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Why doesn't my 31 chevy have a fresh air cowl vent?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 31Chevycoupe, Feb 6, 2011.

  1. 31Chevycoupe
    Joined: Dec 21, 2010
    Posts: 13

    31Chevycoupe
    Member

    Why doesn't my 1931 chevy coupe have a fresh air vent on the cowl? I've seen several 31's around town and they all have them, but mine dont. Is that rare? My car is a rusty project and I can tell it was never welded up.:confused:
     
  2. 1932 was the first year that Chevys had a cowl vent for fresh air. A '31 shouldn't have a cowl vent unless someone grafted one on there. '31 and '32 Chevys are very similar, except for mainly the header above the windshield... are you sure they weren't '32s that you saw?
     
  3. scrap metal 48
    Joined: Sep 6, 2009
    Posts: 6,122

    scrap metal 48
    Member

    I believe the windshields on early chevy's raised straight up into the header about 2".. At least my 30 model did...........
     
  4. FORDY 6
    Joined: Oct 8, 2002
    Posts: 1,566

    FORDY 6
    Member

    1931 Chevrolet open cars...roadsters & phaetons, had cowl vents.

    Closed cars still used the Fisher ventilating windshield.
     
  5. brigrat
    Joined: Nov 9, 2007
    Posts: 6,020

    brigrat
    Member
    from Wa.St.

    Look above the inside windshield header, should be a handle or if that is missing maybe some gears and levers bedded in the wood work......................
     

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  6. bigdog
    Joined: Oct 30, 2002
    Posts: 794

    bigdog
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I've got a '31 coupe. Windshield cranks straight up in to the header, opens a gap at the bottom of the windshield the entire width of the glass and directs the air behind the dash. Stock dash is shaped to direct the airflow.
     
  7. 31Chevycoupe
    Joined: Dec 21, 2010
    Posts: 13

    31Chevycoupe
    Member

    [​IMG]

    I guess im pretty new to this thanks. The link above is a 31 that fooled me. Its a three window but its probably a 32 that someone added a visor to or something. It even has a 32 grill.
     
  8. That is a '31 with a '32 cowl vent and grill. That car was built by Dave Houston... he posts here on the HAMB, his username is 'HOOKER HOT ROD'
    http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/member.php?u=8770

    http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/featuredvehicles/0802rc_dave_houstons_1932_chevy_coupe/index.html

     
  9. 53sled
    Joined: Jul 5, 2005
    Posts: 5,817

    53sled
    Member
    from KCMO

    Love that car.
     
  10. paul55
    Joined: Dec 1, 2010
    Posts: 3,491

    paul55
    Member
    from michigan

    31 cabriolet and landau had cowl vent, not on the roadster or phaeton.
     
  11. Normbc9
    Joined: Apr 20, 2011
    Posts: 1,121

    Normbc9
    Member

    The coupe is a '31 Chevy with a visor and no cowl vent. The sedan is a '32 with a cowl vent and no visor. Don't ask me why but that was how it was.
    Normbc9
     

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  12. GlenH
    Joined: Apr 2, 2020
    Posts: 6

    GlenH

    Sorry for replying to such an old post, but I felt my question fit here. If I'm stepping on toes or need to create a different post, someone let me know and I'll do so.
    My question is this:
    Does anyone know if a 1932 Chevy 4 dr sedan cowl/windshield frame (cut just behind the windshield) would dimensionally fit a 1931 Chevy 5 window coupe?
    My reasons for asking are many. First off, my old car (31 coupe) is a little rough. Plenty "hot rod-able", but I'll likely never try to make it "nice". It currently has an aluminum firewall that was probably a road sign in it's former life. I'd really like to have a factory steel firewall. I really like the look of the 32 style windshield area better too, so this would kill two birds with one stone.
    I do realize that the door hinges are in different locations, which shouldn't be too hard to negotiate. I'm not concerned with body mounts etc as I'm building the frame from 2x3 tubing. I was mostly curious if anyone knew about dimension comparison, such as width at the A pillar/door hinge area, height from bottom of cowl to bottom of windshield etc.
    I have located a 32 cowl (4 dr sedan), but it's several states away and I hate to mess with having it shipped and it be way different when I put a tape measure on it.
    At this point, it's purely a guess, but from looking at pictures, which is all the reference I currently have, I don't expect a huge difference. I did notice that the beads rolled into the body just below the belt line appear to be identical between my car and the 32.
    Long shot, I know. I was just hoping someone had done this or at least had a sedan they wouldn't mind getting some measurements from.
    Any input appreciated.

    Glen
     
  13. Glenn Thoreson
    Joined: Aug 13, 2010
    Posts: 1,017

    Glenn Thoreson
    Member
    from SW Wyoming

    I have a '31 cowl from a 5 window coupe sitting here. It doesn't have a cowl vent. I've been trying to sell it and the doors for years but no one seems interested.
     

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