The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Cowl Vent Spring?

I just installed the cowl vent in my 1939 3/4 ton Chevy pickup. I carefully took pictures of all the important stuff as I torn it down, but...I can't find them.

Does the cowl vent have a spring, and, if so, what are the attachment points? Or is it help open and closed by friction? Seems to me it had a spring, but I am at a loss.

Thanks,
Gary

OK, I dug thru more pics, and then went out, better adjusted my tri-focals, and finally spotted the attachment point for the rachet, or pawl (as I recall). After supper, I will go out and dig through the collection of misc. parts, and I probably will find the missing pieces. Then all will be clear and simple!

Thanks,

Gary

I don't think there was a spring. All friction.

Etek,

I do appreciate the response, but I think it has a spring. I did locate the rachet, or pawl, piece. It is designed to make contact with the bottom of the bolt that runs thru the two parallel pieces that make up the shaft of the handle. The pawl has a scallop with 3 large and distinct indents for different positions of vent opening. While I have not located the/a spring (haven't yet looked), I think the idea is that the spring connects from the end of the pawl piece to a hole above and available on the dash. The handle assembly is designed to be mounted either right or left, and there are two holes for the spring.

Thanks,

Gary

Thanks for the description. I was going by my Mercury cowl vent that doesn't have a spring. GM always added stuff!

Etek,

My son is working on a '37 Dodge rat rod. He removed the entire hold open assembly from the cowl, and added some compression washers to the hinges, and it seems to work fine.

I guess they will work either way.

Gary

I "believe" the spring was to keep the cowl vent SHUT tight so it would not leak. My 37 chevy had one. Hooked to the vent handle assembly and the lip thats the bottom of the dash. I lost my spring and have not ever looked for another one..... and the vent does not stay close tight!!

I'm not even sure the 37 came from the factory with one but it sure looks like it did.

Chipmunk,

I've owned the '39 since '61 or '62. I don't think much had been altered on it before I bought it, and I'm pretty sure the spring was there when I recovered it from the cow pasture. Also, it needs the spring to make the thre distinct positions work as they should. I will find a sping, and see if it works well with it.

Gary

Gary here where I live Ace Hardware has half a wall of springs displayed. All kinds. I've had good luck there so if you have one it may be the place to look.

Chipmunk,

Ace is good here, too. So is Lowes for odd-ball small hardware, but I prefer the atmosphere at Ace. I do, though, have quite large collection of useable "junk." Probably nearly 50 years of picking up strange things. I did find a spring in one of the piles. It's a little light, and did need shortened, but seems to do the job. If I stumble on one that is more stout, I will grab it.

I just got my rear window glass. That goes in tomorrow. I'm working on some pieces for the defrost vents. I found that a spay paint can with the ends cut off squishes into the existing hole exactly as it should. Now I have to go from oval to round, but I will find something. I enjoy the process.

Thanks for the heads up.

Gary

Chipmunk,

I just took a gander at your photo bucket. Extremely impressive work on the panel, and an equally impressive shop. To you, I doff my hat.

Gary

Thanks Gary. I promise, I paid my dues in the mud,sand and rain.
Its always nice to see our vintage of trucks being saved from the tin monster. Let me know if there is something I can help you with.