How to clear debris out of cowl intake?

[Rubatoguy]

I was washing my 1971 Chrysler 300 and noticed a large pool of water gathering under the grill below the windshield cowl. I saw that there was quite a bit of debris, leaves and such, so I wanted to remove that and check any drains. The question is how to do that? Do I need to remove the lower windshield cowl trim then take out the black plastic grill?

Also, I noticed the cowl trim has a small tab bent up. Is this something from the factory that is supposed to be there, or should it be flat like the rest of the trim?

Thank you,
Todd

 

[CBODY67]

HAVE to remove the trim piece to get the plastic screen area removed. The bent-upward tab is a factory-design item. Probably as a definite down-stop for the wiper blades? It is "machine done" and not something a prior owner could have done. My '70 Monaco has one, too.

Possibility of a flap as the Slabs had on them, on the firewall/cowl for a water drain? The ends of the cowl should be open for a water drain, too? Check the bottom of the rocker panels for drain holes, too!

MIght get a borescope attachment for your computer or smartphone camera to explore the passages of the cowl edges and such?

For general principles, check the a/c drain near the rh lower side of the cowl, too.

CBODY67

 

[Rubatoguy]

Thanks! My guess about the tab was something about the wipers too - but I was not sure. Those wipers seem pretty small for the size of the windshield. Thanks for the info, I figured I might have to remove the trim piece, but wanted to check before I started disassembling everything as sometimes that can take you down a long rabbit hole as you discover other things that need to be done. I did see other posts that suggested coat hangers for the fenders/rocker panels. I'm just going though things that need maintenance or are currently not working to get everything to standard before I do anything else.

 

[hootothecore]

Thanks! My guess about the tab was something about the wipers too - but I was not sure. Those wipers seem pretty small for the size of the windshield. Thanks for the info, I figured I might have to remove the trim piece, but wanted to check before I started disassembling everything as sometimes that can take you down a long rabbit hole as you discover other things that need to be done. I did see other posts that suggested coat hangers for the fenders/rocker panels. I'm just going though things that need maintenance or are currently not working to get everything to standard before I do anything else.

The tab is the wiper stop/park position. Your blades should park against it. Problem is the blades typically do not slide over the lower windshield trim. Grab your blade and pull it toward the tab. It should sit there comfortably.

 

[ynst]

Look at the firewall. There should be one or more business-card sized rubber flaps part way down the firewall. They're most likely packed with leaves and dirt. They're the drains for the cowl area.

 

[MJFUR]

69 Chrysler 300.

 

[Toolmanmike]

Look at the firewall. There should be one or more business-card sized rubber flaps part way down the firewall. They're most likely packed with leaves and dirt. They're the drains for the cowl area.

I removed the rubber flaps on my Polara, stuffed the shop vac hose in the hole and blew through the cowl vent on top with a long blow gun. It just took a few min.