Cowl Vents

[VWNate1]

Can some one please direct me to a detailed thread about these ? .

Mine are all rusted out and I'd like to see pix and ideas of what to expect when the fenders come off .

Do all '67 ~ '72' C/10's have left side cowl vents ? I see lots in the junkyard that do not appear to have them , I don't know if just covered up due to rust or what .

TIA , you alls are always very helpful to me .

[70cst]

Here is a bump

[camrycurt]

Are you talking about the kick panel fresh air vents that feed air in from the cowl?

If yes, if you poke through the build threads on here you should find lots of pics of bare cabs that show what those look like once the fenders come off. Here's an example that shows some decent shots of the left and right vents: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...3&postcount=69

Hope that helps.

[special-K]

All trucks have both cowl vents...in the kick panels. A/C trucks use the passenger side one for air intake. The cowl takes the air...and water...in between the windshield and hood,then it passes down the front sides of the cab to where the vents are on the inside. Below the vents is the bottom of the air cavity where drain holes are...that get clogged by debris and often rust out. That area can be patched up,never to be seen again. I have enlarged the drain holes before,but the best thing is using screens behind the cowl panel to prevent the debris from ever getting in at all. Tri-Plus even makes that complete cowl panel if you want to repair it as built.

[54belair]

If you are seeing rust now before the fenders come off---be prepared to take a deep breath.

I can only tell you for sure about my experience. The previous owner had hidden the interior rust with rtv and paint. We pulled the fenders to replace one rocker------
So far we have replaced the entire drivers corner of the firewall and a good part of the drivers side hinge post----as well as floors , rockers, and what ever else you can think of.

You will prob. find rust on the bottom of the air box and possibly part of the firewall. If you see it on one side, be sure to check the other as well.

Mine has turned into a rather expensive rust repair, but then Ive told my bodyman to call me with any surprises and let me make the decision----he has been very good to work with, but time is money and we will prob. end up with about 50 hours in the cab (at his shop) then there are things I will do to it when it comes home.

If you can see a little rust-----espect a lot more----and hope for the best.

[Lee H]

Nate, perhaps a picture of the area you are looking at? I'm still not sure what your asking about.
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[VWNate1]

Originally Posted by Lee H

Nate, perhaps a picture of the area you are looking at? I'm still not sure what your asking about.
Posted via Mobile Device

Well ;

Therin lies the rub ~ I haven't yet taken it apart as it's my Work Truck see ? .

There are two cowl vents apparently , the left side one on my truck is gone & covered up with a kick panel .

The passenger side one was stuffed full of household fibreglas insulation , when I yanked it all out I not only found 5 pounds of leaf debris in there but the oval shaped thing that holds the vent flapper , was loose from the body , I can only imagine how bad the driver's side is if they covered it with upholstery .

I also have the rust holes on the horizontal part of the air intake on both sides (thanx GM for this particularly poor bit of crappy Engineering) so I've been considering a replacement cab even though my cab corners are rust free .

I'm a Mechanic , not a Body & Fender Man so I'm trying to figure out what to do , I spent much time looking for pictures in the old threads & didn't find a one , I'm not computer savvy although I can make junk run far better than you'd think .

So , a few pix or links to same would be highly appreciated .

[67c10rustbuket]

Here is my driver cowl fresh air vent. The outer skin has been cut away due to rust from soggy leaves etc sitting inside there. Does this help??

[67c10rustbuket]

Their is a replacement for the entire outer cowl skin. If the rest of the cab is in good shape you may want to consider this. Drill out a bunch of spot welds, R&R, weld on the new..

Pic linked from GMC Pauls website.

[54belair]

Unfortunately, the outer cowl skin is not always rusted--but the inner skin is.

If you are already considering an alternate cab--I would keep that in mind. You are right about the leaves, trash etc. and as it lays there it rusts the inside tray and the side air boxes. We all are overly aware of rockers and cab corners rusting but the average enthusiast isnt aware that the firewall is also a very costly area to work.

I had not one but two chances to buy a much better cab than what I had. Both times I elected to just repair the small damage mine had!!? All the while, the "small anount of damage" kept growing.

