Anyone know the reason for the cracks under the cowl on the 1st gen cabs? I was making a check list on my donor cab to figure out what all needs to be repaired and noticed cracks on both sides. The passenger side goes up to the window (see pic) Anyone know of a good repair for this? and maybe reasoning why they crack?

Thanks!
Ian

pics:

 

Hey very good question. I have the same problem with my truck. I am a decent welder and I was just going to add a little extra tin here and there to add a little strenght to my firewall and cowl also I have some pretty serious cracks in the door jams and on the back of the doors. I am interested in seeing what others have done to fix these cracks. Sorry I am not much help. Some well placed sheet metal will help but I think this is just something we are going to have to get good at repairing. Once you reinforce one spot it will cause a weak point else where.

 

I don't want to take my cowl cover off or peer through the door openings and check. short version of why states the obvious, they didn't quite understand structural sheetmetal, what pieces need to give, what pieces need to be reinforced...

I'm interested though in what it would take to try to chase cracks/reinforce the cab a bit, though. I don't think removing the fenders is a simple task; but I imagine with the fenders and doors off and the dash out, it's pretty dang easy to see what needs to be done. it's easy for me to say that because I've never pulled the fender off of a dodge truck. I had the dash out of my '96 and that actually wasn't too bad.

 

they are using 1/2 ton sheetmetal with a huge rattle trap engine.......

 

apparently dodge had a fix for this but they no longer make the patch panels, and supposedly they don't want you to weld it but use the automotive adhesive compound stuff.

I wont have time this weekend but Ill be pulling the window to see how far the passenger side has cracked....

 

Hey is a link to a good source for fixing the cowl cracks.

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