water comin in through heater ducts

If cowl is plugged that badly, futzing around with a wire will be slow going. Remove driver’s side fresh air vent. It is held in place by three bolts around the outside of its top. Once that vent is out of the way, one can reach his hand up into the cowl and remove the muck and sticks etc. When it is cleaned and dried, following directions apply POR-15 or like product inside the cowl to seal up all the pin holes.

Same treatment of passenger’s side will require removal of heater box… That is a bit more work, but it will give you an excuse to clean the box up, empty out all the crud in it, and re build it to factory fresh condition. Heater rebuild kit is available from Detroit Muscle.