cowl vent (1 Viewer)

[40's rock]

Has anyone ever converted the fixed lid into a functioning one? I no longer need my choke cable, so I am thinking about using it and making the cowl vent function like in the old days.

 

[lone gunman]

yeah i would also like to know if its possible, i have a complete cowl section laying around from an old 40 and since the PO frenched in an electric antenna above the drivers side kick vent that hangs down so i cant open it. i would like some fresh air from somewhere else.

dont mean to hijack the thread ! just curios too !

 

[greytandy]

I took a "functioning" cowl vent and sealed it. There's really no airflow in and I believe it lets a lot of water into the interior if you don't have a perfect seal. My 2 cents.

 

[rabid]

It is a funtional piece in earlier 40's.

I believe the function of it is to allow water to pour into the cab and short out your electrical system while rusting/corroding your fuse block.


That is all it ever did in mine.


Mine is getting sealed as well.

 

[67azcruizr]

Early 40's didn't have one, I believe it was '65-77 did, Toyota 86ed them in '78(?)-84.

What does that tell ya

If your needing an assembly though, I've got one complete and in great shaped.

 

[Living in the Past]

These were used from sometime in 65 thru 73. Then until sometime in 77 it was sealed in 40s imported to the US. In 1974 the heater design changed let fresh be blown out the top of the heater. The last couple of years the drians were routed thru the transmission cover. Early years the drain when down then thru the firewall then down again making them easy to get pluged. While they don't let in a bunch of air they do let in air. Having own a 40 in AZ since 1974 you notice any extra air you can get. I like the under windshisld vent a lot better.

I have seen many things over the year that block the side vents, gas can carrier being the most popular. I don't care what was blocking the side vent they would have to go. In a cooler climit it might not be as big a deal but in the desert it is.

John

 

[Coolerman]

It is a functional piece in earlier 40's.

I believe the function of it is to allow water to pour into the cab and short out your electrical system while rusting/corroding your fuse block.


That is all it ever did in mine.


Mine is getting sealed as well.

Exactly what mine was doing when I got it. I had no idea there were drain holes in the bottom of the vent well connected to hoses that were supposed to drain the water. The heater does an excellent of hiding everything.

Here is a pic of the drain holes as seen from the bottom once EVERYTHING under the dash was removed... The OEM hoses are no longer available new. SOR MAY have some used ones but bend over...

You can fabricate new hoses. Search here for what some have used. Also make SURE to put some kind of screen under the grate to catch most of the large bugs and such that will get into the vent and clean it often to prevent the hoses from clogging.

 

[hatchman]

I have a 73 and I use plain heater hose for my drain tubes and works fine, mine drains through the fire wall, plus you can use longer lenghths of tube and direct flowout behind the wheel wells or wherever.
Sorry to high jack...What does everyone use to seal the box? I do not use mine. I was thinking of a plate that would fit beneath the top grill.

 

[Coolerman]

I have a 73 and I use plain heater hose for my drain tubes and works fine, mine drains through the fire wall, plus you can use longer lenghths of tube and direct flowout behind the wheel wells or wherever.
Sorry to high jack...What does everyone use to seal the box? I do not use mine. I was thinking of a plate that would fit beneath the top grill.

Mine had a clear plastic sheet cut to fit the opening. I think MAF may have these, but it would be easy to make. A small bead of silicone around the bottom would insure it didn't leak.

BTW on my web site is a complete description of the dissembly and restoration of the cowl vent. No assembly yet!

 

[IDave]

I use mine all of the time. Once you replace the rotted rubber tubes, it is not a source of leaks (the windshield frame, however...)

It is a nice thing to have venting available when the days are in the 80s and the nights are in the 30s, like they are here.

As far as converting a later model, I don't see why not. It's just a chore.

 

[Coolerman]

Don't forget the rotted out pop-up vent gasket. I belive someone said they were still available from CDan?

 

[Poser]

55881-60010 is the part number for that gasket....



I believe the functionality of that vent was deleted by Toyota in 1972, (and finally getting rid of the hole in the cowl altogether in 1978) and that the later tubs do not have the provisions for mounting or controlling the vent mechanism, so if you wanted to make yours function, you would need to figure out how to mount the vent mechanism.

In Coolermans picture, you can see the mounting tabs for the cowl vent mechanism, and the control rod pivot bracket as well.

 

[Coolerman]

Thanks for the part number Poser, added that to the growing list of parts to get from CDan.

Here is a pic of the pop-up assembly...

 

[hatchman]

Damper

All this talk got me interested in mine again so I went out and took the vent, damper and rubber gasket out to derust and paint. I lost the damper somewhere, it is just plain gone! I hate
Alzheimer's!! So I am in need of one. I posted in the wanted section, thought I would try here also. It is #73 in the $pecter picture.
Thanks

 

[40's rock]

Thank you to everyone! I'm brainf**ting a "restorod" version.....fabricating a lid on the top of the cowl and having it operate basically like a hood scoop. Ducting the air at the floor to help move some air and battle the furnace that radiates under the floorpan. Sometimes it gets a little warm here in Texas.

 

[Poser]

Thank you to everyone! I'm brainf**ting a "restorod" version.....fabricating a lid on the top of the cowl and having it operate basically like a hood scoop. Ducting the air at the floor to help move some air and battle the furnace that radiates under the floorpan. Sometimes it gets a little warm here in Texas.

Be sure to post up some pictures of this when you get it installed and working.

 

[pappy]

Here is a pic of the drain holes as seen from the bottom once EVERYTHING under the dash was removed... The OEM hoses are no longer available new.

You might want to double check that. I bought some new hoses from CruiserDan not too long ago.

 

[Living in the Past]

55881-60010 is the part number for that gasket....



I believe the functionality of that vent was deleted by Toyota in 1972, (and finally getting rid of the hole in the cowl altogether in 1978

I looked and SOR showed the change in the end of 72 also. A later style running until 79. I agree with 78 in the US since I've got three 78 cowls and none of them have the sealed vent. But I checked my 2/73 soft top model. The vent still works or would if the handle wasn't MIA.Probably removed when an aftermarket A/C installed and the heater removed. It's suppose to be in the center instead of the left hand side but still made to operate. 74 started the heater with the vent on top but never checked a 74 to see if it operates

John

 

[bsmith123]

I plugged the drain holes with alum tape and worked some silver por down the inside then painted the inside with por--a couple coats

I coated the whole inside with alum tape top to bottom and reopened the drain holes then painted over that with POR again

I think that will hold up pretty good but if it has any probs I'll cut it out and put in a new one --the pan could be fabbed up pretty easy and maybe put in a couple screened fitting with drain lines

on mine the drain holes were pitted but the rest looked pretty good so they are still able to accept the hoses

I think it just needs cleaned out now and then and was overlooked by first owners

as far as the vent is there a way to put the windshield vent in yours seems an easier way maybe then the cowl vent without the drain holes and cleaning


To make a cowl vent I bet it wouldn't be too hard with some carb linkage and a couple brackets but you would have to make a hinged cover and a bellcrank and bracket to translate the push pull from the dash to up and down movement


Oh yeah Aquarium tube hose is available in a large enough size at pet stores

 

[Coolerman]

You might want to double check that. I bought some new hoses from CruiserDan not too long ago.

Remember what you paid for them?

I found these part numbers in the EPC. Don't know if they will match the new numbering system...

Passenger side Hose: 55759 Qty 1
Drivers side Hose: 55767 Qty 1
Passenger/Driver side firewall Grommet:55759A Qty 2
Passenger/Driver side Mounting Clamp: 90462-10043 Qty 2