Cowl Vent Screen

[GLTHFJ60]

Help me brainstorm a solution to our common blight of leaves/pine needles/trash falling into the cowl and being a total PITA to clean out.

The Problem:
There are a ton of threads about people dealing with rust/rot in the cowl area around hte HVAC intake due to trash getting in the cowl:

Rust on Front Cowl (Windshield Wiper Panel) Repair?

forum.ih8mud.com

fresh air in cowl rust issue

Well, it just keeps going....I am so close, took the whole hvac system out, re-foam, replace heater core and tubes and I am poking around...$%#@$%....has anyone dealt with this issue? Of course it is the side near the firewall so I can't get to it from the wiper motor opening. Are these things...

forum.ih8mud.com

Blower motor/leaf collector

Well, I think I found out why my blower motor isn’t working. It was packed full of dead leaves and dirt, with more in the ducts leading to and from it. (FJ60 keys for scale.) I vacuumed out as much as I could but there’s a lot more I couldn’t reach. Two questions: 1) Should the motor spin...

forum.ih8mud.com

The Solution:
Many old cars have cowls like ours, but they have screens in place to keep the larger debris out. If we're able to keep the larger debris out, then the factory drains can work more effectively for the rest, and prevent buildup of junk both in our cowls and in our HVAC blower motors. The question is, how do we do it? This is the part I need help figuring out, how to install a cowl vent screen

Our cowls are spot-welded in place, and the cowl vents are part of that panel, so accessibility is an issue. The vents themselves are formed similar to louvers, meaning they're not just holes, but protrude downward into the cowl, meaning adhering a screen to the back with VHB tape or similar is difficult. Furthermore, the windshield wiper squirters come through one of the vent holes, so any screen would have to have a hole to accomodate them.

This is not an issue unique to land cruisers, but what's the best solution for us? Screen on top of the cowl? Something welded to the backside?

I'm open to suggestions.

FSJ Cowl Vent Screens

If you've owned an FSJ during autumn, you know that the cowl fresh air intake is a magnet for leaves, twigs, and other debris that end u...

tc.wagoneer.org

Removing Debris/Leaves From Cowl Area - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks - Removing Debris/Leaves From Cowl Area - Ok, so where are all the discussions about removing the crap that builds up under the cowl vent? I did a cursory search (every day over the last few months!) and did not see any. I thought that kind of odd since...

www.ford-trucks.com

Darn 240 Cowl vents - Turbobricks Forums

Darn 240 Cowl vents maintenance & nonperformance

forums.tbforums.com

cowl screen - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

cowl screen The 1967 - 1972 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Message Board

67-72chevytrucks.com

(1967-72) Cowl Vent Trash Guard Black

Cowl Vent Trash Guard Black for 1967-72 Chevy Truck Helps eliminate rust and decay in the cowl vent, caused by trash and leaves which absorb and hold moisture. Uses existing holes in front portion of cowl panel for installation. Fits between cowl pane...Read More Below

www.classicparts.com

This is the goal, although this specific solution is a little redneck for me

@cruisermatt help figure this out

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Maybe a cowl vent scoop over the cowl vents? Could drill a hole for the windshield squirters or something.

water leaks through heater vents, help? - JeepForum.com

whenever i go and wash my jeep or it sits outside and gets rained on for a while, water gets into my heater lines and then drains out onto my feet

www.jeepforum.com

Redirect Notice

 

[cruisermatt]

hmmm. I think I have an idea. Need to look at a 60 to determine feasibility.

 

[OSS]

As a counterpoint- if the cruiser isn't permanently parked under trees that shed, the area under the cowl vents never gets debris in it.
My 30 year old cruiser never was parked in a garage (or stored under pine trees) and the cowl pocket under the cowel vents had zero debris in it (after 30 years). It was clean as a whistle.
I think the cowel vents on the hood need to be open without a shield to allow an air ram effect from the windshield when driving, pushing air through the vents.
The old Subarus (1990s) had cowl vents like the cruiser but there was a metal mesh installed beneath them - about 3/16" to 1/4" mesh

 

[GLTHFJ60]

As a counterpoint- if the cruiser isn't permanently parked under trees that shed, the area under the cowl vents never gets debris in it.

I feel like that's obvious, but thanks for the point.

There is no "ram effect" at the base of the windshield. The base of the windshield is a negative pressure area.

