Installing New Hood to Cowl Seal Question

[Already Gone]

Okay, got a nice new hood to cowl seal from Precision. When I removed the original I had to pull with pliers to get the old one out, well 40+ years of crud and its been there since the truck was built, but looking at the new one there is a lip along the back of the seal and because of that i think will be very difficult to push into place unless I remove the cowl before installing the new seal. Am I right? I thought this was going to be a 5 minute job but its not looking that way now.

[dazza]

You shouldn't have to fully remove the cowl. Loosen up the bolts and you can raise the front enough to get it in there.

[1968aj]

I just replaced mine. cowl cover removal is easy. while you have it off clean it out good . get you a tube of seam sealer and reseal everything you can.this will help with any water leaks you have or will have

[custom70]

When I replaced mine I already had the cowl off. The new one makes the rear of my hood stick up though. I guess it needs to be broken in?

[Andy4639]

5 minute job!!! What are you thinking man. There is no such a thing on a 40 year old truck.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

5 minute job!!! What are you thinking man. There is no such a thing on a 40 year old truck.

Yep, I'm learning that.

[Andy4639]

Cowl isn't hard to get off but it's nice to have a helper so you don't scratch the paint. I have done it with out one but would rather have somebody help.

You can take all the screws loose and loosen the 4 bolts and it should give you enough to slip it under the cowl.
Yes a new one will have to be seated on the truck for a while for the hood to sit right.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Cowl isn't hard to get off but it's nice to have a helper so you don't scratch the paint. I have done it with out one but would rather have somebody help.

You can take all the screws loose and loosen the 4 bolts and it should give you enough to slip it under the cowl.
Yes a new one will have to be seated on the truck for a while for the hood to sit right.

Thanks Andy, its already off and its not the first one I removed. I got my wife to help me lift it off and will probably use her to help sitting it back on the truck. Its surprisingly clean under there. I am sitting here contemplating whether to hot glue a piece of screen under the cowl or order black plastic insert for it.

[Andy4639]

Use the black screen. I did and it looks good today. Been 10 are so years ago now.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

I am sitting here contemplating whether to hot glue a piece of screen under the cowl or order black plastic insert for it.

Make it easy on yourself and buy one of these. Available in satin stainless or black painted steel. It also hides the ugly crap that lurks below. Not expensive. Simple install without drilling.

[Redline novdog]

Just putting on the seal is no biggy. go alittle more and clean out the cowl area and put in a screen to keep the debris out

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

Make it easy on yourself and buy one of these. Available in satin stainless or black painted steel. It also hides the ugly crap that lurks below. Not expensive. Simple install without drilling.

Is that a version from one of the truck restoration companies (Brothers, LMC, etc.)?

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

Is that a version from one of the truck restoration companies (Brothers, LMC, etc.)?

Yup. Most vendors sell them. It's held in place with the cowl screws. Very simple. Mine is actually the stainless version that I scuffed and painted.

http://www.classicindustries.com/pro...s/ap7236s.html
http://www.classicindustries.com/pro...s/ap7236b.html

[72 Super]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

Yup. Most vendors sell them. It's held in place with the cowl screws. Very simple. Mine is actually the stainless version that I scuffed and painted.

http://www.classicindustries.com/pro...s/ap7236s.html
http://www.classicindustries.com/pro...s/ap7236b.html

I also used the stainless version I bought from Manes truck parts on my last truck. It worked great and was very easy to install and fit well.

Ray

[Already Gone]

My cowl area was pretty clean except in the corners there were leaves which I vacuumed out. This truck was family owned until 2011 and spent when not out and about spent 95% of the time in a garage. The pics are what it looked like when I pulled the cowl and I noticed some factory chalk marks Hard to se in theses pics ) on the bottom of the cowl. I will order a black cowl insert on Monday.

[FirstOwner69]

You are missing the spring from the cowl to the fresh air door. If you do a search, you should be able to find a better picture. They are not reproduced and almost impossible to find.

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

You are missing the spring from the cowl to the fresh air door. If you do a search, you should be able to find a better picture. They are not reproduced and almost impossible to find.

Is this an AC truck thing?

[Ironangel]

I'm thinking/hoping that spring is a factory air item because my truck dont have it. My truck(s) dont have factory air and I noticed they dont have that little white gizzy with what looks like a shaft running through it...? I had my cowl off to epoxy in some stainless screen door material to keep the trash out, and to install a new hood to cowl seal. Like everyone else the hood was a little resistant to the new rubber so I gave it a good shot of WD-40 and "Wahlah!" she hood closed more easily and after a couple of days of engine heat the hood sits as good as ever...~Ghostrider~

[1968aj]

if you had leaves in the corners you probably have more down in there you can not see. I stick my leaf blower in there as far as I can and try to blow everything I can out of there.. most trucks I have seen get the most rust damage in this area from dirt and leaf accumulation.

[72 Super]

Originally Posted by 1968aj

if you had leaves in the corners you probably have more down in there you can not see. I stick my leaf blower in there as far as I can and try to blow everything I can out of there.. most trucks I have seen get the most rust damage in this area from dirt and leaf accumulation.

That is correct. I also removed my kick panel vents and got a lot of leaves/debris out that way.

Ray

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

Is this an AC truck thing?

Originally Posted by Ironangel

I'm thinking/hoping that spring is a factory air item because my truck dont have it. My truck(s) dont have factory air and I noticed they dont have that little white gizzy with what looks like a shaft running through it...?

Yes. All that stuff is only used with factory A/C.

Jim

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

You are missing the spring from the cowl to the fresh air door. If you do a search, you should be able to find a better picture. They are not reproduced and almost impossible to find.

Thanks for letting me know. With my truck being so original I'm surprised it isn't there. Well off the the parts board to try find one.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

Thanks for letting me know. With my truck being so original I'm surprised it isn't there. Well off the the parts board to try find one.

The problem isn't that people forgot to replace them after removal. The springs were made of a grade of steel that corroded very quickly and were mounted unprotected in an area that is very moist. Chances are, if you were to dig around in the recesses of the cowl, you may find pieces. One of the hooks on mine was rusted off before 1980 as I recall. I've been tempted to have a bunch of these made since almost everyone with A/C is missing one. However, I'd never recoup my cost. Some folks have said they found hardware store springs that are close, but I've never found one as stout/strong as the originals.

Jim

[DeadheadNM]

Good info here on the spring. Are these visible with the cowl installed? Asking as my AC cabs both have cowl screens now and I don't recall seeing a spring in either when I did the install.

[Andy4639]

A easy mod is do away with that flapper under the cowl. Take all of it out vacuum flapper rod springs all of it. Seal it off good and tight. The AC will get colder after you have driven it a while because no fresh air is getting inside the cab. And if you do want some fresh air just pull the drivers side vent open a little.
Always leave the passenger side vent open and it is recirculating the cab air so it will get plenty cool after a nice long ride.
I did mine when I bought all the new 134A stuff and I'm telling you it's worth the time.