OK cowl vent rust issues, air into interior etc. Is it possible to form a 'hood' to cover the cowl vent to protect it from rain, washing, etc. and still lets air in? Kind of like a hood scoop with a screen that deflects water but lets air in?

 

I'm not sure a cover that is functional, but I have see plexiglass covers that can be used to cover the cowl vent when in storage. If you decide to replace the entire cowl area be prepared. It's a job not for the faint of heart. But most mustangs need it.

 

65 MP Cowl Vent Cover

Not sure what year stang your dealing with but here is the plastic cover that mustangs plus sells. I've seen them on a couple cars they are pretty easy to swap on/off and they look ok.
+1 to autolites comment about the entire replacement, it was a biatch.

 

Thanks, I've seen the plexiglass covers. But, [ this might be not concures correct], a functional scoop. I think like a turbo 'subaru' sorry. A hood that goes over the vents, lets air in, but reduces water infiltration when driving. It would also highly reduce water infiltration when washing the car.

 

you might be able to fab somethin up but it might look a lil cheesy (especially if the idea you have in mind is like the wrx scoop!).

The only other thing I could thing of would be to get a cowl induction hood. The lip on the hood rise towards the back of the cowl may be enough to deflect some water, but I don't think it would completely cover the cowl vent (unless you get one of those huge 5" glass cowls that fit all the way back to the window, but thats going to look rediculous).

Your best bet is that lexan cowl vent cover...just run it during bad weather and leave if off when its sunny.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Musta...18108338QQrdZ1

 

OK I tried. Don't want to look too stupid, I'll deal with it. Thanks

 

You either have a functional cowl on these old Mustangs, or you don't. You can cover up the vent with a cowl cover, but that won't assure you of no water getting into your cowl area.

 

Thanks for all the info. I juess I need to ask the question. What in the * does the cowl vent do? I have a 39 Plymouth with a manual cowl vent. I can open and close when I want.

 

It's the same with the early Mustangs. The cowl draws outside air into the car for either the air vent, and/or the heater.