I just realized today, after a big rain storm, that my cowl area (directly over both fresh air vents) is packed with 36 yrs worth of leaves and other fine crud causing water to flow into my 68 Valiant's interior and onto the floor pans.

First, how do I get in there to clean it out? Take the heater/air boxes out or just have a really limber arm?

Second, are there replacement cowl to heater/air box seals available anyplace?

Third, if rusty up there, any repair kit available?

As always, any help would be appreciated.

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'68signet

"Living analog in the digital age."

A wire coat hanger or stiff wire bent up works. Stick it through the fins then push all the stuff out the drain hole.

If your willing to remove the heater box that'd be the easiest way. Then you can use a water hose with gun attachment on it to build up pressure and blast the gunk out of there.

I'm not sure if the 60's car had these, but my 71 duster has a valve that controls vaccum to the distributor on the right side of the firewall, just underneath the hood line. If you remove this valve the hole directly behind it leads to the cowel area as well.

After you get it all cleaned out, thread some window screen between the gills. This will prevent leaves and those small tree blossoms from getting in and clogging things up. Just be careful to go underneath the windsheild washer squirters.

I like to cut 1-3/4" holes in the forward part of the cowl area. This will get you good access with a garden hose after you dig out what you can. I plug them with factory "caplugs", you'd never notice they're not factory holes unless you are really paying attention. Just make sure you put a bunch of towels in the front floorboards, because water is going to spill over into the vents...

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

I have a "special attachment" for my shop vacuum, it is an old washer machine drain hose that has a metal "U" at one end. I cut one end of the "U" a little shorter (it is more like a "J" now) and flattened the end a bit with a hammer. I snake it up into the fresh air box, hook it over the lip and vacuum-out all the crap. I also use my air gun from the top and shoot through the cowel grill to blow stuff over to and out of the vent box. The last step is to use the garden hose and washout any left over small stuff.
This process does make a mess in the car so it is a good idea to lay down some large towels before getting started.
DD

The November 2003 issue of MOPAR MUSCLE has a great article on rebuilding a heater box assembly, if the de-leafing doesn't do the job.

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'73 Dodge Dart Swinger, /6, Clifford intake, Holley 390 cfm 4-bbl, clifford headers, dual exhaust