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Custom hood (open front cowl)

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Old Sep 14, 2009 | 11:13 AM
  #1  
xzyst's Avatar
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From: waverly, il
Car: 1988 camaro rs
Engine: 2.8 v6 mpfi
Transmission: t-5
Custom hood (open front cowl)

I have a project I am working on, but I have a serious question:

When you make an open front scoop, how do you keep water (rain, washing, etc...) from flowing into the opening and into the air filter/intake???

My design is a custom cowl, with an open front intake/scoop.
It will be fitted over a round air filter for a carb'd engine.

*Note
I have considered making flaps/doors to close off the intake in such case, but is there another way?
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Old Sep 14, 2009 | 03:25 PM
  #2  
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From: Displaced Texan living in NC
Car: 1988 Pontiac Firebird Trans AM GTA
Engine: Tune-port Injected 6.3L
Transmission: Borg-Warner T56 six-speed
Axle/Gears: Borg/Warner 9-bolt with 3.70:1
Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

A friend of mine has a SS type scoop on his 92 that he converted to be open. He made a block off plate that he uses when it is raining out to ensure water doesn't get into the engine.
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Old Sep 14, 2009 | 06:24 PM
  #3  
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From: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

An open front scoop is mainly to allow cold clean air into the engine. It doesn't have to be a direct shot like on a drag car. A simple baffle system with a water trap that can allow water to drain out would work.

For street use, a cowl scoop is a much better design. It still allows cool air into the intake and isn't affected by rain while driving down the road.

Mine is completely open. I don't even use a scoop tray or air filters but it's also a track only car. I have a plug that fits in the scoop for transport or washing
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Old Sep 15, 2009 | 08:34 AM
  #4  
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From: waverly, il
Car: 1988 camaro rs
Engine: 2.8 v6 mpfi
Transmission: t-5
Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

Thanks for the input guys. Ya, if it was a track car, I wouldn't worry too much...but considering its a street car, any mod needs to be thought out.

I'll probably go with the block off plate idea, something fab'd to be on a hinge or to that effect. As I start the project, I'll post with pictures and ideas. For now I'm just getting the plan of attack together.

Last edited by xzyst; Sep 15, 2009 at 08:38 AM.
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Old Sep 15, 2009 | 09:51 AM
  #5  
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Car: 86 Trans AM
Engine: LS1 (not stock...)
Transmission: Built T56
Axle/Gears: Strange 12-bolt w/ 3.73
Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

Are you making this hood primarily for a custom touch and appearance? Or are you trying to get more cool air to your motor? Just curious...

J.
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Old Sep 15, 2009 | 11:00 AM
  #6  
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From: waverly, il
Car: 1988 camaro rs
Engine: 2.8 v6 mpfi
Transmission: t-5
Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

Both, first off I wanted something unique/custom. Secondly I am putting a new motor in the car and I wanted something to tunnel the air simply.

I'm completely tired of the hoods/scoops/hoods I've seen, so I am setting out to make one myself.
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Old Sep 15, 2009 | 06:58 PM
  #7  
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From: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

Mine is a personal design. I didn't like anything offered. I have a long, low 2-1/2" or so cowl scoop mainly so that it covers the indents in the factory fiberglass hood. On top of that, I bolted a low profile aero scoop. It just covers the tunnel ram with dual toilets on top with about 2" of clearance. I didn't want a huge tall scoop. They're too hard to see over. I can easily unbolt the aero scoop and take it off if I want but I like the look of it on better. With something like this, you can use the forward facing scoop for normal driving. Buy or make a plug when it's raining and let the engine draw the air from the cowl part.






Last edited by AlkyIROC; Sep 15, 2009 at 07:02 PM.
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Old Sep 16, 2009 | 10:19 AM
  #8  
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From: waverly, il
Car: 1988 camaro rs
Engine: 2.8 v6 mpfi
Transmission: t-5
Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

I like the look of that. Your idea is about dead on, mine will be a cowl design (allows air to flow in from the back always) and the front has an open intake design. I will most likely incorporate a closing mechanism, or a baffle system (as previously suggested), at least a cover/filler to stuff in it.
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Old Sep 16, 2009 | 01:28 PM
  #9  
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Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

I agree a cowl might be more street friendly for you.
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Old Sep 16, 2009 | 05:06 PM
  #10  
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From: NWOhioToledoArea
Car: 86-FireBird
Engine: -MPFI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3:42
Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

rain snow or shine, never a problem with those, only problem was leaves n acorns but only after a long time. See thread in sig.

