Rebuilding a 70 ELKY. I just finished removing wet leaves, pine straw and a mouse nest from the bottom of the cowl area. I have removed the fenders and AC cover. How can I prevent this in the future? Should there be drain holes at the bottom?

John

Wet/Dry ShopVacŪ with long attachment nozzles will get down in the nook and crannies and get all sorts of junk out if you're diligent.

Can't say enough good about them and the times they've saved my butt.

John, there should be a drain hole on each side. I found a beer bottle in mine.

I also found a worn out wiper assembly in mine! Hopefully the mouse has left the vehicle. My car had no screens at all.

I have no drain holes, but I think i'll drill a 3/4 inch drain hole too.

Thanks Guys,

John

There are drain holes at the bottom that run into the rocker panel. If you feel real energetic, remove the interior kick panels and access the side cowl area there. Then you will see the drains.
Then, if you want to really clean out the area, take a hose and flush the rockers out through the cowl drains. You'll find a lot of the same stuff has migrated into the rocker and hasn't washed all the way out.
To minimize the junk getting in there in the first place, put cowl screens on the top.