 

[red66toy]

Maybe a cowl vent scoop over the cowl vents? Could drill a hole for the windshield squirters or something.

water leaks through heater vents, help? - JeepForum.com

whenever i go and wash my jeep or it sits outside and gets rained on for a while, water gets into my heater lines and then drains out onto my feet

www.jeepforum.com

Redirect Notice

View attachment 2336572

View attachment 2336573

I have been trying to think of a solution as well! My idea was to try and cut stainless screens with magnets and slip them through the access ports and stick them up under the factory slots.

 

[Apagee83]

I have been trying to think of a solution as well! My idea was to try and cut stainless screens with magnets and slip them through the access ports and stick them up under the factory slots.

I remember reading a post a while back where a k&n air filter screen was used and looked as if it fit pretty well to keep out the debris. Do not remember post title or who it was. I think I took a picture of it though. HTH

 

[Skniper]

Maybe a cowl vent scoop over the cowl vents? Could drill a hole for the windshield squirters or something.

water leaks through heater vents, help? - JeepForum.com

whenever i go and wash my jeep or it sits outside and gets rained on for a while, water gets into my heater lines and then drains out onto my feet

www.jeepforum.com

Redirect Notice

View attachment 2336572

View attachment 2336573

That seems like it would almost create a venturi...air going the wrong way.

 

[Apagee83]

That seems like it would almost create a venturi...air going the wrong way.

 

[MarkBC]

The panel inside my cowl is in great shape but that intake screen in behind where the wiper motor mounts is rusting where it's welded to the panel. I have no idea how I'm going to get in there to treat it other than just spraying a bunch of Fluid Film on it. Which will stink up the intake like sheep.

This screen: (not my photo)

 

[red66toy]

I remember reading a post a while back where a k&n air filter screen was used and looked as if it fit pretty well to keep out the debris. Do not remember post title or who it was. I think I took a picture of it though. HTH

I tried that. I couldn’t get it over the screen well and it was a MAJOR pain to try and fiddle it on. Definitely not something I would want to regularly do since you have to take the wiper motor and linkage out to get it on and off.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I remember reading a post a while back where a k&n air filter screen was used and looked as if it fit pretty well to keep out the debris. Do not remember post title or who it was. I think I took a picture of it though. HTH

Yup, that's a thing for sure, but what I'm suggesting is a screen to prevent leaves/pine needles from getting in the cowl in the first place.

That seems like it would almost create a venturi...air going the wrong way.

At speed it's a low pressure area, doesn't really make a difference. The blower sucks air in.

 

[Advent]

Maybe a cowl vent scoop over the cowl vents? Could drill a hole for the windshield squirters or something.
View attachment 2336573

I believe most windshields generate a vortex near the windshield; lots of hood scoops open to the rear for that reason. I think the rear-opening cover shown here could work great.

Maybe cut out the louvers and 3D print something to attach using nutserts? With a good paint match you’d barely notice it.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I believe most windshields generate a vortex near the windshield; lots of hood scoops open to the rear for that reason. I think the rear-opening cover shown here could work great.

Maybe cut out the louvers and 3D print something to attach using nutserts? With a good paint match you’d barely notice it.

Don't even need to cut the louvers out, just attach something to the cowl. Nutserts, VHB tape, whichever.

Perhaps the fix for the windshield squirters is to move them to the hood? That wouldn't be hard with something like this:
Amazon product ASIN B077D1MXSB

 

[Advent]

Don't even need to cut the louvers out, just attach something to the cowl. Nutserts, VHB tape, whichever.

My though for cutting out the louvers was easier access for cleaning. I’ve never tried to get in there before but it seems like access would be a good thing.

Living in an evergreen rainforest I just assume we’ll have piles of needles everywhere at all times.

 

[pistonpete]

Screen will work fine, just need to make a nice contour for looks. I build screen for are sleds like this would work. I rivet them but you could double face tape them, lot of possibilities. I make these out of plastic.

Sorry for the sled pics..

 

[GLTHFJ60]

My though for cutting out the louvers was easier access for cleaning. I’ve never tried to get in there before but it seems like access would be a good thing.

Living in an evergreen rainforest I just assume we’ll have piles of needles everywhere at all times.

