how much do hood vents help?

[psburtis]

i've seen a few people like willwren here that have those sweet looking hood vents on their car. does anyone know how much they help? like, what are the temps while driving/sitting without them and while driving/sitting with them? i would love to do that to my car, but want to know what i'm getting myself into first...

[Roadtech195]

willwren and driverjohn both have a but load of experience with doing hood vents as do a few others. I am sure someone will chime in when they get a chance and point you in the right direction.

[willwren]

The first set ever done were on my 93 (I have a set for my 95 but haven't done it yet). I also did driverjohn's.

I haven't tested John's, but my underhood temps are GREATLY improved on the 93, especially when compared to my 95. The position of the vents was chosen partly for convenience in the hood bracing, but also for heat extraction. It's very obvious on a hot summer day in traffic. Heatwaves POUR out of them with my high speed fan override on.

[psburtis]

thats sounds like something that i would be very interested in. mostly for the looks, cuz i have an SE that i don't race/take to the track. but i'm sure it would help no matter how you drive your car.

what skill level would you put it at?

[willwren]

You have to have GOOD painting skills and a very steady hand in determining where to cut, and actually making the cut. As far as body modifications are concerned, it's near the top of the list of difficulty due to the possibility of an oops costing you a hood or expensive repairs.

A dremel tool will BARELY be enough to do it, and you better have ALOT of cutoff wheels and be very steady. I prefer air tools for the work by about 5x.

Here's some progress pics:
























This album chronicles my hood paint over the winter (in reverse order):
http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/ ... ?start=all

[crzydmnd72]

Sorry for the OT Bill, wheres your safety glasses? Edit, Not trying to be jerky, just that one pic seems to show sparks headed right at your eyes and I freaked a little LOL

They look really nice when done but I would have trouble cutting into a nice looking hood myself

[Roadtech195]

I think the hood bracing may be slightly different on the 96 from the 93. I would have to tear off my insulator to confirm it though.

[Alibi]

Sorry for the OT Bill, wheres your safety glasses? Edit, Not trying to be jerky, just that one pic seems to show sparks headed right at your eyes and I freaked a little LOL

I was thinking the same thing!

[GoldenBullet]

glasses? we dont need no stinkin glasses!

[willwren]

Hood bracing is identical from 92-99.

I wear safety contacts and partake in anesthetic liquids before such work.


(the spark pattern is decieving, I plan for it to be well away from me, and I'm clear of the center of rotation of the tool, I did that work at a friend's house, and he had no safety glasses).

[redwingsfan34]

I personally think they were worth it.
Like Wren said when sitting at a stoplight on a hot day, you can just see the Heat pouring out it.
I've never tested temps before and after the vents, but i'm sure its cooler.

If you do it, The old cliche of measure twice cut once, deffinetly applies. I'd say measure 4 or 5 times then cut

[psburtis]

this seems to be WAY out of my skill range... thanks tho.

[willwren]

I collected hard numbers and posted them on the old forum.

[dbeast420]

I collected hard numbers and posted them on the old forum.

It's simple. The vent cutout holes are 9" off the centerline crease of the hood, and 7" in from the cowl end (windshield edge) of the hood. It's the only logical and practical place to put them.

Took long enough to find them in the old shell of a forum...
Wash Mini-Meet

[willwren]

I have hard numbers on temperatures also.

[spoiledred94]

That hood looks 'awesome' Will. I mean it really gets me thinking ... Just the fact that the vents out are away deep back towards the windshield. Flowing air over the whole motor=lower air temps=higher HP---Duhhh.

I really want to do this work. I've poked around on google, but especially here and the former here It looks expensive and as now I see there is a lot of very very patient tedious care to be considered at each step. The thing maybe is that my hood has a dent in it at the left front leading edge. There is a lot of oxidation and paint(ing) foulups on it. So, should I just start with a new ( wrecker) 94 hood? I won't be doing this real soon, I'm just getting serious in terms of air flow. At best it looks pro, at worst I am looking for a 2nd replacement (wrecker) hood for a few rainy months.

[driverjohn2005]

The one and only thing I would complain is the moisture that can get in under the hood; esp with the one vent directly over my alternator.

So, if you live in a particullary wet climate and/or don't have coverd storage for your bonnie I wouldn't recommend it.

BUT, they make a HUGE difference in the summertime when you're facing hot temps inside the engine and outside.

[willwren]

I've made hood vent covers, primarily because of John's issues. However, I've never had a moisture issue with mine to date.

I would start with a good hood. the project doesn't require paint if done carefully (proof on John's). I took the risk because of flaking clearcoat on my hood. And re-painted a couple years later.

[redwingsfan34]

I got vent covers made mainly for winter, but i haven't had any moisture problems.
Although My SE has the alternator in a different spot than the SSEi's so my alternator isn't getting water from the vents.

Spoiledred94:
I did mine on my damaged hood so that if i messed up it wasn't a big deal, because i needed a new hood anyway.
If you're going to be buying a new hood, then i'd say start with the hood you have now to get the hang of it, you don't actually have to make it perfect on the old hood, but at least you will get some practice. Just my opinion...

[spoiledred94]

Redwings, that does make sense to me. I've never used a cutting wheel before. It would be wise to practice on something less valuable. I do make some mistakes from time to time One thing I would do differently would be to add hood scoops. I can't believe the way the air flow from the front of the car is so obstructed. I mean with the std air box and the lousy stock air flow design it's amazing that it ran so good.