Cowl Innards....

Another seemingly complicated section is the cowl area. Not only does a wooden frame fit inside the cowl, but a firewall is bolted to the framework. That frame is also screwed to the sub-floor. The cowl itself is nailed to not only the framework but to the sub-floor as well and to the forward facing surfaces of the PILLARS COUPE.

Here we see the framework that sits inside the cowl at the farthest forward point. It consists of COWL REINFORCEMENT BLOCKS, the COWL FRAME ASSEMBLY and the RISER ASSEMBLY for the front floorboards.

The riser assembly is made of three pieces, all screwed together to create the floorboard support. The piece to the left and right of the main riser is to nail the kick panel to. The kick panel will also nail to the sides of the uprights of the frame assembly and to the pillars. The notch in the risers allows for access to the body to frame bolts in this area. The reinforcement blocks are just pieces of wood cut into isosceles right triangles and screwed to the frame assembly.

Part of this is a kit of pre-cut pieces for a different car. Remember, there are no wood kits except a roof and a windshield header, made for this car.

Here, we see the riser assembly in greater detail.

This is the cowl. It was lightly covered in gray primer on it's outside and black on the inside since it spends most of it's current time outside. The front edge of the cowl is sandwiched between the cowl frame assembly and the firewall.

This is the firewall, newly made of Birch Plywood. It has been sealed and painted satin black. The holes were coated in Ultra Black gasket material to keep water from expanding the wood. On top is the drip rail which is fastened to the firewall. It needs the rear hood support to be attached as well as a piece that attaches to the backside of the firewall. (it is a piece that is connected to the drip rail from its underside. I've only ever seen one.)

There should also be some metal sleeves that go down the exposed outside edges of the firewall to protect the wood and a dash shield that attaches just above the circular opening on the rear of the firewall.

I had wanted this post to show more of the detail of the frame assembly, but those pictures were too blurry to use. So, I will continue this in another posting. Until then...