Hey guys I'm a new member, just bought an 89 GTA a few months ago. I've never been too big into cars but I'm certainly trying to learn alot now. My car is pretty much stock except for a Flowmaster that was put on there before I got it. But I just bought myslef a used "fiberglass hardwood hood." I don't know much about it, I mainly bought it for style because I think it will look good on my car.

My question is what exactly does this hood do for performance, if anything? I've also seen it referred to as "cowl induction." Like I said I'm pretty new to the game...any info is really appreciated and I'll probably have further questions in the future. Thanks alot guys.

<img src="http://abacus.sj.ipixmedia.com/abc/M28/415b345ee82d4bdf223d7ad137/i-1.JPG>

[This message has been edited by WooshGTA (edited August 14, 2001).]

 

Welcome aboard, this website will teach you many things about your car and others,
The main purpose of the hood is for underhood clearance. Some applications whether it be a taller intake manifold or your airbreather sticks up higher than stock need extra room under the hood. So if you have say a 3" cowl hood, then you have that extra space.
Cowl induction can also allow for some extra air to enter through the back of the hood depending on the type of hood you have. This allows colder air to reach the air filter, however this isn't that beneficial for performance.

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'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
FLOWMASTER, NO CAT
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat
2:73 GEARS
Rebuilt 700R4, with manual valve body
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite
Soon to be installed
3:73 Richmond Gears and 3" Hooker Aero Chamber
Corvette Servo & .500 boost valve
15.61@ 95.2mph G-Teched, 1-2 shift slippage, and just replaced a burnt plug wire
"There is nothing more addicting than speed"

 

Thanks for clarifying. As far as the extra space goes (I think it's 3 inches), what kind of stuff could I stockpile under there that wouldn't normally be able to fit?

 

You also loose around 40lbs off the nose of the car. lighter = faster! It will improve braking and handling too

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91 B4C 305 TPI - SOON TO BE 383
TREMEC 5-SP, STOCK 1-BOLT REAREAND w/342 GEARS, K&N, AIRFOIL
EDELBROCK HEADERS, DUAL CAT TO HOMEMADE Y-PIPE & 3.5" SINGLE PIPE W/ FLOWMASTER, CRANK PULLEY, MSD, FUEL PRESS REG, COWL HOOD, WELD WHEELS
14.1@ 98MPH
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OTHER RIDE
67 CAMARO - STREET CAR, BIG BLOCK, PUMP GAS
350TH w/ATI 10", 12-BOLT w/373 GEARS
10.92@125.2 1.55 60FT. ON MOTOR - ET-STREETs w/MUFFLERS

 

Awesome, that's what I was hoping to hear. Thanks.

 

Cowl induction looks like a scoop turned around backwards. What it does is connect the rear of the hood to the high-pressure area at the base of the windshield, which is the best place to locate engine air intake. NASCAR cars for instance use that; if you look at one of those, the air intake is in the surface of the hood or the piece right behind it depending on the body, as close to the windshield as they can get it. Cold air can be a significant boost to performance, easily 2 or 3% HP improvement in most cases and sometimes even more than that, I can't imagine how anyone would think that wouldn't be beneficial.

With 3 extra " you could fit a better intake manifold and/or taller air cleaner if you had a carb. In a 89 GTA which has TPI there's little or no functional advantage, since it doesn't fix the fundamental bad design of the engine's air intake system in that chassis.

OBTW it's "Harwood", a brand name, not "hardwood"... the mental picture was pretty rich...

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

Sorry I guess I should have not said it would not be beneficial, I really didn't think that, that much air could be allowed to enter through the back for that much HP.

 

Ahhh Hardwood brand name, thanks. There's one less stupid thing I will be saying!

Here's an actual picture of the hood.
http://abacus.sj.ipixmedia.com/abc/M...7ad137/i-1.JPG

 

One thing that will really aid in the use of the cooler, more dense air near the windshield is if you close off all under hood air to the air cleaner. They have kits that you can buy for this, or you can make your own. All it is is sheet metal. Just make it reach all the way to the firewall, wide enough for the cowl portion of the hood (actually wider), and cut a hole in it so that it will fit around the TB. If you have TPI (which I'm sure you do) then I'm not sure how you can direct the air to the front. But I'm sure you'll figure it out. Maybe people on the TPI board know how. But then just apply foam rubber (the black stuff) around the edge of the sheet metal so when you close the hood, it'll seal out the under hood air.

As a rule of thumb, 10 deg cooler intake air will gain 1% HP. So do it!!!!

AJ

 

Hey WooshGTA, welcome to the group man! Lots of helpful info here. Good luck with the car man, and good choice of a car if I do say so myself.

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Check out My Car Pics http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/Albu...667&a=13599419

Gran Turismo Americano "The Ultimate Firebird"
Smokin 1989 GTA- Bone stock except for exhaust. (no catalytic-stainless pipe into Flowmaster 2 chamber) & AC Delco Rapid Fire Plugs

 

the biggest problem I have found is that there are no common parts to seal the cowl area to the aircleaner. You really only get the benefit if the air can't go to other areas under the hood. I heard about someone making one for a 1st gen. I am going to try starting with that

http://www.geocities.com/casanoc/

 

No "d" in the name, it's Harwood.