To clean, you don't need access in the center, you need access at the ends. There are holes in the firewall for this, but on the PS you need to remove the wiper motor, and if the drains are clogged, you need to remove the fenders to gain access. Not a huge deal, but im talking about preventing the need to clean. See here.

 

[Hojack]

To clean, you don't need access in the center, you need access at the ends. There are holes in the firewall for this, but on the PS you need to remove the wiper motor, and if the drains are clogged, you need to remove the fenders to gain access. Not a huge deal, but im talking about preventing the need to clean. See here.

View attachment 2336878

Geez Johnny looks like you drove through a riot

 

[cruiserpilot]

Help me brainstorm a solution to our common blight of leaves/pine needles/trash falling into the cowl and being a total PITA to clean out.

The Problem:
There are a ton of threads about people dealing with rust/rot in the cowl area around hte HVAC intake due to trash getting in the cowl:

Rust on Front Cowl (Windshield Wiper Panel) Repair?

forum.ih8mud.com

fresh air in cowl rust issue

Well, it just keeps going....I am so close, took the whole hvac system out, re-foam, replace heater core and tubes and I am poking around...$%#@$%....has anyone dealt with this issue? Of course it is the side near the firewall so I can't get to it from the wiper motor opening. Are these things...

forum.ih8mud.com

Blower motor/leaf collector

Well, I think I found out why my blower motor isn’t working. It was packed full of dead leaves and dirt, with more in the ducts leading to and from it. (FJ60 keys for scale.) I vacuumed out as much as I could but there’s a lot more I couldn’t reach. Two questions: 1) Should the motor spin...

forum.ih8mud.com

View attachment 2336565

The Solution:
Many old cars have cowls like ours, but they have screens in place to keep the larger debris out. If we're able to keep the larger debris out, then the factory drains can work more effectively for the rest, and prevent buildup of junk both in our cowls and in our HVAC blower motors. The question is, how do we do it? This is the part I need help figuring out, how to install a cowl vent screen

Our cowls are spot-welded in place, and the cowl vents are part of that panel, so accessibility is an issue. The vents themselves are formed similar to louvers, meaning they're not just holes, but protrude downward into the cowl, meaning adhering a screen to the back with VHB tape or similar is difficult. Furthermore, the windshield wiper squirters come through one of the vent holes, so any screen would have to have a hole to accomodate them.

This is not an issue unique to land cruisers, but what's the best solution for us? Screen on top of the cowl? Something welded to the backside?

I'm open to suggestions.

FSJ Cowl Vent Screens

If you've owned an FSJ during autumn, you know that the cowl fresh air intake is a magnet for leaves, twigs, and other debris that end u...

tc.wagoneer.org

Removing Debris/Leaves From Cowl Area - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks - Removing Debris/Leaves From Cowl Area - Ok, so where are all the discussions about removing the crap that builds up under the cowl vent? I did a cursory search (every day over the last few months!) and did not see any. I thought that kind of odd since...

www.ford-trucks.com

Darn 240 Cowl vents - Turbobricks Forums

Darn 240 Cowl vents maintenance & nonperformance

forums.tbforums.com

cowl screen - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

cowl screen The 1967 - 1972 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Message Board

67-72chevytrucks.com

(1967-72) Cowl Vent Trash Guard Black

Cowl Vent Trash Guard Black for 1967-72 Chevy Truck Helps eliminate rust and decay in the cowl vent, caused by trash and leaves which absorb and hold moisture. Uses existing holes in front portion of cowl panel for installation. Fits between cowl pane...Read More Below

www.classicparts.com

This is the goal, although this specific solution is a little redneck for me

View attachment 2336566

@cruisermatt help figure this out

This idea seems the most feasible, try SS mesh with plastic magnet glued to it. Something like a door sign magnet
surrounding the mesh so it can be removed easy enough. FWIW, I'd personally use electrical tape, no residue and from
past experience lasts a really long time. I've used it for many leak proofing applications from sunroofs to windshields

 

[GLTHFJ60]

This idea seems the most feasible, try SS mesh with plastic magnet glued to it. Something like a door sign magnet
surrounding the mesh so it can be removed easy enough. FWIW, I'd personally use electrical tape, no residue and from
past experience lasts a really long time. I've used it for many leak proofing applications from sunroofs to windshields

You know, I hadn't thought of a magnet. That might be the ticket, some window screen material and a magnet or two to hold it in.