I'm installing a Wiper System from Specialty Power Windows, that eliminates the stock cable driven system. My question is which holes on the Cowl / Firewall that are related to the stock wiper system can I weld up for a smoother, cleaner look. MY Ranchero came to me in boxes, so I did not take it apart, and have no first hand knowledge of what goes where. I think I understand what some of these holes are for, but would like to hear from you guys that know exactly what holes are for what.
As I'm computer challenged, Cobra Joe, has offered to post the photos of my Cowl/Firewall. Thanks Joe
Thanks
John
In my opinion, I would install the new system first, even if it is just finger tight or temporary. Then you can get a better idea of what holes to weld up.
Good point. Car is completely apart. The kit is essentially installed, and all of it mounts inside the car. The two transmission shafts are accessible through the cowl vent. I'm very confident in filling the now, unused wiper related holes. I'm just not positive as to exactly which ones are wiper related.
Thanks for your reply.
John
Plug 'em all.
Gary.........I was hoping you would weigh in on this. When CobraJoe gets the photos posted would you take another look please and confirm what holes stay and what holes get welded up.
Thanks
John
How "clean" do you want it? I only left the hood bumper threaded holes. Filled in all the caveties, big holes for heater,etc. Like Gary said.........you can fill them all if you're removing the old wiper system, except at this point you need to decide if you want to eliminate the hood latch and go with hood pins..........alot of that will depend on the look you want for your Ranchero. If you don't, leave those bolt holes. If you do, you can also fill in that big recess for a cleaner look.
I used the hood bumper threaded inserts for the hood pins. NM show pic shows the hood pins. I found some with the same thread as the hood bumper bolts, and slipped two hood bumpers down over the pins. Worked perfectly.
Here you go:
(https://i.imgur.com/KagZ3MO.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/AtlHu22.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GaCjkip.jpg)
You need to keep the 2 square holes with the encapsulated nuts also. Those are the fender mounts. The passenger side in Joe's pic is missing the nut.
Not sure what the 3/4" or so holes are on the ends of the cowl..........probably wiper access. I think I had 26 holes and cavaties /recessed areas I filled on mine.
Funny, I have had words I know I spelled wrong, but the spellcheck doesn't find them.
Quote from: RICH MUISE on 2018-10-15 15:59
You need to keep the 2 square holes with the encapsulated nuts also. Those are the fender mounts. The passenger side in Joe's pic is missing the nut.
(https://i.imgur.com/wew2kGd.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NAn5Mz0.jpg)
Right on the ball, Joe. Thanks.
I assume those are John's pics that you are posting for him. If so, John, somebody (maybe you) has already filled in the big heater hole at least in the top half of the cowl. Looks like the void of the spot weld flange has been filled in also. Had I to do mine over again, because of the tight fit of my 4.6's throttle body, I would have removed that flange altogether.
lol, yes they are John's pics and my pleasure. Glad I could help :003:
Thanks Rich. Yes I have that caged nut......just have not put it in. What about the other holes? A hood bumper goes in the threaded round piece on each side, I believe.
If you know, what about the Triangular shaped recessed area with 3 holes, the large round hole to the right of the triangle recessed area,and the rounded corners, rectangular hole just above the triangular recessed area. I think they are all wiper related and can be welded up...........looking for confirmation. Same for the rounded corner rectangular hole on the passenger side cowl.
As I'm typing this replies are coming in. Yes I will keep the stock hood lock and the hood bumpers. I plan on all the unnecessary and unused holes be welded up.But since I didn't take it apart I'm a little uncertain as to what all of these holes are for.
Any help identifying what they are there for would be appreciated.
John
Yes, all that stuff you mentioned can be welded up. The triangular recesses I believe are where the wiper pulleys mounted. As I mentioned, not sure what the 3/4 holes on the ends are for. Once the fender is on, you can't access them, so doesn't make sense they were for wiper maintenance, ??
Maybe someone who still has all that stuff, and assembled, can verify what those holes are for. The cowl had a baffle plate inside on the passenger end, and that may be what some of the small holes are for, or possible heater access or mounting holes. I never had the factory heater, so not sure what, if anything, was inside the cowl. I think it was just an opening for fresh air from the cowl.
Nice talking with you, John. I meant to ask, I know your son that you're gonna be visiting lives west of FW, have you checked out the 50's style diner in Bridgeport? I met the owners at a car show/route 66 festival in Shamrock this summer.
Is that 351 you have for the Ranchero fuel injected? If so, where is the throttle body? If it's to the rear like mine, you may consider removing the spot weld flange on the cowl/firewall.
Those round holes under the fender on my car have rubber plugs from the factory maybe they are for windshield washer hoses? The large round hole with the 4 sheet metal screw hole on the drivers side is an access/inspection hole for the wiper cables, the oval holes have rubber plugs and they facilitate the wiper cable assembly. The triangle pattern holes are where the cable pivot brackets bolt on, the passenger side is on the top of the cowl the driver side is on the firewall face. The heater opening at the top is for fresh air intake with the factory installed heater, it is not used on the dealer installed heater.
"Those round holes under the fender on my car have rubber plugs from the factory maybe they are for windshield washer hoses? "
good thought,Lynn............does anybody know where the oem washer nozzles were located? I'm remembering nozzles/tubes that were mounted on the outside of the cowl with long formed nozzles that came up between the hood and cowl vent cover. I just don't remember what car those were on, lol.
Quote from: RICH MUISE on 2018-10-15 19:25
.... does anybody know where the oem washer nozzles were located?
On a '58. Probably not pointed the right way.
That's where I located my aftermarket (chevy) nozzles. Are those oem? If so, Lynn probably was right about the end holes being for washer tubing.
LOL........I'm a bit slow.........the passenger side hole IS how I fed my washer tubing into the cowl.
Quote from: RICH MUISE on 2018-10-15 22:13
Are those oem?
Living in the land where '57-'58 Fords are nearly as scarce unicorns I believe that they are OEM but can only assume so.
Come to think of it, '58 Fords may be even more scarce that '57s here.
'58's are more scarce everywhere
Quote from: RICH MUISE on 2018-10-16 00:35
'58's are more scarce everywhere
Maybe because people want to hang on to or save '57s since they are better looking & more desirable than '58s? (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/TomIII/smilies/brows.gif)
I think optional factory washer nozzles look a lot like later Mustang items. made from very small tubing and chromed they are held by the cowl vent grill screws and come up across the top of the cowl, under the vent grille ( in a certain spot) and through the slots and mesh of the grille.
I believe the factory nozzles look much like these 1967 Mustang nozzles ( but of course need bent so the will point in right direction angled up to the windhshield)
Anyways I have never paid attention to the two existing holes under the fender corners and Lynn is right it is a great spot to route the washer hoses out of sight rather than having them all over the firewall/cowl. I'll give that some thinking on my wagons. great idea, thx guys !
unfortunately this is the only photo I have of the cowl area of my old SD Courier. the washer nozzles and hoses can be seen clearly, although it appears as if they came out through the gap between hood and cowl. most probably not a factory installation.
Quote from: lalessi1 on 2018-10-15 18:36
Those round holes under the fender on my car have rubber plugs from the factory maybe they are for windshield washer hoses? The large round hole with the 4 sheet metal screw hole on the drivers side is an access/inspection hole for the wiper cables, the oval holes have rubber plugs and they facilitate the wiper cable assembly. The triangle pattern holes are where the cable pivot brackets bolt on, the passenger side is on the top of the cowl the driver side is on the firewall face. The heater opening at the top is for fresh air intake with the factory installed heater, it is not used on the dealer installed heater.
Lynn, Thanks..........this pretty well confirms what I can weld up. I'll call you today, as I'm not understanding your comment about the fresh air intake for the factory heater etc.
John
:deadhorse: Well, somebody here must have the original ones. I do see some little chrome things on the cowl vent grill in some of the '57 pix I have but too far away to make out their shape.
These keep popping up in a search but only shown to fit 55-57 T-birds, 66-77 Bronco, 57-66 F100s & 61-66 Econolines. I would imagine that they are the same for our '57s.
You can also buy these at Mac's for about double these prices.
http://dennis-carpenter.com/product.aspx?p=B5S-17666-A&quickorder=true#keyword=%20windshield%20washer%20nozzle&hawktabfield=type_category&type_category=cars&yearcar=1957
https://www.rubbertherightway.com/1957-ford-restoration-parts-windshield-76066-prd1.htm
John, the OEM unmodified firewall/cowl has 2 large holes for the heating system. They are separate holes because one is on the firewall and into the cabin area for the heater core, etc., and the upper hole is into the cowl.
The factory heater was more elaborate, and larger, than the dealer installed heater. One feature of the factory heater was that it had a fresh air feature that the dealer installed heater did not. That fresh air was obtained from the cowl, so the factory heater covered/utilized both of the large holes, drawing it's fresh air, when selected, thru the upper hole in the cowl.
When cars left the factory without an installed heater, as many did, they had separate delete plates over each of the two holes. If the car got a dealer installed heater (many did), they only removed the bottom delete plate and utilized the bottom hole. They left the upper delete plate mounted, because as I stated, the dealer heaters did not have a fresh air option.
John....I'm anxious to see how that specialties wiper system works out. I'm curious though.......have you tried fitting the defroster plenum with the new specialties pivots in place.
The new pivots (transmissions) do not interfere with the OEM defrost ducts. They do not come inside the car...all under the cowl.
John currently has his thru the cowl into the cabin under the dash. That's why I asked about defroster duct interference. I know he bought his car totally disassembled, so may not realize the defrost duct is big and it mounts to the leading edge of the dash's underside.
Gary, does your setup as it is in the pic you posted reverse the direction of the right wiper? It looks like you were able to attach one over and one under, which should do that. That would have been an easy way out for my hard arm system had I had enough room for the "one above"
Quote from: RICH MUISE on 2018-10-16 10:21
John....I'm anxious to see how that specialties wiper system works out. I'm curious though.......have you tried fitting the defroster plenum with the new specialties pivots in place.
Yes Rich , we ( my friend Tommy and I ) have been working on this, and the very ends of the plenum have been modified to clear the wiper transmissions pivots. At the same time we are mounting a Vintage Air Heat and AC under the dash ......... getting a little crowded under the dash.
John
I installed the transmissions in the cowl. The transmissions can be flipped to get the required wiper arm function. PICs show the Vintage Air Gen IV installed. There is a little access hole cut into the cowl just above the VA box. This hole was necessary to assemble the wiper cable tube. I fabbed a little cover plate and sealed it in after wiper motor was installed. The wiper motor can easily be serviced.
sure looks like a simpler installation for those that want the wiper motor off the firewall. (Simpler than my elaborate hard arm system that is.) Is it a 2 speed?
Standard two speed but a governor is available for intermittent feature.