Cowl Screen - Where to buy?

[NC_John]

Where are you guys buying the cowl screens to keep leaves and crap out. I spent literally HOURS yesterday cleaning mine out (I know most of you have BTDT). I'd love to give the genius engineer at GM who came up with that design a good solid slap in the back of the head. I don't think mine had ever been cleaned out it was so jacked up. What a mess. Leaves and crap from the vents right up into the cowl, packed solid. Even with the vent doors removed it is pretty much impossible to get a hand or vacuum cleaner hose to all the nooks and crannies where the leaves and muck accumulate. I could feel it with my fingertips but couldn't get them out. I flushed and flushed and flushed with a hose and still couldn't get it all. In desperation I asked my lovely wife if she had any ideas (you know THAT is a desperate move)- in a brief moment of brilliance she suggested "leaf blower?" I was so tired of fighting with it I tried it- worked great. It blew crap out from all over, even out of the vent on the driver side when I was blowing into the passenger side. Its great to get that cleaned out but I am NOT going through that again. What vendor sells the screens? I'd rather just buy a SS one than try to fab up something that might fall off, sag, etc...

Thanks....

[Bhelton]

Not sure of any vendors that have it on the board, but Brothers and other companies that do resto parts have them
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[71K20chevy]

Lmc

[FirstOwner69]

I bought mine from a local vendor and just installed it yesterday. I got the stainless version, scuffed it and painted it satin black. They are also available black, but that version is not stainless. Not only will it keep the crap out, it looks great and hides that ugly gaping hole. I think most vendors sell them including Classic Industries and LMC.

It was a piece of cake to install with no drilling. One of the best mods appearance wise so far.

[Lemield]

If you want to save some money, you can make one very easily out of some mesh wire....I made the one on my C20 out of some leftover fine mesh chicken type wire...On my other trucks, I ordered the stainless steel one from LMC.

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by Lemield

If you want to save some money, you can make one very easily out of some mesh wire....I made the one on my C20 out of some leftover fine mesh chicken type wire...On my other trucks, I ordered the stainless steel one from LMC.

saving money is good- I just ordered a bunch of parts from GMCPaul and am already over budget for the month..... (Side note to self- quit taking stuff apart dumbass!)

What did you use to secure the screen? Did you attach it to the cowl cover or directly on the cowl at the cab?

[Lemield]

The ones you get from vendors just use the existing cowl screws on the topside....once you get it apart, you will see how to cut them out....the cowl just sits on top of the screens...at least that's how I did mine...

[Lemield]

Take a look at the LMC catalog to get an idea of what they look like...I think they call it a Cowl trash guard?

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by Lemield

Take a look at the LMC catalog to get an idea of what they look like...I think they call it a Cowl trash guard?

Just found them on the site and went out to the truck and took a look. If I can find some decent screen material I'll see what I can do.

Thanks....

(I wonder if I can my wife to get a second job to help fund all the stuff I want to buy for this truck)

[Lemield]

I know what you mean.....I've got 3 trucks that are always needing something....they are great at extracting money from my wallet!

[Andy4639]

I took screen porch left overs and made mine. I hot glued it to the underside of the cowl.
Mine is parked inside most of the time now also but when it does come time to replace it I will but it looks fine going on 5 years.

[PanelDeland]

If youbuy the commercially made ones,take a couple of wire ties and tie them to the cowl.Then they are easier to line up.Once you have the screws started,you can cut tem and tighten everything up.

[67Slider]

I've heard of a couple of guys using the stucco screen too.

[JimKshortstep4x4]

I make the screens out of 1/4"x1/4" zinc coated hardware screen, painted flat black. The screen is trapped between the cowl and the bracing. Mounting screws go through the screen so the screen cannot move once in place. I use 3m strip caulk to hold the screen onto the cowl screen so that it stays in place until the cowl screen is installed.

Attached is a picture of the first one that I did in 2002 and it still looks good.

Jim

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

[B][COLOR="Red"]I took screen porch left overs and made mine. I hot glued it to the underside of the cowl.
Mine is parked inside most of the time now also but when it does come time to replace it I will but it looks fine going on 5 years

Good job, those look great. The hot glue held to the metal cowl OK?

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by JimKshortstep4x4

Attached is a picture of the first one that I did in 2002 and it still looks good.

Jim

That does look good. Guess I'll be seeing what kind of screen I can find at the hardware store for a DIY.

Thanks!

[Tom Vogel]

On my short bed I used black metal window screen, (yes it comes in black) Just cut it to the shape you want and hot glue it to the back of the cowl. Looks amazing.
On the Jimmy I think I used the black Brothers brand, it also looks good, with that there is no gluing or cutting necessary.
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[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by NC_John

Where are you guys buying the cowl screens to keep leaves and crap out. I spent literally HOURS yesterday cleaning mine out (I know most of you have BTDT). I'd love to give the genius engineer at GM who came up with that design a good solid slap in the back of the head. I don't think mine had ever been cleaned out it was so jacked up. What a mess. Leaves and crap from the vents right up into the cowl, packed solid. Even with the vent doors removed it is pretty much impossible to get a hand or vacuum cleaner hose to all the nooks and crannies where the leaves and muck accumulate. I could feel it with my fingertips but couldn't get them out. I flushed and flushed and flushed with a hose and still couldn't get it all. In desperation I asked my lovely wife if she had any ideas (you know THAT is a desperate move)- in a brief moment of brilliance she suggested "leaf blower?" I was so tired of fighting with it I tried it- worked great. It blew crap out from all over, even out of the vent on the driver side when I was blowing into the passenger side. Its great to get that cleaned out but I am NOT going through that again. What vendor sells the screens? I'd rather just buy a SS one than try to fab up something that might fall off, sag, etc...

Thanks....

If ya haven't done it yet I'd recommend removing the vent doors and cleaning that area out by hand, then a vacuum, unless its still saturated by the water then flush it with water.. I also ran a wire down thru the bottom to be sure the drain hole's was not blocked by all the debris..

[oklalawnboy]

Are you guys removing the cowl to install the screen. I thought there were bolts behind the fenders that held the cowl on.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by oklalawnboy

Are you guys removing the cowl to install the screen. I thought there were bolts behind the fenders that held the cowl on.

The fender bolts are behind the cowl. All cowl fasteners are exposed.

[swamp rat]

There is 2 bolts inside the door jamb and 2 more under the hood, plus about 7-8 sheet metal screws

[Andy4639]

I like the porch screen best because the squares are really small and want let any kind of debri into the cowl area. The bigger the squares are the more debri that can get into the cowl and sooner are later your pulling it to clean it out again.
I bought the screen porch stuff at Lowes.

Yes the hot glue held it fine. It only there to get it into place once installed it will stay put.

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

If ya haven't done it yet I'd recommend removing the vent doors and cleaning that area out by hand, then a vacuum, unless its still saturated by the water then flush it with water.. I also ran a wire down thru the bottom to be sure the drain hole's was not blocked by all the debris..

Read the first post you quoted- I spent HOURS cleaning that mess out. Did it by vacuum, by hand, by vacuum again, then high pressure water, then a leaf blower (which surprisingly worked really well though I would not recommend using it with a completed cab it makes a real mess blowing stuff everywhere). Final check by hand. Drain holes were clear. It was a huge mess!

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

I bought the screen porch stuff at Lowes.

Yes the hot glue held it fine. It only there to get it into place once installed it will stay put.[/COLOR][/B]

10-4. I'll get it there.....

Thanks.

[oklalawnboy]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

The fender bolts are behind the cowl. All cowl fasteners are exposed.

Thanks! I guess I should go look.