Another Cowl Vent Question

[Norm's Coupe]

As mentioned in the previous thread, I had trouble raising the vent all the way up. In that thread someone mentioned a hinge that I could free up. I don't see any hinges on the brackets fastened on the car, nor any thing on the vent itself except the arm. Is the arm attached to the vent in the picture supposed to move freely, or is it stationary? This one has a large rivet holding it onto the vent, and currently it doesn't move. Should I free this one up, or where is that hinge someone mentioned?

[Young Ed]

Thats supposed to move along with the 2 side pieces that you had to cut the screws out of. The hinges aren't removable either.

[Norm's Coupe]

Ed,

I didn't look to see where the brackets on the car are attached, but the brackets where the two screws can't move. Do I follow those brackets to where they are attached to the cowl to find the hinge?

[Young Ed]

Norm its been a while but I think the hinges are at the other end of those pieces.

[Frank M.]

Yes Norm--That HAS to be freed up! Frank Marescalco

[Norm's Coupe]

Thanks guys. Guess I'll have to get out the inspection mirror and look under there on the car. Can't see that just looking in from the top. Those could be a real pain to free up stuffed under there like they are. Meantime I'll work on freeing up the arm on the vent cover. I've already soaked it overnight, then put the heat gun on it at 1000 degrees, and it still won't budge. It's really stuck. Using the heat gun since it's in the house. Really don't like using a torch in the house anymore than I have to.

[Joe Flanagan]

I just did this to mine. I sprayed it with Gunk and then washed it really well and then applied grease and kept working it. The cleaning and loosening was over a three-day period. I'd just shoot all the pivot points with Gunk and let it sit for a half hour and go do something else and then come back and shoot it again. Repeat, etc.

[Byronb3b]

Just follow the arms up to where they are attached to the cowl and if they will move at all squirt with some penetrating oil, they should free up without heat, once moving again the change in operation will be amazing.

[Norm's Coupe]

Got the arm free on the vent lid. Once I knew it was supposed to move I wasn't so gentle with it. Hit it about three times with penetrating oil, then the heat gun set on 1000 degrees, then tapped it with a pair of line cutters. Made for a stinky smoky shop, but........finally broke it loose. Moves pretty good now. Letting it cool down good, then will put some more penetrating oil on it and let it soak overnight. Should work nice and smooth then.

Will work on the two brackets tomorrow. Joe, can't use gunk. If that was to leak down on my carpet in the car, it would really do a number on it. Those brackets do move a little. So.........will just stick with the penetrating oil to start out, and take it from there. Maybe I'll get lucky and it won't take much to free them up.

Then it's just a matter of getting all the junk stuck on in the groove where the gasket goes, so I can put that in. Still have to repair the cuts I made in the screen too. That shouldn't take long though.

[Norm's Coupe]

After soaking the arm overnight, it really moves smooth now. Fill soldered the cuts I made in the slots of the screen tonight. Filed them down smooth afterward. Hit the repaired areas several times and the solder is going to hold fine. Once painted no one will ever know the difference. Will start work on freeing the hinges of the bracket in the cowl tomorrow night. Hopefully, that will go as smooth as the rest has gone so far after getting the vent lid off.