The Most Devastating Engineering Miscue Found in Early A-Bodies

Re the cowls, when I had the climate boxes off I could access the innards from the under-dash holes and openings in the engine bay, I was able to clean it out thoroughly with vacuum and scraper, remove rust in the corners, and paint with Stop Rust, using a little roller on an extender, small foam brushes, and spray. There are drain openings on the sides which you can access if the fenders are loose at the bottom. Remove leaf debris which always clogs them. I installed stainless mesh screen underneath. I first tried to support it with a bent wire, but changed to loops of mesh pushing upward, then drops of glue to the vent openings at the top. On most of my newer vehicles, the cowl screens are plastic. It has amazingly held up in the CA sun in my 2002, though the plastic is about done in my 1984 M-B. Those screen holders are removable.