Now that we are nearing the end of the rust repair on the cab, I am satisfied that I have a good solid cab----but,, I could have bought one cab (that required very little work) for $800.-----My original cab.--when it gets to the point of being paint ready---will have cost
me more like $2400. Thats just repair costs!!
Im not whining --it was my fault for not knowing my project as well as I thought---but Im just saying----you might be able to Find one cheaper than repairing one.

Good luck with you project, youll enjoy it when its done---Im still looking forward to getting back on track with mine.

[ChevLoRay]

Here's a pic of what you DO NOT want to see....

[VWNate1]

Yes , this is what I was hoping for .

Here in So. Cal. junkyards sell cabs for under $200 but , only a very few are any good .

Do these cabs have " hidden " VIN #'s like my '63 Nova did ? .

I have to be *very* careful here , the DMV & CHP are tough about cab swaps .

Any pictures showing the drain holes ? .

My outer cowl is fine , it's the inner portion where the leaves & debris accumulate that has holes in it .

67C/10RustBuket , your vents are in far better shape than mine are now .

Is it possible to carry a cab in the Step Side bed ? .

I have _zero_ body / welding skills and I'm too old & beat up to begin learning now so I have to take it to be fixed , I do plan to do this as I like this rig better than any of the hundreds of trucks I've had over the Decades .

I was born & raised Down East so I know all about how RUST NEVER SLEEPS .

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by VWNate1

Is it possible to carry a cab in the Step Side ?

Its too big for a stepside.

A couple of years ago I sold a bare cab to a member on here (I forget his name but i think he was a cop. Nice guy, too) from the Houston area. I used my front end loader to lift it up and he backed his BRAND NEW shiny red chevy fleetside swb truck (09 or so)under it. He wanted me to drive the loader to his truck... Uh... My 67 Massey ferguson stops on a dollar, not a dime, and the cab was swinging everywhere!
Posted via Mobile Device

[VWNate1]

Originally Posted by WIDESIDE72

Its too big for a stepside.

A couple of years ago I sold a bare cab to a member on here (I forget his name but i think he was a cop. Nice guy, too) from the Houston area. I used my front end loader to lift it up and he backed his BRAND NEW shiny red chevy fleetside swb truck (09 or so)under it. He wanted me to drive the loader to his truck... Uh... My 67 Massey ferguson stops on a dollar, not a dime, and the cab was swinging everywhere!
Posted via Mobile Device

THANK YOU ! .

I thought maybe I could set the cowl's face into the bed....

I knew I'd get the right info here , you alls are the BEST ! .

[el_fantasma]

Originally Posted by 67c10rustbuket

Here is my driver cowl fresh air vent. The outer skin has been cut away due to rust from soggy leaves etc sitting inside there. Does this help??

So I cleaned out the driver side easily. Lot's of leaves but no dampness, yea!

However, I have an AC cab and the passenger side looks like this.

Do I need to get in there too?

[clay68c10]

Yes, unhook the vacuum actuator and open the flap. It's always worth the time it takes to clean these out. There's always something in there.

[custom10nut]

Once you're all done, make yourself some cowl vent screens (or buy them), and you'll never have that problem again.

[GR8-68]

I just started removing my cowl tonight, I am glad I did, I thought I got all those pesky pine needles out, Yea right I am going to get it removed make any repairs I need to, (luckily mine is minor if any) and then I will POR the piss out of it and weld on my new cowl. I will get pics for you

[HO455]

This is about the most complete pictorial of a cab I've run across. it is long but it seems like no area goes un-photographed.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=705214

[GR8-68]

Originally Posted by HO455

This is about the most complete pictorial of a cab I've run across. it is long but it seems like no area goes un-photographed.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=705214

Excellent !! I was actually looking for that thread also I would say that is the furthest I have ever seen anyone go to save a cab

[el_fantasma]

Originally Posted by clay68c10

Yes, unhook the vacuum actuator and open the flap. It's always worth the time it takes to clean these out. There's always something in there.

You just unhook the rubber hose and pull open the flap, is it that easy? I ask because I tend to break stuff.

[weq92f]

Here's mine all buttoned up...

[RenoKeene]

Originally Posted by weq92f

Here's mine all buttoned up...

Money very well spent. I did the same.

[clay68c10]

Yes, pop the vacuum line off and open er up. You can take the linkage off too if it seems like you need a better look in there. It's been years since I had an a/c cab truck, so I don't recall how visible it is with the vacuum pod hooked up, or if it restricts the movement of the flap too much.