Upper Firewall Cowl Panel

HawaiianCamaro · Oct 1, 2001

Was wondering if anyone has received and installed this item. Also if you did how did you mount the trim tag. I hate to remove mine since it has the orginal rivets and all.
Jeff 67/68 & 69 RS's

Unreal · Oct 1, 2001

Don't know why you have to replace this area, but I'd save it, if at all possibel. I'd patch around it, rather than re-rivet the tag.

DanBnis · Oct 1, 2001

If you get behind the cowl and are careful you can pop out the rivet and re use it.
------------------
1969 Camaro 350 & 1969 Impala SS 427/ 4-speed (restored)

[This message has been edited by DanBnis (edited 10-01-2001).]

gab7584 · Oct 3, 2001

If DjD finds out what you are doing you would be ousted off of here. From what I have gathered reading stuff here you never ever remove tags or vins. I guess once a car has damage or rust (new dash?) that would require a tag to be removed you have to smash the car to pieces. They say it is illegal to sell rivets that look like the original ones, or if your tags look tampered with, right away someone must go to the DMV and make sure your car is not stolen. These are not my opinions but is just a bunch of stuff I have gathered visiting this site.

HawaiianCamaro · Oct 3, 2001

Just wondering how people would remount the cowl tag (which is not illeagl such as a VIN being tampered with. The new Repo Upper COwl panel is made is a way that the Cowl tag would have to be remounted. The reason for installing a new one would be for rusted out areas on the curved line on the firewall itself and I have learned its best to get rid of the cancer 100% than do a half as@ job and have to do it again. Since it is a Heater delete car I also planned on highlighting the Partial VIN on the firewall so people could see its correct. I would also think that a Chevy dealer could re-install the cowl tag with no hassle.
Jeff 67/68 & 69 RS

Unreal · Oct 3, 2001

I'd still save as big a piece of the cowl as you can, and weld it into the replacement panel. Not that it is illegal, but I would want the original rivets to be un-tampered with.

RODKNOCKER · Oct 3, 2001

I'm replacing the top metal panel of the dash that the VIN is riveted to here's how
I removed tag and rivets from old panel and
installed on new one from the bottom side
I took a very small drill bit and drilled into center of rivet jus to weaken it a little then used a pair of needle nose plier's to twist as I pushed rivet out VIN
tag and rivets come off as one, placed rivets
trough holes in new panel and spread rivets apart. Looks the same as it did before I started. By the way I bought replacement panel from NATIONAL PARTS DEPOT very good quality and thicker guage metal than factory. I know you are working on a diff. panel but hope this helps.
JEFF

ochrisl · Oct 3, 2001

We have gotten original rivets for older cars,40-50's from places seen in Hemmings.It is not illegal to remove your VIN tag.It is not illegal to replace your dash or upper cowl panel.It is illegal to change it though.I think people get a little jumpy when they hear someone removing a VIN tag.

cavemate · Oct 5, 2001

I've relaced the entire upper cowl area on a 68 Firebird. It's not hard. I used a used panel. Whoever said they dont rust around the trim tag should check out SE cars..my "bird was so bad the wiper transmission literally fell into the cowl area. The dash upper panel must be removed to gain access to the cowl section(under windshield). it's just a matter of carefully removing all spot welds. The tricky part is at the seam on the firewall..it's a complex seam of 3 panels coming together. the upper cowl is welded from the INSIDE of the cowl area.I cut the upper cowl away to gain acess to the welds. DO NOT attemt to remove the welds from the firewall side. It's 2-ply and one slip and you'll have massive water leaks into the car..AVOID THOSE WELDS. After I removed the panel, I installed the new panel and welded the firewall section on form INSDE the cowl (where the wiper trans lies) It was difficult, but with a MIG is IS possible..Good luck

chris 67 rag · Oct 9, 2001

I also have rust in the cowl area on my 67 convertible. Already gutted the dash area so welding and grinding won't start any fires. I am replacing the dash panel with a new piece. My question, is a tool made that will allow you to roll the edge of a cutt piece of sheetmetal? Around the cowl vent openings the metal has a rolled down lip to stiffen opening I guess. The pieces I need to fabricate are not straight pieces, they have somewhat of a radius to them, with the rolled down lip. This is what I have to reproduce. Thanks, Chris

cavemate · Oct 10, 2001

Chris, not sure if you'd be interested, but i have a 67 firebird that has a rust free Dash upper panel and rust free panel the wiper transmission bolts to.. The only problem is someone pulled the car by that square hole above the wiper and it's bent also, there is a sloight bend on the far right side (easily fixed..) But...NO RUST.Let me know. I still have to cut it out of the car. Also, the metal dash board is mint and the radio area NOT CUT. Non-a/c. but has an assist grip over the glove box. Write to Cavemate@aol.com

bonecrusher67conv · Oct 10, 2001

When I bought my car one of the rivets was barely hanging in the hole, and I salvaged it and reused it, then refilled with bondo and painted it. So, the trim tag rivets can be saved and it will be unnoticable if you don't molest the firewall side of the rivet head. They are basically brass grommets filled with bondo and then painted over. From the windshield side of the firewall with the cowl panel removed, dig the bondo out of the inner edge of the rivets, enough that the bondo plug can be pushed through toward the engine compartment. Once the filler is out, then carefully bend the brass grommet edges inward with an ice-pick or very fine nose pliers, so that this brass rivet/grommet can be pushed toward the engine compartment.

chris 67 rag · Oct 12, 2001

Cavemate, I e-mailed you back but wanted to post here for everyones benefit. I got the whole upper dash panel off. The rust is along the entire length of the area where the dash panel welds to the upper cowl area. Some areas are rusted, some rusted through both the dash and the cowl.This is where the 3 pieces of metal all overlap and probably why it rusted in the first place. Let me know how much of this area you have available, I may be able to use something,thanks, Chris

cavemate · Oct 12, 2001

Then this part is perfect for you, but remember, this is a coupe and yours is a comvertible. the convertibles have an extra strip of heavy "U" shaped "bar" going from cowl to cowl just under the upper dash to help eleviate 'cowl shake'. You'll have to retain your old "bar"

Upper Firewall Cowl Panel

HawaiianCamaro

Unreal

DanBnis

gab7584

HawaiianCamaro

Unreal

RODKNOCKER

ochrisl

cavemate

chris 67 rag

cavemate

bonecrusher67conv

chris 67 rag

cavemate

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