NoEmissions84TA

iTrader: (1)

I have an 84 Trans Am. The fenders and hoods on Firebirds have a lower profile than Camaros. Would anyone have side-by-side pictures showing the differences between them? Or even one picture laid on top of the other?

My car will remain SBC with manual QJet carb. To get some airflow in the engine compartment (and let the hot air out), I will be swapping to a Ram Air hood. I would like to use a strut tower brace, but I have no way of knowing if it will fit, even with the RA hood. I have already abandoned the idea of keeping the dual snorkel air cleaner with any STB. An open element air cleaner should work fine without all that hot air.

BTW, does anyone KNOW what brand this hood is? I need to find the grilles.
My best guesses are Hawks or Duraflex.
The red TA pictured is very similar to mine.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

I don't get why people think they need to let hot air out of the engine compartment. I mean has there suddenly been a boom of new cars with tons of cooling outlets in the hood? There's already a HUGE hole for hot air to escape under the car.

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

With NO experimental data, or even any practical expertise, I would think that for guys running higher HP/bigger cubic inch engines you get get a measurable bump by running an open element, yet having cooler temps. Low pressure over the hood would actually pull air out, no? I wouldn't bet my car on a race because of it, or expect magically big gains, but I'd imagine there's value in it. Again....I don't really know....just spitballin.

I wouldn't sacrifice appearance for it though.

NoEmissions84TA

iTrader: (1)

OK. Look at that front end. Do you see ANY way for air to get IN? I don't.
And the only air getting into that engine compartment must pass through the radiator, and IT GETS HEATED on it's way through.
I removed the guts from that half-hood "bulge", half-a$$ed induction to let hot air out. It helped some. I also replaced those solid pieces in the front bumper for the grilles. They are now falling apart. So the solid pieces will be going back in.
The SLP headers & exhaust added even more heat.
All of that heat dries all the plastic and rubber out faster, making it brittle. It shortens the life on everything else.
And I'm not OK with 230 degree water temps being considered normal.
I just read on here a few days ago about the "fan kit" GM had to blow on the carburetor. What a joke.
So let's just say it gets HOT under the hood. Too hot for my liking.
I don't have to worry about emissions anymore, so it's going to be like a 70s musclecar under the hood when I'm done.
With room for air - cool air!
I can't wait to get rid of the 2 garbage cans full of wiring and hoses that run back-and-forth all across the engine.
So much that you can't even see the engine.

3.4 grape

iTrader: (1)

Cooler under hood temps are always a good idea for performance. If you look at most newer autos the intake manifolds are now made of some kind of plastic or composite materiel so the intake air temps stay cooler. The last I heard heat rises so any opening in the hood would let the heat escape.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Have the headers Jet hot coated.
Run a 160 t-stat and factory dual fan setup to work with that 160 t-stat. Also a factory aluminum/plastic tank rad will work well if yours still has the copper unit. If you have a garage, open hood after you get it parked..
That has helped me a lot.

Drew

iTrader: (58)

The only time my cars come anywhere close to 230* is sitting in bumper to bumper traffic, or a long wait in the drive thru on a HOT day. Most of the time, when the car is moving, the stock gauge shows 160-180*.

TylerSteez

iTrader: (3)

I agree the vents are unnecessary for cooling the engine bay. these cars only get kinda hot sitting at idle, driving down the road they're fine. Vents are only really gonna help you when you're moving which is a non-issue on a car with a properly functioning cooling system. dual fans would be a nice upgrade if you don't have them.

NoEmissions84TA

iTrader: (1)

Thanks, I thought about the heat rising thing after I finished posting.
I want my engine compartment something like this when I'm done.