Dirt and moss in my vents

kaliona · Post by **kaliona** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:25 pm

Is there any way to get into those vents right below the front windshield? I can see clumps of dirt and moss growing in there and would like to clean it up. This truck was sitting in a field for about 15 years. You can't see it in the pic....but theres A LOT in there.

If I don't clean it out, will the rainwater wash it into the cab???

forrestbump · Post by **forrestbump** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:39 pm

The grating in front of your windshield drains into the bottom of your cowl, NOT the inside of your cab.

Spray Simple Green on the moss and dirt, let sit for 15 minutes, using a garden hose with spray attachment, blast the moss and dirt out. It will flow to the left and right cowl bottom area.

After your cowl has had a chance to dry, remove the vent covers in your kick panels inside your cab which will gain access to the bottom of your cowl and scoop out what has accumulated in there over the last 40+ years...REPEAT until it's absolutely clean to prevent rust from forming if it hasn't already.

tsherry · Post by **tsherry** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:57 pm

It's a lot cleaner to get inside the fender (on the firewall) and pop out the rubber plugs and hose /dig/vacuum the crud out from there.

kaliona · Post by **kaliona** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 9:26 pm

Thanks guys. I'll give that a shot.
Forrest: What's the simple green for? I actually already have the right side vent cover removed (the one that had the rubber boot going to the heater core), and there was a rats nest in there. Is that where all the crud from the grating I wash down will go? I was thinking of directing my pressure washer nozzle between the slots to break up the crud. I guess I should cover up that side vent opening before doing that, right?

72BahamaBlue · Post by **72BahamaBlue** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 9:30 pm

forrestbump wrote:The grating in front of your windshield drains into the bottom of your cowl, NOT the inside of your cab.

Spray Simple Green on the moss and dirt, let sit for 15 minutes, using a garden hose with spray attachment, blast the moss and dirt out. It will flow to the left and right cowl bottom area.

After your cowl has had a chance to dry, remove the vent covers in your kick panels inside your cab which will gain access to the bottom of your cowl and scoop out what has accumulated in there over the last 40+ years...REPEAT until it's absolutely clean to prevent rust from forming if it hasn't already.

The oval plugs under the inner fenders offer little access. Removing the heater box/vent and the driver's side vent allows access via a large square hole. If your agile, you can also reach into the cowl a bit, and feel around. Also, try using a vacuum with a crevice tool through in the opening plugged with the oval plug in the center of the cowl. I've found a dryer vent cleaning rat-tail brush, stiff wire, sticks etc. handy. Hope it hasn't rusted through !

forrestbump · Post by **forrestbump** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:48 pm

kaliona wrote:What's the simple green for?

Simple Green is a great degreaser and all around cleaner. It'll help remove the road debris and moss that's built up over the years plus it's biodegradable too.

kaliona wrote: I guess I should cover up that side vent opening before doing that, right?

Not necessarily. If you leave it off, the worst that'll happen is the crud / moss will flow inside your cab's floor. By reinstalling the vent cover, you'll contain the debris flow better though.

basketcase0302 · Post by **basketcase0302** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 5:21 am

The oval plugs under the inner fenders offer little access. Removing the heater box/vent and the driver's side vent allows access via a large square hole.

2nd this-I found out the hard way almost too late. Then do I as did, (still waiting on my "redneck patent application" to be returned) and fabricate/cut some magnetic cowl covers to go over the holes, to stop any further debris from getting into there. All it takes is one small hole on the PS, (the one with 3-4 holes) open for your defroster to work. Remove all the covers for 100% fresh air when needed. Pictures in my build thread.

71PA_Highboy · Post by **71PA_Highboy** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 7:58 am

First, clean the bottom so there is a place for the crud to escape....

Then pressure wash thru the vent holes and access holes on the cowl.

Then clean the bottom again...

Here are what mine looked like:

Supposedly a 'Rust-free' Cab....

Now:

You want to keep them clean...

Whateverman · Post by **Whateverman** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:40 am

after scooping most of the crud that you've washed out of the cowl out thru the kick panels find the drain holes at the bottom of the cab -there are some rubber plugs in the larger ones, in my cab there are also some (way)smaller ones that are sorta rectangular in shape (whether they're stock or not is anyones guess) - and try blasting out the rest of the sand,dirt and grit out thru em

the last time i did that to my truck i ended up washing out about 2cups of sand and crap

kaliona · Post by **kaliona** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:28 pm

Thanks guys. I managed to push all the dirt and moss through the vent slots with a ruler towards the sides and down to the vents. Pulled out clumps of crud. I'll pressure wash it next and check for the drain holes as Whateverman suggests.
Thanks again for all the advice. Wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. This project truck is bringing up all kinds of surprises for me. And this site is the best as far as help and info is concerned. Makes this weekend warrior/shade tree mechanic feel like he can tackle any job on this truck.

3 Speed · Post by **3 Speed** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 8:17 am

Reading this thread led me to clean out my cowl, and there I found my cab-leak source -- a few small rust-out pits/holes on the passenger side on the cowl underneath the grill, to the right of the wiper arm.

How the heck can you fix that?

3 Speed · Post by **3 Speed** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:58 pm

Reading this thread led me to really get at my cowl -- took the passenger vent off, ran the water hose through the top, through the drain holes, reached in and around and got the crud out, cleaned the vent box, re-applied weather seal, etc. (and found those pin holes causing the leak).

Well, took Ned out today for about a 50-mile round trip and got covered in dirt, particles, etc. all in my lap, all over the seats, all in my eyes! Now that I have put everything back toegether, I realize I should have run a vacuum hose down in the vent area and drains holes, too. All my good cleaning just stirred up 45 years of particulate leaves, dirt, sticks, bug parts, and whatever else has dropped into the cowl since 1967.

Maybe I have road-blown most of it out now.

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