I'm sure this has been asked and answered a million times, but I can't find what I'm looking for...
I want to cut out the backs of the vents in my hood (85 TA). Has someone done this who can kind of run me through it? Do I need to cover my edges when I'm done to prevent rusting? (paint?) Whats the cleanest way to cut it? Any specific tools I might not have on hand? About how long should it take me? Stuff like that, anything will help.
Thanx

 

what are you cutting it for? You can't feasibly run a ram-air setup from it. The area between the hood and the radiator support is just about 2 centimeters. Not near enough for a filter or anything else.

 

Could lower underhood temps I suppose...

 

What about cutting out the vents on the Z28 hood. Anyone done this?

 

This is about as bad as talking to that idiot at Autozone...I didn't ask whether or not I should cut the vents, I said I'm going to. Has anyone already done it so I can have a little bit of a game plan?
Thanx again.
and yes, it's mainly a temp. thing,
but also partly this expectation i
have that if something could be functional,
it should be functional.

 

I hear ya .. i was going to do this too and this is how i was gonna attack it , take out the vents ,use a plasma cutter or a sawsall to cut out the metal , bondo the sharp edges sand spot putty sand prime paint then seal and put vents back in

 

sounds good, thank you

 

I did this on my original hood. I'm pretty sure I have pix and descriptions up on my website here under "Original Ram Air hood" or something like that. I'd give you a direct link but I can't view it here at work.

S.

 

Look. I asked what you were cutting it for. It's a simple question. I'm no idiot. I've looked into doing this on my old firebird and thought I'd share what I found. I'm sorry if I didn't answer your direct questions. I'll try.

Has someone done this who can kind of run me through it?
I tried and you apparently don't want my opinion. Scauffiel seems willing to help though. I suggest you go that route since I'm an idiot.

Do I need to cover my edges when I'm done to prevent rusting? This would be a good idea. Ever seen a steel nail left outside? It rusts. So do our cars. Use some primer, some car-colored paint, and a few coats of clear. OR if all of your cutting is only evident on the underside of the hood, you could perhaps use a high-temp engine enamel.

Whats the cleanest way to cut it? Straight cuts always look better. For this reason I recommend a jig-saw (I think that's what it's called...can't remember). A Rotozip might get the job done, but I would worry too much about cutting too much or having uneven cuts. Always finish up cuts with some sandpaper. It's better the metal be dull than slice your finger off.

Any specific tools I might not have on hand? Not unless you don't own a jig-saw or rotozip.

About how long should it take me? It's always important to take your time. The more exacting the process, normally the slower it goes. But if you're an idiot, like myself, then just cut it with the Rotozip in a matter of 4-5 minutes. Or perhaps you can take a grinding wheel to it and make that 1-2 minutes.

Stuff like that, anything will help. I counted on my previous post being "stuff like that" or at least something similar. If nothing else I pulled your topic up to the top of the list. But since I'm the Autozone Idiot now, and "anything" does not seem to be "anything" to you, I'll just go shoot myself now for seemingly dimming your already dim bulb.

 

Geez...

lol

 

Damn, can we say to much caffeine? Put the 100th cup of Java down and take a deep breath. Good, now does everybody feel better?

 

That was hilarious!

Ummm..hood vents: if its for cooling: I think maybe the easiest way to do it would be to buy a set of hood blisters (if you don't have em) Knock out the plastic material. Line em up on your hood and outline them with chalk pencil or something that will show. Pull em off. Cut holes. Attach the new hood blisters. This way it doesnot matter how cleanly you cut the holes and if you F it up, no one can see. Now you have free flowing vents in your hood and your asthetic blisters are actually functional.

Now this all depends on what is behind the plastic "mesh" on the blisters. I've never looked at one while off the car. But If there is some barrier, you coulc cut through the plastic from the bottom of the blister.

 

I would do I on the camaro, and then
find a way to neatly fit some of that
grill material they use on imports..
but must more solid.. not flexible.
Though then the rain will pour in..
And i think it could reach the spark plug
wires if rains hard.. that would be bad.

 

Don't get all huffy, I didn't call you an idiot, I called the guy at Autozone an idiot because I know that he is, I don't know you, I wouldn't call you an idiot. And thanx for talking down to me with your advise, that was super. I guess at least that way there will be no misinterpretation of what you said
Seriously though, thanks, everybody.

 

I cut the backing from behind one side of my hood "intakes", I used a dremel with a cutoff blade in it (took quite a few of them) to make the cuts. I can say it really helped too (with cooling), I have an indicator light that tells me when my electric fan comes on. the other day I took the car on an 2 hour interstate drive (around 70 mph) and the fan never came on once, the temps stayed right at 180* the whole time. this is a huge differance from before I cut the backing out, I guess it has something to do with allowing the pressure to equalize under the hood and let more air through the radiator. if you look down through the cutouts you can see any air comming into the vents comes in behind the radiator and not across the radiator. I will cut out the other side as soon as I get the chance.

 

I had to repaint the insert in my hood on my power bludge on my formula firebird. I was running on average 10 degrees cooler, so it should help to do it on the vents.

 

sorry for the huf.

I just don't like being compared to the idiot at Autozone (but...the guys at the Autozone in Crosby, Tx rocked. Most were in their 40s or 50s and were previous hot rodders. They hid the rice stuff)

Once again, sorry for the huf. Sometimes you just gotta let it out though. :lala: