Cowl removal difficulty level

How difficult is it to remove the cowl vent where the windshield wipers attach? I need to remove mine to install a new wiper motor and replace my rusted one. I have heard some bad stories about it. Supposedly there is some secret trick to it.

you can replace the wiper motor with out removing the cowl

Removing the cowl is easy

The tricky part is the wiper arms, and getting them to come loose...not that bad though, pull the arm back so the retainer pulls away from the stud, and wiggle them a bit.they will eventually come off.

aint nothing tricky to them, as stated lift the arms, wiggle and pry upwards and if you are changing the cowl then pry away, once off there's bolts underhood I think 4, and think they are 10 mm or 7mm heads, then you just have to lift it up and out, maybe go back with it and such with the hood on.

Thanks for the replies. I thought there were some attachments under the cowl that connect the motor to the wiper pivots like in my 73 Plymouth Satellite. Those were a PAIN to do at first. Glad to know it will not be so hard.

I've been researching cowl drains but have yet to find any information that is helpful. Anyone know exactly where these are and how they work? I have some rust on the passenger side from the windshield down. I know the windshield seal is bad and all of that is due to come out and be replaced. I figured while I was in there I'll fix all of the rust, patch any holes, and make sure any drainage issues get resolved. I'm planning on getting a bore scope as I can't see down in there very well. Next problem will be access to any areas that need repair. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Any water that passes through the cowl falls down into the fresh air intake cross plenum. Once in the cross plenum it sheds to the far left and right ends. At each end it joins with a vertical plenum. Once in the vertical plenums, the water drains down and out the bottom of the plenum - through an opening behind the fender

If you are opening up the cowl anyway, get yourself some seam sealer and seal the seam at the bottom of that plenum. You will be able to see where the old sealer was. Mine started leaking, and was letting water in through the sheet metal holes for the e-brake etc. It was a tough one to find.

Yea but how do I take the cowl off?
@Old77
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Rusty Nail said:

Yea but how do I take the cowl off?
@Old77
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There's about 4 bolts that hold it in. Break out the fisher price socket set you got has a kid and go to town

Just did this job about a week ago because the vacuum hose to the fresh air flap vac diaphragm over on the passenger had broken off, and I'd found the vac hose with firewall grommet, "laying" in the wiring harness for the glovebox compartment light.

It was a pretty tedious job because my paint is nice and I was worried I would damage the cowl or hood paint. The wipers were a challenge, because their splined connections were a little corroded. I wrapped a big bath towel around the base of them, sprayed up into them with Kroil, and used a dental pick tool to pry the little metal retainer clip (at the spline connection) out of the way. Then it was a matter of prying, and leveraging.

With the wipers off, I removed the 4 little screws on the front (facing the engine) edge of the cowl. Then it was a careful balancing act of keeping the cowl from scraping into the back corners of the open hood, and getting pins along the back of the cowl to come out of the windshield panel. Maybe it would have been easier with the hood completely closed, but I left the hood open. That may have been a mistake. Anyway, I was able to get it out, and repair the vacuum line.

austinado16 said:

Just did this job about a week ago because the vacuum hose to the fresh air flap vac diaphragm over on the passenger had broken off,
It was a pretty tedious job...

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Hay buddy. Thanks for your inputs Fisher Price lol.
I got that dreaded hiss to MAX and need to see what's goin on in thurr.
It blows cold air outside lol
I think i only get a percentage to the interior :sadface:

Rusty Nail said:

Yea but how do I take the cowl off?
@Old77
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Click to expand...

Just break out the air saw and drill bits, eazy peazy