best way to clean out vents? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

70 shorty · 03-08-2005, 01:31 PM

I drove the truck last night with the kick panel vents open for the first time and just about got sandblasted with debris. I took it up to highway speed to try to get it to blow out. Then once I got home I hit it with the air hose, then the shop vac as much as I could. How about the garden hose, It shouldn't run all over the cab should it? I plan to run with the vent open a lot this summer, so I'd like to avoid the sandblasting thing again.

TP from Cntl PA · 03-08-2005, 03:15 PM

My advise would be put it in a garage, don't park it under a tree, and open them every so often to keep them cleaned out. IMO, I think they are the worst part about these trucks because I believe that is where the rust starts first. I got two of them that look good on the outside but the kick panels and the top of the firewall have large holes from junk building up and then getting rained on

71-longbed · 03-08-2005, 03:18 PM

i would suggest removing your cowl and cleaning the areas closest to the doors out .... this will help air flow alot

barn9 · 03-08-2005, 04:45 PM

And while you have the cowl off, add some screen to the underside, that way the crap can't get in there in the first place.

69 Short Fleet · 03-08-2005, 05:14 PM

When I had my cowl off I rigged up a piece of rubber or PVC hose 2 or 3' long to the end of my shop vac (elec. tape) and went down each side until it was cleaned out. Then I did both air vents from the interior and it worked great. The screen trick Barn9 mentions is a great idea, I just have not got around to it yet.

ebfabman · 03-08-2005, 06:50 PM

IMO the BEST way to clean the vent area of the cowl is to make a removable access door on each side of the cowl. You can clean and paint the area even where the factory did not.

greenvilledave · 03-09-2005, 04:19 PM

Those are some nice picture of some really good work I hate this area to the truck I am working on now was completely rust out there and below. What do you all think of drilling drain holes in the bottom of the outside part or were there holes thanks dave

ebfabman · 03-09-2005, 04:30 PM

There is a triangular shaped opening at the bottom of the outer cowl just in front of the "A" pillar, under the vents. This is the opening that allows water to drain. Ever wonder where the rain or wash water is supposed to go that enters the cowl grate area in front of the windshield?

71RestoRod · 03-09-2005, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebfabman

There is a triangular shaped opening at the bottom of the outer cowl just in front of the "A" pillar, under the vents. This is the opening that allows water to drain. Ever wonder where the rain or wash water is supposed to go that enters the cowl grate area in front of the windshield?

Ever wonder why the A-pillars are always rusted out at the bottom??!!

ebfabman · 03-09-2005, 05:44 PM

and kick panels and floor pan and cab supports and rockers.....hence the words "supposed to"

krue · 03-09-2005, 06:05 PM

Gee thanks eb, now I got something else to do before I swap cabs on my truck.

70 shorty · 03-09-2005, 09:30 PM

I really liked TP's reply. You obviously haven't seen the Fred Sanford special. It got all the crap in the vents from sitting outside before I got it, but It's way too ugly to be kept in a garage. The cab is already too far gone. The rockers are non existant, both cab corners are gone, the firewall has some rust and also some over the windsheild on the inside. When I got the truck I never had any intention of repairing the rust, I'd only replace the cab and that's only if I found a helluva deal on a cab. Fortunately the cab supports are good, and the floor is also good. There's no way I'm putting my rust free Z28 outside so the truck can be inside.

pritch · 03-09-2005, 10:37 PM

I'm glad those pics showed back up. Just wondering, working from the inside, made possible with those access doors, would it be possible to rig up automatic openers for the vents?

03-08-2005, 01:31 PM	#1
70 shorty Where's my beer? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Glen Allen, VA Posts: 1,772	best way to clean out vents? I drove the truck last night with the kick panel vents open for the first time and just about got sandblasted with debris. I took it up to highway speed to try to get it to blow out. Then once I got home I hit it with the air hose, then the shop vac as much as I could. How about the garden hose, It shouldn't run all over the cab should it? I plan to run with the vent open a lot this summer, so I'd like to avoid the sandblasting thing again. __________________ 70 C10, shortstep, .30 over 250,Hurst shifted 3 spd parts hauler. Holley 390, Clifford Intake, Header, ported cylinder head, unknown bigger cam. 79 Corvette L82, 4 spd, black, red interior, headers, flowmasters, and unkown bigger cam. '03 Grand Cherokee Laredo, 4.0 4x4 daily driver. 165K miles, and runs great '08 Tahoe LTZ 4x4 155K

