is it up to the owner ? Does the VA unit you used bolt up using the original 2 mounting holes or ??
Don

[Donaldo]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Thanks
PM sent. I dont what to highjack this thread..

Marc

I believe there is a smooth firewall thread going on - or add to this one.

Don

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Donaldo

""Since mine connects to a aftermarket bulk head in the firewall (last pic),""

I do like the look of the firewall connections compared to the round hole filler contraption they offer - will they adapt to that style or is it up to the owner ? Does the VA unit you used bolt up using the original 2 mounting holes or ??
Don

I was going to mention this but using a bulkhead like mine increases your cost a couple hundred dollars in just fittings alone (not including the cost of the bulkhead). Each fitting that screws into the bulk head is between $10-20 ea. depending on the size and angle. Then x 2 (one for each side of the firewall). Since my firewall was not stock, I mounted mine differently. I tucked mine up high as I didn't want it to be seen hanging down low under the dash. You can pretty much mount in a way that works best for your application.

It is really up to the owner to configure as the relationship of the bulkhead compared to where the unit is mounted makes it somewhat custom. You need to figure out how your hoses will run before getting the ends crimped on.

Here are a couple more pics that my friend Wayne sent me when I was fabricating my set up. This was in a 48 Suburban.


Marc