The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk ’41 Cowl Vent

A while back I posted a embarrassing event when I washed my ’41 with the cowl vent open and fried my new radio mounted under the dash. Looking up behind the dash I can see nothing to prevent rain water from entering the vent and soaking everything behind the dash.

Was there some kind of baffle or ducting attached to the vent?? I cannot see where anything was attached to any part of the vent opening.

Don't quote me on this, but I believe there should be a lip around the vent, and a tube, so that water collects and runs through that tube connected by a rubber tube to another tube going through the firewall. This way the water dumps onto the engine instead.

Jeff

There is nothing to prevent water from entering if the vent is open. If the vent is closed there should be a channel around the perimeter of the opening with an outlet to let the water collected in the channel drain out. There should be a hose connected to the outlet that directs the water into the engine compartment.

Thanks guys, I do have the lip on the outside and the correct drain & tube leading to the engine side of the firewall (should have mentioned this in my first post)

My question was about the rain water when the vent is open. Looks like from your answers I just hve to keep it shut.

Just seemed odd that the origional design could allow potential damage to the wiring for what seems such a simple thing as leaving the vent open.

It was 1941, there was a lot going on.

The other day I opened mine when I parked to keep it cooler. On the way home I couldn't figure out where the 100deg air was coming from with the A/C on full blast. Tried all the knobs, put them in every position - still hot air. What the heck? Stuck heater valve ? Failing new compressor? Couldn't figure it out.

Doh!