03-08-2005, 03:15 PM	#2
TP from Cntl PA Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central PA....In the Berg of Nisbet Posts: 790	My advise would be put it in a garage, don't park it under a tree, and open them every so often to keep them cleaned out. IMO, I think they are the worst part about these trucks because I believe that is where the rust starts first. I got two of them that look good on the outside but the kick panels and the top of the firewall have large holes from junk building up and then getting rained on __________________ '72 K-20 EFI'ed 250 Inline/4spd stake body, Farm Truck '71 C-20 Cummins Diesel Powered, In storage thanks to $5.00 diesel! '69 3500 GMC 305V-6/4spd, Still under reconstruction.......... Inlines Rule! 6 soldiers standing is better than 8 laying down!!!!!!!!

03-08-2005, 03:18 PM	#3
71-longbed Its Magically Delicious Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: oregon Posts: 2,398	i would suggest removing your cowl and cleaning the areas closest to the doors out .... this will help air flow alot __________________ 71 C10 LWB 350sbc -TH350 12 bolt 3.42 Posi Of all my favorite things to do, The utmost is to have a brew. My love grows for my foamy friend, with each thirst-quenching elbow bend. Beer so frosty, smooth, and cold it's paradise pure liquid gold. Yes beer means many things to me that's all for now cus I gotta pee.

03-08-2005, 04:45 PM	#4
barn9 Half a bubble off! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Winfield, Ks, USA Posts: 5,588	And while you have the cowl off, add some screen to the underside, that way the crap can't get in there in the first place. __________________ Just call me LB. '71 Cheyenne, 402BB, hauls blondes, brunettes, or redheads.

03-08-2005, 06:50 PM	#6
ebfabman Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 2,488	IMO the BEST way to clean the vent area of the cowl is to make a removable access door on each side of the cowl. You can clean and paint the area even where the factory did not. Attached Images

03-08-2005, 05:14 PM	#5
69 Short Fleet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada Posts: 1,086	When I had my cowl off I rigged up a piece of rubber or PVC hose 2 or 3' long to the end of my shop vac (elec. tape) and went down each side until it was cleaned out. Then I did both air vents from the interior and it worked great. The screen trick Barn9 mentions is a great idea, I just have not got around to it yet.

03-09-2005, 04:19 PM	#7
greenvilledave Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 141	Those are some nice picture of some really good work I hate this area to the truck I am working on now was completely rust out there and below. What do you all think of drilling drain holes in the bottom of the outside part or were there holes thanks dave

03-09-2005, 04:30 PM	#8
ebfabman Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 2,488	There is a triangular shaped opening at the bottom of the outer cowl just in front of the "A" pillar, under the vents. This is the opening that allows water to drain. Ever wonder where the rain or wash water is supposed to go that enters the cowl grate area in front of the windshield?

03-09-2005, 05:44 PM	#10
ebfabman Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 2,488	and kick panels and floor pan and cab supports and rockers.....hence the words "supposed to"

03-09-2005, 06:05 PM	#11
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,448	Gee thanks eb, now I got something else to do before I swap cabs on my truck. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

03-09-2005, 09:30 PM	#12
70 shorty Where's my beer? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Glen Allen, VA Posts: 1,772	I really liked TP's reply. You obviously haven't seen the Fred Sanford special. It got all the crap in the vents from sitting outside before I got it, but It's way too ugly to be kept in a garage. The cab is already too far gone. The rockers are non existant, both cab corners are gone, the firewall has some rust and also some over the windsheild on the inside. When I got the truck I never had any intention of repairing the rust, I'd only replace the cab and that's only if I found a helluva deal on a cab. Fortunately the cab supports are good, and the floor is also good. There's no way I'm putting my rust free Z28 outside so the truck can be inside. __________________ 70 C10, shortstep, .30 over 250,Hurst shifted 3 spd parts hauler. Holley 390, Clifford Intake, Header, ported cylinder head, unknown bigger cam. 79 Corvette L82, 4 spd, black, red interior, headers, flowmasters, and unkown bigger cam. '03 Grand Cherokee Laredo, 4.0 4x4 daily driver. 165K miles, and runs great '08 Tahoe LTZ 4x4 155K

03-09-2005, 10:37 PM	#13
pritch Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hoytsville, Utah Posts: 3,365	I'm glad those pics showed back up. Just wondering, working from the inside, made possible with those access doors, would it be possible to rig up automatic openers for the vents? __________________ '68 Panel Project Boogie Chillin' '68 C-10 Ol' Green

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