Mikec4193 Posted August 9 Report Posted August 9 So I am about to start back on the old 1939 Plymouth Jalopy and I was looking at the cowl vent...this old heap I plan to run on the road at least once...I repaired the cowl vent drip pan a couple years back and it actually came out ok...I even cobbled a drain in so it will run outside the car.....so my question is....Do I really need to have this cowl vent operational?? Could I just put a new gasket in it and maybe put some metal tabs on it so it wont rattle when I take it down the road?... This old heap doesn't even have any dash board in it...crude and rude she is to the bone... Thanks in advance. Quote
Sam Buchanan Posted August 9 Report Posted August 9 (edited) Not needed just to run down the road......roll down the windows (if you have any!!) Edited August 9 by Sam Buchanan Quote
Veemoney Posted August 9 Report Posted August 9 I see this putty used to hold those closed and in place with no additional hold downs so I grabbed some to hold my transducer and battery inplace inside my kayak. It is sticky and holds well while sealing at the same time. 1 lb. Plug Duct Seal Compound (homedepot.com) Quote
OUTFXD Posted August 9 Report Posted August 9 (edited) Does it need to be operational for the car to run and do its job? no. However. this is old school tech. The cowl area of the hood is an atmospheric high pressure area. Air flows across the hood at about the speed of the vehicle. Then it meets the windshield. the air them must slow down and change direction to move up the windshield. In the meantime more air is rushing into the area as the car continues to move forward. The cowl vent gives the high pressure air some where to go. As it enters the passenger cab, the air expands. as it expands it throws off heat and becomes cool air. Viola, old tech air conditioning. Its not fantastic air conditioning. but its is better than none. Not important to the mechanical function of the car, but a boost in the comfort and livability, especially in warmer climates. p.s. moar pictures! Edited August 9 by OUTFXD 1 Quote
Mikec4193 Posted August 9 Author Report Posted August 9 2 minutes ago, OUTFXD said: Does it need to be operational for the car to run and do its job? no. However. this is old school tech. The cowl area of the hood is an atmospheric high pressure area. Air flows across the hood at about the speed of the vehicle. Then it meets the windshield. the air them must slow down and change direction to move up the windshield. In the meantime more air is rushing into the area as the car continues to move forward. The cowl vent gives the high pressure air some where to go. As it enters the passenger cab, the air expands. as it expands it throws off heat and becomes cool air. Viola, old tech air conditioning. Its not fantastic air conditioning. but its is better than non. Not important to the mechanical function of the car, but a boost in the comfort and livability, especially in warmer climates. I dont even have side windows in it...not sure if I would need them or not...I hope the cowl vent doesn't mess with drivability...not that I plan to drive it much.. I am still thinking about wearing a open face helmet with it when I drive it... I know I am the squirrel .... thanks for the all the insight... 1 Quote
greg g Posted August 14 Report Posted August 14 The vent doesn't do anything for engine driveability. It does move quite a bit of air theuvh ehe foot well area. As it is , qhat you get is ambient air with all its temperature and moisture. The faster you go, the more you get. Several years ago we were returning from a roadtrip on a 90 degree day. We wetted down an old bath towel I had for carwash drying. We clamped the damp towel to the underside of the dash board. With speed and flow, we did get some evaporative cooling that worked on outlet and legs, and maybe the cab by 4 or 5 degrees. As kids we joked about 5/50 ac. Lower the 4 windows, open the vent, and drive 50 mph. It helps, especially if you don't have the floor mats and horse haie under layment. Quote
desoto1939 Posted August 14 Report Posted August 14 In your pictures of the cowel vent and the hood, the homemade hood hinge end flat sticks over the front lip of the cowel vent. So the cowel vent can not even be opened. I would just put a gasket in the indent to seal off the lid of the vent or you could just put some gasket sealer around the edges of the vent. Just my 25 cents of input. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted August 14 Report Posted August 14 if you not planning on opening and closing the vent then why bother with the cost of a gasket as it so far from being rebuilt and functional that fixing in place with sealer would be in line with your build style. If are not planning functional side glass or as you put it no glass at all.....I wondered the very drain function here. Quote
Sam Buchanan Posted August 14 Report Posted August 14 (edited) ================ Edited August 14 by Sam Buchanan Quote
Mikec4193 Posted September 18 Author Report Posted September 18 (edited) So I went ahead and I bought from Roberts Auto parts a brandy new cowl vent... The part number they sent me a P27XB for a 1939 Plymouth does not fit....I had to cut probably and inch off the back of it and probably 1.5" off the front of it I did make it fit...and the cowl vent does close...not sure how much of a seal will be there...not that I really care...it is old Jalopy I made up two 16 gauge tabs for the short sides of the cowl vent ...then I used self taping screws and called it good.... If anybody wants to buy the old girl let me know...I am done with her... Thanks for all the insight. Edited September 18 by Mikec4193 Quote
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