Does anyone know if there's a supplier for them? I've seen them before on random 240s, but have no idea if they're available or not.. Any help or links would be awesome. Thanks.

Or do this

I warning everyone that this will turn into another one of my long posts!!! This is a writing and project in progress.

Seeing your picture is a good idea, that is, except for the tape or what looks like tape. Did you paint all of that in place to match as it still looks good!

Anyway, I stll respect the use of tape as for the last two years I have been sticking, "Glad Press and Seal" to literally cover the vents closed shut. The stuff does not stick that well and is not reuseable but is cheap.

I only used this setup, when I visit my sister-in-laws house in Southern California, because she has a large (protected) California Oak tree in front of her house. Next month, I will be down there, again!

I like the shade of the tree but not those darn leaves. The leaves fall all year-round. They are small, curly and dry out quickly. They then turn into crumbs or end up whole in the rocker panels. If I park anywhere else, the sun bakes the car and especially, if you seal up the vents.

Here is the ironic part, I was in the process of making some solid vinyl sheet covers from a panel of left over shower surround material when I spotted the thread and your post. I had just made a paper template so I could mirror image for cutting material into parts too!

During this earlier process I was still rolling around the idea of an easy on easy off method and how these were going to store when not in use. Also, I needed to have them held in place, just in case, I or my wife forgets to remove them before driving away.
I was thinking of using some stick on-foam rubber sealing tape on the flat solid vinyl panels but the thickness was an issue that was butting up against another one of my design perimeters I defined early on.

Here is where your screen idea crept into my thoughts along with the rubber idea as a hold down component.

I see how your lays on top and is about the same thickness as my vinyl but has holes. I do not know what you used but it looks like gutter cover material. My material has no holes and the thought of adding them seemed like even more trouble.

Here is where I think I will try to use another rubber idea. I think I will narrow the ends about a half-inch from both sides over the end louvre slots.

My plan is to use rubber hose that fits the width and lengths of those end slots. Vacuum hose or windshield washer hose fits nicely at the moment.
I plan to slit the hose through both sides across from each other and about that half-inch from the ends of the hose and thread the screen through the hose sides.

After fitting the two hoses with the screen, partially down into the slots, to set the length adjustment correctly I will lock the screen to the hoses.

I will do this by using silicone door and window caulking. I have some of that fifty years stuff laying around all the time. I shall pump the hose full from one end until it comes out the other end or shoot it in from each end.
This should dry and still be flexible and squishy. I may not fill them up completely, I just want it to lock the screen to the hose.

Seeing how it all works will be the "on the fly" part of my prototype.
I am still curious how the edges of the cut window screen material will behave, but then, they are for temporary use!

The other idea I have visualized about this design is that they will roll up when traveling and stay in a cars tool bag!

Now looking at your screens, that match so nicely. You could use the same rubber hose idea to remove the tape that may give up the ghost later, as tape usually does.

You could add the rubber hose on the bottom sides of you screen material.
Have them held to that screen with short, small diameter screws through on side of the hose. Can I suggest using short lengths of rubber, maybe an inch or less, dispersed equally for that flat down fit, you have now on the cowling.

Thanks for your picture, as it sure cut down on my reading of your post, to understand what you did!

Phil

Hi Phil,

I like your rubber hose idea. I need to make one more, I might make one based on your description. I do like Tom's cowl vent very much. Like Giorgio Armani saying, "Less is more, except the price tag" ;-)

This is how I did mine. It's complicated and ugly but it does work.

Hi all,

For your copy and reference. You might need to scale it by using 1" square.

Boy, I would have never imagine so much interest in covering over these vents.

The sheet magnets on the site Neil 21 found is very interesting because the stuff appears to be very inexpensive. I plugged in a six by twelve inch size of their .030 thick material and it was a couple bucks each, less any shipping.

Knowing what magnetic strength "number" to use on the site, from a computer screen, told me nothing. Might help if I knew, What a refrigerators magnet strength was? I know they are thicker but not real strong. That type of strength would probably be fine if it has even and flat contact with the car.

The next trick is putting holes in there like a screen has or just where we need them. One, would need to use a 1/16 inch gasket hole punch to get clean round holes in this kind of material to get even looking holes that makes it have a professional finished look.
The whole project could be with a cute looking template that has nice rounded corners and contour.

I think the color is always going to be a contention if one wants a permanent attachment. Putting in some even looking holes makes it look more professional. May have to use SEM flat black automotive paint for some class.
Eye appeal, is sales appeal. I was told that by a Baker, friend.

Your cover looks like it does the job. You must be saying ugly, for its thickness, if you are focusing on the frame. That frames shape looks good to me as its very functional to utilize the wire ties.
Your design deals with the stability for the front long side. My idea has no border and I am not sure I need to deal with it for my purposes.

Neil's looks thinner with use of the tape. Magnetic could solve everything as long as it cannot slip. Maybe the 0.020 thick material will still fit through the slitted rubber hose idea and be flexible enough to be worth pursuing.

