The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 1951 cowl vent seal

how hard is it to replace the seal on the cowl vent on a 51 1/2 ton, and any tips on how it is properly done. also how hard is it to replace the windshield rubber, tips also on how to do it would be appreciated

thanks jerry

Cowl vent is very easy. Order from Jim Carter or Chevy Duty among others. Put a thin coat of 3M weatherstripping cement and glue on.
The windshield rubber is also available but it's something I had a glass shop do. I don't have the tools nor do I trust my skill level with glass. Cecil.......

thanks

did you buy the glass rubber and have the glass shop install it, or did the glass shop have the rubber?
anyone else care to respond?
thanks jerry

Hello, like Cecil said i agree, cowl vent is easy, you will have to buy your rubber and either take it to the glass shop or have a glass person come to you, which is what we do, lots less trouble than loading your truck up with no windshield. <<message edited by moderator to remove advertising>> good luck on your truck project. thanks, Cynthia Neel

One more "affirmative" on the ease of installing the cowl vent rubber. However, I had a good amount of difficulty removing all of the old one. It had disintegrated over the years and only little bits and pieces were left. I used a flat blade screwdriver to get the remains out of the trough in front and both sides, with the vent wide open. I then closed the vent and used an ice pick to get the stuff from the trough on the back side. I then masked off the area and used carb cleaner to loosen up the old glue, and then wiped the trough down with paint thinner. I then sprayed a rust inhibiting paint in the trough, then a primer, then finish color. Once this all dryed I used a permatex windshield product and coated the bottom of the trough, dropped in the new gasket, and closed the vent to hold the gasket in place. Looks as good as new.

P.S. I also used the rust inhibiting paint, primer, and finish color on the vent screen.

Hope this helps!

Cynthia, No selling or advertising of any kind is allowed in this forum. Please use the swap meet section for this, thanks.

opps

thanks

thanks for all the answers, i will probably do the vent myself, if i get time. the glass can wait a little bit as it only leaks once in a while.

another question. how easy/difficult is it to replace the door seals?

thanks jerry

I did mine and, like Bruce, had to clean the channel out. But it was an easy job!

I also removed the cowl vent assembly, to get to everything more easily, and while I had it off, I spray painted the grill flat black -- looks pretty cool!

Alans right, an easy job. Just make sure the doors are off and you put the rubber in the right way. Mine were laid in the wrong way the first time and I had a heck of a time getting the door to close. Took awhile to finally figure that out. Cecil........

I'd add on idea...these gaskets tend to leak, new or not...suggest you run a bead or two of bathroom/waterproof caulking on the inside top edge of the cowl vent...it really makes a difference.

The cowl vent drain should take care of any leakage.

I did mine 2 years ago ... NO leaks.