Would this fix it, or just make the start of more cracks?

 

I spent the day under the cowl-cover of the son's truck, re-bushing the wiper linkage.

I bet I removed a five-gallon bucket-full of leaves, pine-needles, sticks, mice, and dead frogs out from just the areas I could get to with the shop-vac.


No wonder every time we drive the truck dried leaves and junk flies across the floor-boards and out the defrost-vents.


I didn't have time to do it today; but, at the first opportunity, I am going to remove the cowl-cover again and attach screen-wire under the vent-slots.


I did this to my 1985 Ford, several years ago, and that put a stop to all the trash collecting down in those damp hidey-holes.

On the Ford, there are several access panels and plugs that can be removed to permit cleaning all this junk out.

Prior to adding the screen, I opened these access points and removed probably three five-gallon bucket-fulls of trash.

I pulled the blower/fan and was amazed that it could even turn, the area was so packed full of trash; it's a wonder it hadn't caught fire.



I used black zip-ties and hot-melt glue to affix the screen to the bottom side of the cowl-cover.

On my black truck, the zip-ties aren't even noticable.

I often find leaves and such laying on the screen, but that is as far as they get.


The only reason the manufacturers didn't add a screen is they intended for the invading trash to rot away the truck so we would buy another.

 

Mice and frogs.

 

Trooperthorn, I was hoping to see the finished results. Can you post some finished pics please. Thank's mopargrove

 

Since Trooperhorn hasn't been on this site in a year and a half, I will try and help. What do you need to know about the cowl area?
I have fixed several 1st gens which had badly cracked cowl areas.

 

Thanks for responding Oliver, I have the fenders removed and I'm trying to figure out exactly needs to be repaired. Trooperthorns pictures were most helpful. I can weld but I don't have a welder at this time. My friend is a body man of thirty years and he advised me to use 3m panel weld on these repairs. since most or the rusts not that bad. My drip rail and the two corners on either side just below the windshield on either side. I have guests coming in from out of town today. I'll have to do this little at a time. First I need to figure out how to minimize the pictures I post and how to post them. Is there a help feature on this site I can use to learn this? This is an 86 D100 with a 5.2. Thanks Kurt

 

I have patched in spare cowl cut outs I took of a rotted 1st gen cab and I used 3M body panel 2 part epoxy and some rivets to hold it firmly in place while it cured once before.

I usually just weld up the cracks themselves, then make some "form fit" metal strips I weld in over the seams, just under the lower windshield edge, where it would be prone to cracking again. I cut the strips from rotted out front fenders or doors. I also drill a few holes in them so I can spot weld them too, rather than just welding the outside edge alone.

There are a few threads one here on fixing the over the windshield rot with pictures.

I have Googled "1st gen cab factory cowl crack fix" before and seen picture of what Mopar offered back in the day as a fit. I kinda followed there patch kit shape and idea. That Mopar cowl fix kit has been long discontinued.

 

IM000389

IM000391

IM000392

IM000393
As Oliver said there are numerous threads on the cowl crack repair, this is what I did.

 

Nice job on that repair Archer2. Thanks for the input. I'm getting a welder. Pulled my inspection covers and found a good amount of rust in the drivers side L

rocker. Passenger side OK. I think I could shoot undercoating in there if I can find a long enough wand. The outside skin of the rocker and the lower lip have no rust on the outside feel real solid when I tap em with my knuckles. LOL.

 

NICELY done!
That is basically pictures of a very similar patch I like to make and use. I finish it off with some RTV blobbed under the windshield gasket and over that top of the seam where water could leak in.