Did you patch or find another cowl?
CK5
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I have a spot of rust on both sides of the inner cowl panel, is this piece bolt in or a combo of bolt and welded in?
The cowl cover (under the wiper arms) can be unbolted and removed, but you need to pull the fenders first to access all the bolts...
Unfortunately for you, the rust in those photos is in the welded portion of the cowl. Not much of a surprise on 1st Gens either as a lot of crud can build up in those hollow cavities and rot them from the back side.
My guess is that you've also got rot in the lower pockets where the fresh air vents are. If you check the first page of my thread you'll see how that area looks when the fenders are removed, and how many pine needles and other crap ends up packed in there to hold water.
This is another one of those "peel the onion" moments for you. The repair of the front cab supports and floor will take you 90% of the way into those areas anyway... so the labor costs will have already been absorbed. You can buy replacement cowl sheetmetal (if it's truly bad enough) and a complete firewall if you wanted to. Pretty sure all of the vent-area sheetmetal is available aftermarket as well, but as you will see in the MAW thread, I just cut all of that out and got rid of those vents entirely. They don't work all that well, and they are responsible for a lot of the rust that happens up front. IMHO
-G
That monster thread has a 1st page?
I knew that was going to be in your reply!Don't blame me....... back when CK5 had 100PPP, my thread used to only be about 30 pages long.....
-G
This should get you close to where you want to start reading...
https://ck5.com/forums/threads/72-k...build-tanks-flares.224462/page-2#post-2168340
-G
Yikes!
I read that before, but because it was 8 years ago I forgot about it.
Yeah..... This restoration ain't going to pay for itself!!!!
-G
<===== pitching in on the restoration, $25 at a time.
New name of truck is....
Registration Required
As you can see in my link, I just patched it. I disagree with Greg in that I think the cowl vents are awesome. I love getting cool air blowing down by my feet and legs.
Of course Gregs blazer hasn't moved more than walking speed in almost 10 years, so maybe that is why he wasn't getting much air flow.
As you can see in my link, I just patched it. I disagree with Greg in that I think the cowl vents are awesome. I love getting cool air blowing down by my feet and legs.
Of course Gregs blazer hasn't moved more than walking speed in almost 10 years, so maybe that is why he wasn't getting much air flow.
Meh.
Keep your goggles on when you open those vents. That air is as dusty and filthy as everything else that collects in your upper cowl and eventually falls down the sides of the windshield....
I suppose after a while they will blow reasonably clean air, but it's still only as "cool" as whatever the ambient outdoor air is.
Personally, I think a VintageAir setup will be money well-spent.
-G
chulisohombre
1/2 ton status
Mine works ok but as was said before, make sure you blow out the dust and things off the floor before going out on the road. The air from those vents helps to get more dirt into The swirl that puts dust and debris right into Your eyes like a magnet. LolAs you can see in my link, I just patched it. I disagree with Greg in that I think the cowl vents are awesome. I love getting cool air blowing down by my feet and legs.
Of course Gregs blazer hasn't moved more than walking speed in almost 10 years, so maybe that is why he wasn't getting much air flow.
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
I happen to agree with Ash. I'm planning on a vintage air setup sometime, but the heat from the floor is still hot enough to make you sweat through. Opening that vent even on a hot day is pretty nice.
I also agree with Greg that it's a rust nightmare. Maybe I'll cut off the passenger side to play both sides of the coin.
I also agree with Greg that it's a rust nightmare. Maybe I'll cut off the passenger side to play both sides of the coin.
I happen to agree with Ash. I'm planning on a vintage air setup sometime, but the heat from the floor is still hot enough to make you sweat through. Opening that vent even on a hot day is pretty nice.
I also agree with Greg that it's a rust nightmare. Maybe I'll cut off the passenger side to play both sides of the coin.
Or......
http://www.fastfoxperformance.com/zircoflex-heatshield/c9304
-G
In all seriousness, if you drive it reasonably regularly, nothing really comes out of it. Of course mine is also garaged, so that may play a part as well. I'd love to do a vintage air setup someday but I'm dubious as to whether it's worth the money if the top is going to be off anyway.
It might be interesting to try and route AC in through those vents though because they are well placed imo.
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
Worth a try, but I bet those just slow the heat build up a little. Once the sun is beating down and the radiator heat gets pushed under the truck, there's just heat coming from everywhere. Cooler air blowing on my feet has been sorta nice. I guess a fan blowing cool AC air might do the same thing.
1st... I thought that CK5 was the alternate name for OCD.....
I like the air coming through the floor vents, once they get blown out. I even notice the air at slower speeds, if you compare.
And I don't know if the new Vintage Air systems are the same as what I bought in 1998, but I took my system out after lots of years. I got tired of trying to get it to work as a 4 season system. It couldn't do it. I also didn't like the noise from the blower.
Sorry for the small rant in your thread. I can tell you more if you want.
I like the air coming through the floor vents, once they get blown out. I even notice the air at slower speeds, if you compare.
And I don't know if the new Vintage Air systems are the same as what I bought in 1998, but I took my system out after lots of years. I got tired of trying to get it to work as a 4 season system. It couldn't do it. I also didn't like the noise from the blower.
Sorry for the small rant in your thread. I can tell you more if you want.
Well crap! Just noticed that my drivers door does not have the "latch reinforcement plate" and the small "brass brace" above it. Anyone have those 2 pieces?
The passenger side door has them and I also have the other brass pieces on the B pillars.
The passenger side door has them and I also have the other brass pieces on the B pillars.
