Q for those who live where it snows

[oldsub86]

I don't drive my truck through the winter anymore so it is not a big problem for me right now but, I remember the windows used to fog up pretty bad. Newer vehicles seem to be able to avoid the problem better than the older ones do. I have noticed that one of the things the newer trucks have is screen under the slots at the base of the windshield where the heater pulls in its air. When that area gets full of snow the heater blower pulls in snow and blows it on the windshield with the defroster air. This causes the windshield to frost up. I have thought about pulling the panel (can't recall the proper name for it) and putting screen of some sort on the underside of it to keep the snow from falling into it.

So the question is whether anyone else has considered this or acutally done it and if so how and did it help?

[Blazer1970]

They make a screen to go under the cowl. I am sure that some of the vendors on this board carry them. I don't think that what you describe is the difference between the newer and older vehicles. All newer vehicles automatically run the A/C compressor any time you are using the defrosters. This acts as a dehumidifier for the air, and makes the defogger/defroster much more effective. I don't have any problem with the defrosters in these trucks, you just have to keep it on the hottest setting. Also, many of these old trucks have water leaks, and thus have permanently soaked carpeting which introduces a lot of moisture into the cab. If the truck is dry inside, you will have a lot better luck keeping the windows clear.

[Gee_Emm]

I find that even with the screen on newer vehicles it still sucks snow in.

However putting a screen there would certainly help control all the crap that falls down into the cowl.


Oh BTW, when is all this damn snow gonna melt

[JimKshortstep4x4]

We don't drive the trucks much except for the plow truck. The defroster works really well. I have a 1/4 mesh screen in the cowl, and it keeps the leaves out so that the airflow is good and the heater core does not get blocked off. I also run a 195 degree t-stat with a new heater core.

I am pretty sick of the snow as we keep getting dumped on.

Jim

See!

[Dreaminator]

Thanks for the info Blazer1970. I never really understood why the AC came on when it was really cold! Got up to +12 today. maybe 40 by the next weekend.

[Longhorn Man]

Teh defrosting in these trucks have always been under par. I have a magizine article from '70 (on a longhorn of course) where they complained about the poor venilation of the 67 - 72 trucks.

[71-longbed]

i have no problem with my defrost on my 71 ..... takes alittle bit to heat up the cab but defrosting take very little time

[1969 GMC]

My GMC's heater/defrost seem normal to me, because the heater in my Festiva and my previous cars was also kinda slow. I have noticed that fog won't leave the rear window and the backs of the door windows unless you have been driving for a while or the sun hits them. However, other than that, they are good and work fine for down to - temps.

A screen sure would be a great idea, I'm tired of the leaf collage coming out the ducts every time I open them.

[JimKshortstep4x4]

I have been making my cowl screens out of 1/4" mesh galvanized
hardware screen. They are cut to fit, held in place with body dum dum and then clamped in by the screen. I paint them with flat black and they are barely visible. It is really nice not to have to deal with leaves all of the time!

Jim

[mrein3]

Blazer1970 is exactly right. The AC pumps out dry air. If you have moisture in the cab and no AC all you're doing is recirculating that moisture.

My 1972 Malibu has "defog" and "deice" on the controls. Defog runs the windshield vents with no AC. Deice runs the compressor with the windshield vents. Deice clears the windows fast. Once they are clear you can use the defog setting. If I run deice with the rear window blower my windows are clear in seconds.

My truck doesn't have AC but I wish it did. The windows don't clear for crap in the summer when you are rolling down the road when it is raining and the humidity has been 95%+ all week.

On my wife's 1998 Exploder (Explorer) you can't turn the damn AC compressor off. When you start it in the garage you hear the compressor click on. If you sit there and idle you hear it cycle on and off a few times even with the heater control knob in the "OFF" position.

On my truck I made a screen for my cowl exactly like JimKshortstep4x4 did. Only I painted mine green to match the body color. No more bbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr when I turn the fan on in the fall.

[bobs409]

I drive mine all year long and never had any snow come in. No problems with windows fogging up either. Any chance you have a leaky heater core? Sometimes the moisture from that can fog up a window.

BTW, I also added a screen to the underside of the cowl and it was the best thing you could do! No more leaves in the heater motor! Whir-r-r-r-r-r-r LOL I used fiberglass screen used on storm doors. Held on with hot melt glue. Looks terrible from the underside, but sweet from the top.

[Jason71k10]

bobs409, that's exactly what i did, and you're right, it looks terrible from underneath, but looks perfect when it's on the truck. i'm just curious to see how long the hot glue will last??


Btw, it was really cheap too....$5 for the roll of screen and a cheap $3 hot glue gun for a grand total of a whopping $8!!!!!!
jason

[bobs409]

So far so good on mine. (and we've had a VERY COLD winter this year! Coming up on 1 year now and it's still holding.

I liked it so much, I did my other truck too.

If it ever fails, I think I'll try 3-M's fast-n-firm next.