Hinge pocket question

[marc55]

Does anyone know if the bottom of the door post has an open space. I repair some rust and and it looks like it is suppose to be open I am guessing for the air vent. I am not worried about water getting in I just don't know if I should close it out. The pics are not the best.

[dwcsr]

No its not open there is an inner pillar panel that goes in there.

[marc55]

Thanks. I replaced the inner panel but it was narrower at the bottom than the hinge panel and pillar panel leaving about a 1" gap. I guess I will close them out.

[OrrieG]

It needs to be enclosed with a small drain hole on the bottom. Something most are not aware of (I wasn't) is that there is a factory cleanout at the bottom of the firewall/air plenum. When I first saw it I thought it was a repair someone had made, but the FAM show it. The intent is to unscrew the flap and clean out all the leaves, dust, etc. that comes in thru the cowl vent. If you don't, a dam is created that holds water and channels it to the lower hinge pocket and everything rusts out. When I opened mine there was probably a foot of old dirt, leaves, etc. I left a corner slightly open to drain water. here is a photo.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by marc55

Thanks. I replaced the inner panel but it was narrower at the bottom than the hinge panel and pillar panel leaving about a 1" gap. I guess I will close them out.

Most new panels are short so the crud won't collect in that area again so i'd leave

[Russell Ashley]

I wonder if that little cover in Orrie's picture wasn't there to keep water and dirt from being thrown in by the tires or blown in at highway speed. It's stamped with a "V" bend in it that was intended as a drain but mostly it just kept leaves and trash from getting out. I cleaned mine out with air and then water and then put a screen under my cowl vent to keep out any more trash. I removed the covers to clean my cowl but I did put them back on.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

Most new panels are short so the crud won't collect in that area again so i'd leave

Won't that cause a draft to blow in thru the hinge opening and kick panel???

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Won't that cause a draft to blow in thru the hinge opening and kick panel???

It may cause a little draft but I don't think it would be to bad. Not a lot of air pressure in that location

[OrrieG]

Guess it depends on how much cold air you can tolerate blowing up your left pant leg!!

[Lowlyfe]

I'm going to leave mine open partially. I had a ton of stuff come out of that pocket and it was even rusted out with a cancer hole in the bottom.

[gabe2000]

As ya'll can see I am doing my homework before opening or starting a NEW thread.

I am just planning ahead because I decided to work reverse. I don't have a frame/engine and I 'll be first working on the body/cab, etc.

My question: I plan to seal the top vent thats behind the hood because I will be using aftermarket AC system. So, do I need those small vents, flaps or opening by the door pocket hinges??? I am afriad water or moisture might go in and there's no way drying out.

[hogfarm]

O my 58 it was terrible place for collecting suff,I don't think it was ever cleaned out.I decided to cover the vents behind the hood and close the drains for good.I put a good coat of expoy in side everything

[_Ogre]

i'd still leave the vents at the bottom
any moisture that gets around your wiper bezels drains into that area

[Russell Ashley]

The cowl vent is a good place to catch trash for sure, but I didn't want to cover mine, so I put screen under it like the factory should have done. I used aluminum screen and it forms to the vent panel easily. I used hot glue in a few spots to hold it in place while I installed it but it's sandwiched between the vent panel and cab once the screws are in place so it doesn't come loose. Vintage Air systems don't have a fresh air setting so the kick panel vents are nice to have occasionally.

[yossarian19]

That is a great idea with the screen. When I get everything past "shakedown" I'll go ahead and do that myself.

[Rude Dude]

On some early TF 2nd series 1955 Trucks the inner panel was not present was later added on all models after 1956.

Originally Posted by dwcsr

No its not open there is an inner pillar panel that goes in there.