Opinions wanted :)

[Stephanie]

Hey

Just curious, what is your opinion on what to do with the cowl vent (I believe that is what it is called -- sorry if I am wrong) that is right outside the windshield. Is it smart to get rid of it completely? Is it still usable? Can you just seal or weld the underside and keep the ascetic appeal of it?

I would really appreciate any advice or input on what to do with it. Thank you!

[jimig1]

I like the air draw from them helps cool the interior.

[youngrodder]

I also kept mine but I made a few changes.
1 - I hooked it up to open by power (removing the manual lever). I have a switch mounted under the dash.
2 - I also ran the drain on the inside of the cab and out through the floor to clean up the engine side of the fire wall.

Functional plus I like how they look on when opened up.

Marc

[hopped up]

i like the cowl vent, just like the wing windows. poor mans ac. and they look good too
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[meter swinger]

i vote for keeping it. Still have it on my 55 dodge, and i would not get rid of it. But im a fan of stock extieriors on 50's cars so im a little biased.
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[mr48chev]

Mine probably doesn't work as well as it should to cool the engine with 120 louvers in the hood but it does bring a lot of air in the truck when you are going down the road.

My truck is chopped with the posts leaned back and I get very little wind turbulence in the truck even with the windows out. The side vent probably picks up more cool air than the cowl vent on my truck though.

If you decide to fill it use a cowl vent filler panel rather than welding the vent it's self in as I've seen some rough jobs over the years where the guy welded the vent top it's self in and then used a lot of body filler to smooth it out.

[B_Hix]

Keep it man - that's the AC I have a sliding rear window - I open the cowl vent fully and the back window and get a nice flow of air through the cab.

I removed the vent on the drivers side cowl (1949) that was a door as part of my rust repair, but I recommend keeping the one on top!

[Stephanie]

Thanks for all the opinions!

I am definitely wanting to keep it, but I read on the forum about how badly it can leak, letting in water and debris, that is why I was wondering if you can weather proof it somehow or if you should seal it shut from under the dash, but still retain the nice look of it.

Has it leaked for anyone that has kept it open and used it?

[hopped up]

could always use a screen to keep the crap out. make sure to clean it out really good before
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[mknittle]

I am keeping mine for sure.

[mud.man.rj]

Does anyone make a screen kit for it, I know there is one available for 67-72 but not sure on older, fabrication time if not avail.

[LDO]

Stephanie,
I know our trucks are different (1957 TF) as I don't have a vent that pops up but I bought some dark tinted screen at Lowes and cut a piece out for my cowl vent and I really like the way it turned out. No twigs or leaves, still get air, all good. Sorry, no pictures.

[meter swinger]

this is the cowl vent on my 55 D@#%E wagon. it has a mesh screen in it. sorry for the crummy cell pics. maybe this will spark some ideas, even if it is mopar. (mostly old parts and rust )

[Atommik]

I would definately keep it. Without vent windows in the side glass, you'll need another way to get fresh air in the cab on hot days. I'm planning on rerouting the drain hose lower on the firewall, out of sight.

[Daze57]

for our TF trucks a good piece of screen will work fine underneath the cowl vent i have had mine there for a long time - no probs at all .

[DMViergever]

I'm closing mine and putting AC in. Daily driver has no AC so I'll be darned if my fun truck won't
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[buggy5872]

I have mine still open on my 59 truck but the interior vents are blocked off. I enlarged the holes at the botom of the cowl so thaat nothing gets stuck in there. I have a/c in it. My 57 LCF has the vent completely removed but I also have late model a/c and it pulls air in from the base of the firewall in front of the engine.....yes the engin is completly under the cab.

[S10Fan]

I'm planning to keep mine. I really believe if you replace the gasket, if the vent closes completely, if the drain is hooked up properly, the leaks should be minimal. I can say that using the vent without a gasket creates a Niagara Falls effect.

[sweet70beast]

Keeping the vent on all of mine, it adds to the look of the trucks.

[Stephanie]

Thank you all so much for the opinions, pics, and advice on how to keep the cowl vent and to keep it functioning well You all are so awesome and helpful to us newbies