salans7 Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 Great info guys. TY TY TY. Keep you posted Is it even worth keeping those duck bills? I yanked mine off and don't really plan on putting them back on to try to save my cab. There's a small panel gap at the bottom of that trough, and that's how water drains from the cowl. But once that is backed up, the next exit is where the duck bill is. But if that's also clogged, that's where you run into Bobby's issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 Is it even worth keeping those duck bills? I yanked mine off and don't really plan on putting them back on to try to save my cab. There's a small panel gap at the bottom of that trough, and that's how water drains from the cowl. But once that is backed up, the next exit is where the duck bill is. But if that's also clogged, that's where you run into Bobby's issue. I know that Jim recommends pulling them off. I looked at doing that on Big Blue but it was going to take more work than I thought it was worth since I have the pin-cushion cowl and there shouldn't be any more "stuff" coming into that area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorsai Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 Is it even worth keeping those duck bills? I yanked mine off and don't really plan on putting them back on to try to save my cab. I did the same. I get a kick from some of the replies suggesting that one can simply vacuum out some debris like leaves to solve the problem - in my case I was able to vacuum out some leaves, then reach in and pull out some other crud, and finally went in there with a spoon to shovel out dirt deep enough to grow potatoes in. After that I pulled the duck bills off, and then I was able to run enough water in through the cowl with a hose to finally wash everything clean. And now my truck stays dry inside when it rains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 I know that Jim recommends pulling them off. I looked at doing that on Big Blue but it was going to take more work than I thought it was worth since I have the pin-cushion cowl and there shouldn't be any more "stuff" coming into that area. I don't really "recommend", that's just what I've done to my truck. Time will tell, but I also have the '87-'90 'pinhole' cowl. Bobby, the cowl from a Bricknose truck will match your body lines but it does not have the open slots that let so many leaves in. My truck still had debris in the rubber drains when I pulled them out last year, but not nearly as bad. Two things.... Take off those cover plates Gary shows and scour out the insides of the pockets at the bottom of the cowl. Use a toothbrush or something. Heat the neck so you can bend it backwards to get in all the corners. Seal it up well with body caulk, paint, and then Flexseal, Leak Stop or a similar product. Apply a bead of sealant to the lip of the cover and all the screw holes before putting the panel back on. If you have a bunch of junk down in there, it's worthwhile to remove the blower motor and check for any leaves or other organic debris packed in around the blower motor speed resistor. Those coils get very hot and have been known to start fires that spread through the ductwork up inside the dash. Once the plastic ducts get burning there's really no way to put it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salans7 Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 I know that Jim recommends pulling them off. I looked at doing that on Big Blue but it was going to take more work than I thought it was worth since I have the pin-cushion cowl and there shouldn't be any more "stuff" coming into that area. Although the amount of junk getting into that area is greatly reduced with the 87-91 cowl, the openings for the wiper arms are still an easy entry point for leaves. Even my 1990 cab was filled up with junk because of this. Not as much as my 1980 was, but still enough to cause a leak issue. In my opinion, the duck bills are the second major contributing factor to debris stuck in that area. Installing a pin-hole cowl helps, but doesn't prevent the entire issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 Although the amount of junk getting into that area is greatly reduced with the 87-91 cowl, the openings for the wiper arms are still an easy entry point for leaves. Even my 1990 cab was filled up with junk because of this. Not as much as my 1980 was, but still enough to cause a leak issue. In my opinion, the duck bills are the second major contributing factor to debris stuck in that area. Installing a pin-hole cowl helps, but doesn't prevent the entire issue. I had whole leaves in there, which I doubt could get by the wipers. But I take your point, and I'll probably pull the duck bills one of these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machspeed Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 Good looking truck and great post comments that will certainly aid in fixing your problem. I don't have the water draining into my truck, yet. Bus, as I have found rust in places I never would have expected, I'm on a mission now to prevent further problems. This will be the next area that I delve into! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rmorcom33 Posted November 15, 2020 Author Share Posted November 15, 2020 I had whole leaves in there, which I doubt could get by the wipers. But I take your point, and I'll probably pull the duck bills one of these days. Happy to say no rust whatsoever. I took off the bottom fender well and had my wife reach up there and stick her fingers in the cowls vagina. Just a sand soot ball. Came right out. Thanks guys. Works perfectly and wife is turned on. Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzFace2 Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 Happy to say no rust whatsoever. I took off the bottom fender well and had my wife reach up there and stick her fingers in the cowls vagina. Just a sand soot ball. Came right out. Thanks guys. Works perfectly and wife is turned on. Lol Good to hear it worked out for you and got the wife turned on On the slider vent and AC I don't think your truck is a factory AC truck as it would not have the kick panel vents. Non-AC trucks had the kick panel vents where AC truck did not and that metal plate was screwed over the opening and a different kick panel plastic was used to finish off that area. That is unless someone installed a factory AC fire wall in a non-AC truck and left the non-AC vents in place I guess they could have swapped the vents for the non-AC vents if the truck had factory AC Nice looking "Flare Side" truck (step side is the bow tie name) and us flare side owners like to point it out Dave ---- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 Good to hear it worked out for you and got the wife turned on On the slider vent and AC I don't think your truck is a factory AC truck as it would not have the kick panel vents. Non-AC trucks had the kick panel vents where AC truck did not and that metal plate was screwed over the opening and a different kick panel plastic was used to finish off that area. That is unless someone installed a factory AC fire wall in a non-AC truck and left the non-AC vents in place I guess they could have swapped the vents for the non-AC vents if the truck had factory AC Nice looking "Flare Side" truck (step side is the bow tie name) and us flare side owners like to point it out Dave ---- Dave - I just put slider vents on Big Blue, which is an A/C truck. Did it ‘cause everyone says they give a lot more air on cool days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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