New Product FS--Cowl Cover with Sticker(s) and Seal
#17
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Thanks Alan and Don for the orders. I'll get them out right away.
Alan, My Cowl is about twice as thick as the original. As near as I can tell the origials are formed out of about .030 material and mine are out of just twice that at .060. They form a little thinner than the original sheet, but not too much. I could try to form one or two out of .090 material in the next production run, but I think we will loose too much definition and then they may not fit either. What you might want to consider is simply glueing on some doublers of the same or thicker ABS in the places you want to add some stiffness. I could send you some scrap material for that and you can get ABS glue at the plumbing section of your department store.
Jim Doerr, Thanks for your input. You might be right about the reason for the short cowl cover in the early cars, from 78 to 82, I think, but I have come to a different conclusion. The early partial (2/3) covers were not actually cut off, they just had not yet grown to their final size. I think they were put in there as sort of an afterthought in order to protect the heater blower inlet from the water that is coming off the windshield, and that location is where most of it comes down by virtue of the sweep of the wiper blades. I could not determine that there is actually any difference in the early wiper mechanism from the later cars, so I am counting of my cowl covers without the washer bottle opening being suitable for the earliest cars. I might be wrong, but I never have been before. I thought I was once, but I was wrong.
On the other hand, if my cowl cover does not work with the 78 to 82 cars I will be inclined to work one of the 5 forms over so that there will be a version that will work.
Thanks to all of you guys for your positive feedback on this project. That helps make it worth the effort.
Jerry Feather
Alan, My Cowl is about twice as thick as the original. As near as I can tell the origials are formed out of about .030 material and mine are out of just twice that at .060. They form a little thinner than the original sheet, but not too much. I could try to form one or two out of .090 material in the next production run, but I think we will loose too much definition and then they may not fit either. What you might want to consider is simply glueing on some doublers of the same or thicker ABS in the places you want to add some stiffness. I could send you some scrap material for that and you can get ABS glue at the plumbing section of your department store.
Jim Doerr, Thanks for your input. You might be right about the reason for the short cowl cover in the early cars, from 78 to 82, I think, but I have come to a different conclusion. The early partial (2/3) covers were not actually cut off, they just had not yet grown to their final size. I think they were put in there as sort of an afterthought in order to protect the heater blower inlet from the water that is coming off the windshield, and that location is where most of it comes down by virtue of the sweep of the wiper blades. I could not determine that there is actually any difference in the early wiper mechanism from the later cars, so I am counting of my cowl covers without the washer bottle opening being suitable for the earliest cars. I might be wrong, but I never have been before. I thought I was once, but I was wrong.
On the other hand, if my cowl cover does not work with the 78 to 82 cars I will be inclined to work one of the 5 forms over so that there will be a version that will work.
Thanks to all of you guys for your positive feedback on this project. That helps make it worth the effort.
Jerry Feather
Last edited by ReDesign by FEATHER; 03-27-2012 at 10:53 AM.
#18
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I'll put my 02 in here. I see the error. Very nice job on the covers.
#19
Those look fantastic.
#20
Burning Brakes
Would you happen to have some spare wheel covers as well? Looks like a good time to combine it all in one box... My cowl cover is broken and I've been less then satisfied with an original spare tire cover that I bought last year (if I knew how flimsy it is, I would have bought your cover instead last year).
#21
Electron Wrangler
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Jerry - OK Sounds good - Hold That order - I will paypal you the extra money for a seal and cowl - if you can throw in some scrap for the doubling. Though I have a GTS I need the S4 Version with the washer bottle cut-out (I have one used for rear washers).
Alan
Alan
Thanks Alan and Don for the orders. I'll get them out right away.
... What you might want to consider is simply glueing on some doublers of the same or thicker ABS in the places you want to add some stiffness. I could send you some scrap material for that and you can get ABS glue at the plumbing section of your department store...
Jerry Feather
... What you might want to consider is simply glueing on some doublers of the same or thicker ABS in the places you want to add some stiffness. I could send you some scrap material for that and you can get ABS glue at the plumbing section of your department store...
Jerry Feather
#24
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Would you happen to have some spare wheel covers as well? Looks like a good time to combine it all in one box... My cowl cover is broken and I've been less then satisfied with an original spare tire cover that I bought last year (if I knew how flimsy it is, I would have bought your cover instead last year).
Jerry Feather
#25
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Jerry, you should have a website in your sig so we can go and see your products and your prices. I am going to need a rear hatch tire cover as soon as I can get the $$$. Mine has split yet again and I am thinking it just might be beyond repair this time. I hope they will fit an 86.5?
Thanks,
Thanks,
#26
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awesome!
#27
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The question has come up about the new Cowl trim/seal that I am providing. I do not mean to mislead anyone about the seal. It is completely optional for use with the new cowl cover; and your original seal, if it is servicable will still work as well on my new covers. The new seal is not required with the new covers.
The main reason I went to the effort to locate and buy a bulk amount of the new seal material is because while researching for this project I noticed that about 20 to 25 percent of the 928 pictures that show the cowl cover, or where it is supposed to go, do not have a cowl cover at all, and most of those missing the cover are also missing the cowl seal. Too, many of the original seals are in pretty bad shape.
The reason I think the seal is important is because I am pretty sure that its purpose is to keep the engine compartment air out of the cabin. The seal may not look like it is very important, especially when you lift the hood and look at it, but when the hood is closed, the underside of the hood makes a seal between the engine compartment and the cowl area. That allows the heater vent to draw air from the bottom of the windshiled and behind the hood rather that from out of the engine compartment.
If you seal is beat down or missing you need the new one, but only if.
Jerry Feather
The main reason I went to the effort to locate and buy a bulk amount of the new seal material is because while researching for this project I noticed that about 20 to 25 percent of the 928 pictures that show the cowl cover, or where it is supposed to go, do not have a cowl cover at all, and most of those missing the cover are also missing the cowl seal. Too, many of the original seals are in pretty bad shape.
The reason I think the seal is important is because I am pretty sure that its purpose is to keep the engine compartment air out of the cabin. The seal may not look like it is very important, especially when you lift the hood and look at it, but when the hood is closed, the underside of the hood makes a seal between the engine compartment and the cowl area. That allows the heater vent to draw air from the bottom of the windshiled and behind the hood rather that from out of the engine compartment.
If you seal is beat down or missing you need the new one, but only if.
Jerry Feather
#28
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Jerry, you should have a website in your sig so we can go and see your products and your prices. I am going to need a rear hatch tire cover as soon as I can get the $$$. Mine has split yet again and I am thinking it just might be beyond repair this time. I hope they will fit an 86.5?
Thanks,
Thanks,
They are $75 each plus $16.50 S&H.
And, you are probably right about the web site. When I get more stuff going I will probably look into that. Thanks for the encouragement.
Jerry Feather
#29
Burning Brakes
Yes, Alexie. I have some spare tire covers as well and have been making some of them so I can have plenty to take to Spring Fling and later to OCIC. Combined shipping will not be too effective since the packaging for those and for the new Cowl covers are completely different. Each package is essentially custom to the product. Too, I think if I taped the two together the end result might be too big for Priority mail. I'll check and let you know.
Jerry Feather
Jerry Feather
I'm on East Coast so I'm not going to be at Spring Fling and OCIC is just too far of a drive as much as I'd like to attend. I'll check my cowl later today just to make sure which version I have on my car right now and also if I need a seal and will drop you a PM.
Thanks!