All these ideas could turn into a good soup yet!

Ps. I just read the other posts about the CAD and laser cut, wow! I thought it was nice now I get why.
Are you sure it was laser cut or was it a water jet machine? Both techniques make it easier that what I imagined it to be made by hand or even on my manual milling machine.

Phil

"Boy, I would have never imagine so much interest in covering over these vents."

Hi Phil,

Yes, I agree. And thank you for many different suggestions. I will look into it.

FYI. My friend used a laser cutting machine. It's a very nice machine but it caught fires few times. Someone needs to watch it when it's running.

I'd be interested to hear how you made yours. I like it a lot!

Matt

Hi Matt,

1. Placed a piece of tracing paper over the vent, I traced shapes that would cover the entire vent.
2. Scanned in digital format & retraced it again with a CAD program & printed out & made adjustment & more adjustment...
3. Sent the file to my friend, he used his laser cutting machine to cut those pieces. ;-)
4. Placed flyscreen in-between two laser cut pieces & fused it with gorilla glue & trimmed over hanging flyscreen.
5. Finally, used zip ties to hold in place. That was challenging and I was able to put only three zip ties per vent.

If you like, I can send you the file in these format; DXF, JPG, PDF and ETC. You are welcome to use it and change it if you like. I want to simplify my vents, it's too complicated... Maybe I can attach rubber hoses instead of those zip ties???

87245swedishbaklava At geemaIl dut kom

"5. Finally, used zip ties to hold in place. That was challenging and I was able to put only three zip ties per vent."

Ever consider well nuts or something similar that expand as you tighten the screw? Even a piece of AL plate or rigid HDPE (to avoid scratching...HDPE holds screws well and is UV resistant) the same width as the vent openings but long enough that as the screw is tightened the end of the plastic would hit a barrier in side the well...harder to explain than to fab.

What material is the sandwich plate made from?

Hi Nel621,

He said he used 3/32" sintra board.

http://www.tri-dee.com/sintra_plastic_pvc.htm

The material I used is similar to screen protector for speakers but it is a rubber/plastic product. The place I got it from has since closed. I did not want a metal screen for obvious reasons, it will scratch the paint. The screens are held in place using electrical tape. It holds up very well as long as you don't try to stretch the tape when you put it on.It can be removed and using some wax remove the tape residue without affecting the paint. I still have some material left and my next idea is to use flexible magnetic tape. I will hot glue the tape to the edges of my screen then just stick them in place. I don't know if it will hold in highway traffic but now it will be easier to just remove them when driving at fast speeds. I only need the screens when I'm at home, same situation with oak tree and leavees.

The rubberized magnet material is a good idea too. I agree that its not very strong. The stuff on the insides of refrigerator door gaskets could work as it is all about the surface area that makes contact.
I have some speaker magnets but one might have to glue them on the top side of the material.

I cannot guess at how much wind actually blows across the cowling versus the amount that goes in. I know it tugs at the Press an Seal film and moisture from the dew loosens them up. I run that stuff under the wipers and down under the hood lip and onto the firewall gasket.

I hope my scroll idea works longer than the film.

The part about the screen edges might have a tendency to ravel at the squares if the wind can whip at it. I'll just have make something and adjust like you are doing.

It is a lot like making soup, you throw stuff together, let it simmer and stir when needed.

Phil

maybe try something like this?
http://www.adamsmagnetic.com/flex_magnet_strip_high_energy.php

"I don't know if it will hold in highway traffic"

Dealer license plates do...lots of them are just a sheet of the 1/16-1/8" flexible magnet stuff they make refrigerator magnets from glued to the back (or is it front?) of the dealer metal plate.

these cover are called Snow Caps and get ready to bend over for a set it you can find some. David Samuel reproduced some in the one piece Caps, and the price is not bad. New they were about $45.00. Now a new in Box will run $350.00 if you can fine some.

To me if you don't do something like the pics that Ken C posted that these covers don't really keep much out. They need a screen to be really effective.

I thought I was the inventor of this. Although the 1992 has tighter slots the 1978 had slots you could fit a tuba 4 through.

Tom

Hi Tom,

The cowl vent cover is made by Phil. You got competition. :-)

http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=233521
http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=275626

I got these from IPD, but that was a few years ago (I don't know if they still carry them).

For my '84 (I added the screens)




And a different style for my '93 (painted to match the body color, and also with screens)

hi sages- that pictured part would be very good especially the 2d one. the 2d one would be good for cutting back rain intrusion. looked for one for years for my 76 duster which had rust perforation under the cowl, not the cowl itself. it allowed water toget on the floor, rusted it out and rotted the carpet. hope somebody chimes in and knows where to get these things. thanks tons oldduke

Bork,

Yeah, I had one on my old 240, it looked cool, but it primarily kept pine needles and stuff out of the cowl. Good luck finding one of them today, I doubt the dealer could still get you one. Mike