39 truck cowl vent lever help needed

[ActionYobbo]

On my 39 truck the cowl vent was wired shut from the under side and the linkages partially removed and tied up out of the way. I am trying to get it to work again and I took it out cleaned up the parts and have it back in place but I cant figure out how the linkages connect. I might be missing a piece or have it upside down. I tried searching for pictures or diagrams but only found info for sedan cowl vent linkages. So can any one with a truck take a few pictures up under the dash for me. Thanks

The linkage I have looks like the one in this picture.

[38bill]

Doesn't look correct to me, maybe that's why it was disabled. Here is my '38 1/2T. I believe the '38 and '39 cabs are basically the same.

[ActionYobbo]

Originally Posted by 38bill

Doesn't look correct to me, maybe that's why it was disabled. Here is my '38 1/2T. I believe the '38 and '39 cabs are basically the same.

Thanks for the reply. Thats a sedan linkage going by the parts list I found while searching for pictures of an installed linkage. It seems that they made 2 different style linkages in 39. I have found several pictures of the style I have but they are either removed from the vehicle or the the only installed picture only shows the firewall mount (picture was of the knob, firewall mount was out of focus in the background) on a 39 cabriolet

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by ActionYobbo

On my 39 truck the cowl vent was wired shut from the under side and the linkages partially removed and tied up out of the way. I am trying to get it to work again and I took it out cleaned up the parts and have it back in place but I cant figure out how the linkages connect. I might be missing a piece or have it upside down. I tried searching for pictures or diagrams but only found info for sedan cowl vent linkages. So can any one with a truck take a few pictures up under the dash for me. Thanks

The linkage I have looks like the one in this picture.

[1939mars]

Here are some more pictures, from the disassembly of my '39 pickup. Hope they help.

[ActionYobbo]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thanks for the pictures. I see the the differences between the 2 linkages. The one I have has only 1 bolt at the firewall and connects to the back side of the vent. Where yours has 2 bolts at the firewall and connects to the front side of the vent.

Pictures loaded sideways for some reason.
In one picture the vent is fully open and the lever is in the open position and there is a large gap between the bolt hole and the slot. In the other picture the vent is closed and the lever is in the closed position. The holes are close to lining up but I have to force it to line up by moving the lever toward the open position more than 2/3 the way to open. When it is bolted the vent can only be opened 1/4 inch.
The bar that comes down to join the slot is bolted to the front hole on the windshield regulator. That was the only hole I can find in that area. No holes anywhere close by. Thats why I asked for pictures to see if I had it set up correctly or if I am missing another piece.
Thanks

[1939mars]

I wonder if someone replaced the 2-bolt bracket with the 1-bolt that you have to try to make yours work? How is the bracket attached to the firewall?

[ActionYobbo]

Originally Posted by 1939mars

I wonder if someone replaced the 2-bolt bracket with the 1-bolt that you have to try to make yours work? How is the bracket attached to the firewall?

Factory rivets under the original paint.
The reason it was disconected and put up out of the way was a heater had been fitted in that spot with the top of the heater level with the bottom of the dashboard in the center of the firewall.

[1939mars]

Oh wow - was it a factory heater or an aftermarket? My dad and I deal in the original heaters and I've never seen an installation on a '39 pickup.

[ActionYobbo]

Originally Posted by 1939mars

Oh wow - was it a factory heater or an aftermarket? My dad and I deal in the original heaters and I've never seen an installation on a '39 pickup.

I will get a picture of the heater whdn I get home tonight. I am not a heater aficionado so my best guess is it was fitted by a previous owner. I am the 4th owner as far as dmv records show.
Just for the record I dont have a sedan pickup I have a 1 ton express. The term pickup dose not apply to my truck.

[1939mars]

Take a look at my web site: https://www.scottdoudrick.com/body/ On page 67 it shows 2 cowl vent assemblies, both with 91C part numbers. I guess we know what the two look like now. I wonder why they did them differently. Also interesting that they are not 81C numbers - these were 1 year only assemblies. The parts specific to the express are on the last page in case you are interested.

[ActionYobbo]

Thanks for the link to the website. I will look at it when I can use a big screen and not this old phone.

Picture of the heater

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by ActionYobbo

Thanks for the link to the website. I will look at it when I can use a big screen and not this old phone.

Picture of the heater

[1939mars]

Interesting - definitely not original, though.

[Terry,OH]

39 commercial Hot water heater appears like the 40 with slight difference. I believe it is mounted just to the right of the vent linkage.

[ActionYobbo]

At this point frustration has set in

[cmbrucew]

I found this, hope it helps


Bruce

[Terry,OH]

I would think the final assembly should look like your photo #4 posting above with the spring toward the passenger side and note the dog leg in the operating handle.

[ActionYobbo]

Originally Posted by Terry,OH

I would think the final assembly should look like your photo #4 posting above with the spring toward the passenger side and note the dog leg in the operating handle.

That’s how I have it assembled. I don’t know why it won’t work. The only things I has to assemble was bolt it to the firewall and connect the top brace. But I don’t know if the top brace goes where I put it or if there was another part to go there with it.
Thanks for all the replies. My project for this long weekend was to get the vent working and relocate the heater

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by cmbrucew

I found this, hope it helps


Bruce