After seeing MSFITOY's Hood Vent Project , I decided that I would take the plunge.

Originally, I purchased the same hood vents as MSFITOY because I really liked the aluminum hood vent louvers for I felt they had a Euro / Old school quality and really suited the MINI. I also thought I could ride on MSFITOY's "how to" coattails but when he broke out a MINI jigsaw; I realized that I was not going to be able to duplicate his efforts ( Dam!) SO rather than fall short, I decided to take another path and see what alternative I could come up with. I figure worse case, it would give us all something to yak about and open the idea/development door even further.

INSTALL was very simple, I dropped the car off at a body shop with the hood vents (from a 90 PONTIAC FIREBIRD TRANS AM GTA FACTORY HOOD VENTS on EBAY) and said to the guy "right about here" and walked away . Here I give respect to MSFITOY for I didn't even want to watch these guys make holes in the hood let alone do it myself. I dedicate the two holes in my hood to MSFITOY.

There a few more pics in my gallery

 

Are they fully functional? And have you done any sort of temperature testing?

-Cody

 

Yes fully functional - the white is the plastic screen which I painted.

As to testing the only thing I have been able to do at this point was to place a tissue over the vents and it was immediately lifted off by the heat. You can really feel the heat rising out of these suckers.

 

have some testing fun: tie little lengths of yarn or twine to the screen, then drive around and see if the yarn goes down or up or just flails away right where it is.

 

Looks hot to me!

 

Brave man I must say. Look pretty trick from behind.

 

I will try that - it would be great if they "pulled" air from under the bonnet while driving.

 

I like the plastic screens painted white as well. I will try to get a better pic.

 

Hard to tell for sure, but it looks like they may be sort of trick when it comes to water being excluded? Did your plans for the type, design and placement of gthe vents include an effort to deal with wet conditions (and car washes)?

 

Looks good. You have guts to cut holes in your hood.

 

The placement goal was to be as far back as possible. A good portion of the scoops are under a hood brace, BUT "it appears" that on the right (facing car) would drip water on the enclosed CAI "BOX". On the left it would drip almost where the back of the engine ends. The vents are relativey small

Style - just looking for something that I thought "fit". I wanted something subtle and not real big. I also wanted a vent with a lip that would cover the hole and give it a level of finish.

Time will tell

 

Is there a reason you did not have the vents positioned so they are parallel/follow the same flow with/as the vents at the base on the windshield? Don't get me wrong, it looks good . . .but just wondering.

 

Lets see if I can explain - the vents are "straight" accross the hood. It was easier to set them both equally that way (centered left/right). Because the vents are not square but angled or flaired on the sides - when looking head on it does seem they are angled. Make sense?

 

On looks alone, they look cool (pun intended). A very creative use of an existing part. Well done!!

 

here is a pic of one of the openings and illustrates the underhood brace which was nibbled a bit.

 

Hopefully this illustrates what I was trying to say -

 

here is a so-so pic of the vent screens that I painted white

 

You are the man! No doubt. You and Sid take the prize for guts. I personally would have slanted them back, at half the angle of the cowl vents, but that's purely academic as I couldn't ever imagine cutting holes in my bonnet. I'm having a hard time just with the idea of cutting up my CF Ram Intake...
You're onto the a great idea though, and I hope it works well.

 

 

seems if the factory had thought a bit ,they could have soarced cold air for the cabin on the sides using cowls like a 50 chevy. then the cowls up top could have been engine bay venting. good on you bahama . looks pretty good .

 

Sid definetly but not me - as I said I didn't want to see the deed being done let alone by my own hand!

I am presently testing with some very high tech thread which I borrowed from NASA to see if I can see whats going on. So far at low speeds (20-30) it seems to draw air IN but once going it seems to push air out.

 

Bart, nice job! I'm sure this will help extract hot engine bay air, and possibly help the DFIC as well. I applaud the bravery, and outcome!

 

Thanks - means a lot coming from a guy whose battery box got in the way of his exhaust system.

 

But if I botched it... it's not in plain sight for all to see .

A few years back I cut a hole in my roof to vent a wood-burning stove. It was a scary feeling, even after double and triple-checking my math! Since then, I've cut holes for skylights, and vents. Builds confidence!

 

Want to walk the tight rope Tony? Try taking your headlamp apart in the oven