Has anyone ever replaced a 29 lower cowl section on a car?

[Neil Mylar LakewoodCA]

Has anyone ever removed and replaced the lower 28/29 cowl section on a car?
I'm anticipating having to raise the front part of the body.

[Russ B]

To clarify, do you mean an assembly of the cowl side panels, the lower firewall, and the subrail extensions? I would think it would be easiest done by separating the body from the frame completely and pulling the body off the frame. I recall doing that about 30 years ago on a closed cab pu. I might have that lower front cowl assembly in my shop, with a tank loosely sitting on top, but I am not sure and will need to look before I give any advice. I am too foggy on the body cowl assembly without a new look.

[Will N]

Yes, I'm restoring my '29 roadster and I removed and replaced the lower firewall and cowl side panels. The lower firewall was punched so full of holes by prior owners and the lower side panels had rusted through. I had the body off the chassis which made access to the three rivets per side on the bottom of the side cowl panels enabling me to drill them out. The cowl side panels are riveted on the bottom to the body rails, which rest on the chassis. You would not be able to access them while the body is on the frame, even if you raised it a few inches.

[28Danby]

I did it a few winters ago. I pulled the entire cowl/tank from the body. Gave me the ability to re-seal the tank while I was at it. Separated the firewall and tank from the cowl while on the bench. I was able to wire wheel/blast/paint everything and installed new cowl panels and front subframe assemblies.
After that, I was able to fit everything in place and tack weld in place while making sure everything aligned. The whole cowl assembly slides in and out like a drawer.

[wrndln]

I have restored several lower cowl panels in my 28 and 29 model A's without replacing the panels. I cut out the rusted out area with a pneumatic tool, then sandblast around the area left and cut a triangle patch from 19 or 20 gauge metal, then weld in the patch carefully. I weld small sections around the patch so as not to warp the metal. A small amount of filler and you are ready to go. This works very well.
Rusty

[Russ B]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

While it ay be possible to replace the lower cowl assembly without removing the body, I am sure it would be easier to do the job if the the body is pulled off the chassis. Re attaching the rail extension to the main rails would be particularly difficult without welding the pieces together to do the assembly swap with the body left on. I looked at my 45A lower cowl which was riveted together; and a second lower cowl assembly I think is from my closed cab pickup. The second assembly did not have the 3 rivet holes as best I could tell in the low light conditions this morning. With this in mind, some body styles may have slightly variations in the rail extensions.

[AYooperA]

Some pictures of that lower cowl assembly. ‘29 Phaeton

[Neil Mylar LakewoodCA]

Thank you everyone for your inputs.
I may pull the motor and lift the body a few inches to remove the lower cowl section. The one rivet on each side has already been drilled out.
Regards, Neil

[Osage Orange]

If you are replacing the cowl panels, just be aware that the panels will come to you flat, without a compound curvature. You'll have to massage them to conform to a concavity that will match up to the original. Also be aware that aftermarket panels will not have a sharp bend at the top and upper back that fits tightly to the gas tank and A pillar. You'll have to hammer and dolly that to make a tight fit.

[Neil Mylar LakewoodCA]

I removed the engine and trans. I removed all the nuts from the body to frame bolts. I removed the nuts and bolts holding the rear fender to the splash aprons and running boards. I then lifted the front part of the body about 1 and 1/2 inches which allowed me to remove the complete lower section of the cowl. I then installed another lower section that had a nice firewall and side pieces.

It took a lot of time, but I'm very happy.

[Will N]

Well done, Neil.

[Fullraceflathead]

It sounds like you won the battle Neil great workmanship.