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Old Sep 16, 2009 | 05:50 PM
  #11  
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From: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

Originally Posted by xzyst
Both, first off I wanted something unique/custom. Secondly I am putting a new motor in the car and I wanted something to tunnel the air simply.

I'm completely tired of the hoods/scoops/hoods I've seen, so I am setting out to make one myself.
Do yours kinda like this, but open in the front, not the rear.
Name:  P7260080.jpg
Views: 116
Size:  65.9 KB
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/fabr...tor-build.html

Maybe with the extractor opening facing forward instead, funneling incoming air into your intake.
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Old Sep 17, 2009 | 09:58 AM
  #12  
xzyst's Avatar
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From: waverly, il
Car: 1988 camaro rs
Engine: 2.8 v6 mpfi
Transmission: t-5
Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

Gumby: I read your post, that's kinda what I'm trying to prevent: crap in the intake lol. (plus rain)

Stephen: I like that hood and you're right, I am designing something similar. But I do have a feeling, I may make the intake non-functional and rely on the cowl. (I can always open it up later on if I want to.)

I just got word that I may have a 350 (almost complete) engine and a 400 handed to me for some work I did for a friend...I'm thinking 383
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Old Sep 17, 2009 | 02:24 PM
  #13  
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From: NWOhioToledoArea
Car: 86-FireBird
Engine: -MPFI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3:42
Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

But it took a long time to gather enough junk to mess with anything.
As I had done forgot the look in there every so often to clean.
If you look every 6 months it will be plenty of time to catch anything well before it could be a problem.

rain and junk was never a problem, I drive it year round.
In winter id just brush the snow off the hood and go.


Your over thinking it, just do it, it wont be any problem.
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Old Sep 17, 2009 | 07:26 PM
  #14  
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From: Dyer, In
Car: 91 Camaro RS
Engine: 355 Vortec
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

Here are some pictures of the scoop I did. It is a big block vette style open at both the cowl and the front. There is a round hole cut thru the hood that the air cleaner extends through. The round hole is lined with about an 1.5 inch metal ring that extend about .5" above the level of the hood. This prevents water from simple running into the hood and going into the engine bay.

This car is not driven in bad weather, however i believe under most conditions it would do well. If the car was to be used a lot in bad weather I would probably use a front foam block off in the bad weather.






Last edited by alvanwie; Sep 18, 2009 at 09:00 PM.
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Old Sep 18, 2009 | 01:05 PM
  #15  
xzyst's Avatar
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From: waverly, il
Car: 1988 camaro rs
Engine: 2.8 v6 mpfi
Transmission: t-5
Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

Nice car! I like that scoop too.

I'm doin what Gumby suggested lol "Just do it".

I'll keep you all posted.
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Old Sep 19, 2009 | 10:35 AM
  #16  
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From: Chapel Hill, NC
Car: '89 Formula
Engine: 305 TBI
Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

Ideally, you'd like to use some kind of solenoid on a push button with a latch. The solenoid would need to have a range of travel back into the latch, which would engage on the first striking, and release on the second. Leaving a solenoid on for too long won't work because they heat up very fast.

Alternatively, something like a high torque R/C car/airplane servo with a large throw arm could be made to operate a block off plate. You would be to wire it to receive either voltage high or low to send the arm to the correct throw distance.
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Old Sep 21, 2009 | 12:27 PM
  #17  
xzyst's Avatar
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From: waverly, il
Car: 1988 camaro rs
Engine: 2.8 v6 mpfi
Transmission: t-5
Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

That's a nifty idea, but working with electronics in the past, there's too much room for failure. I prefer to K.I.S.S. therefore, using a blockoff plate manually put in place, or stuff a sponge in it, or (what I'm designing now) a lip that rises about an inch - 1 1/2 high that will divert the water around and back down the hood, kind of a channel system.

for the ideas!
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 02:57 PM
  #18  
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From: Storm Lake, IA
Car: 89 Iroc
Engine: none yet
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: strange 33 spline 4.30
Re: Custom hood (open front cowl)

[quote=alvanwie;4285765]Here are some pictures of the scoop I did. It is a big block vette style open at both the cowl and the front. There is a round hole cut thru the hood that the air cleaner extends through. The round hole is lined with about an 1.5 inch metal ring that extend about .5" above the level of the hood. This prevents water from simple running into the hood and going into the engine bay.

This car is not driven in bad weather, however i believe under most conditions it would do well. If the car was to be used a lot in bad weather I would probably use a front foam block off in the bad weather.









i've got the same scoop on my monza
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