I recently purchased the K&N X-stream air filter for my wagon. I have a hood scoop on my wagon, and I was planning on cutting a hole in the hood, under the scoop, that will match up with the new X-stream filter and provide a cold air shot. Before I cut an 11" hole in my hood, I thought I'd run this plan by this esteemed group and see what you thought. My only concern is rain; I drive my wagon year round and sometimes in the rain. What about rain coming in the scoop and into my air filter? What can I do about it? Can I put a high density piece of foam in front of the scoop inlet to block the rain? My hood scoop is off of a Torino GT (trim level offering in '69, but not for wagons!). What did the factory do back in the day?
back in the day, the factory FOMOCO,MOPAR,GM didn't care about the water factor.... Wish I knew where to find it online (been a few years) but I saw a Ford Torino with a Maverick GT style hood scoop and the owner made a fiberglass piece with gasket that fit into the hood scoop, was resesed apx1/2 in painted black and from 20 feet away you could not tell there was something covering the hole. He did have a couple small wing nut screws holding it in place from under the hood....but hey, you have just cut a hole in your hood anyway, rite? The piece went in from the top of the hood, screws fastened from under. It was made for exactly what your wanting, keep water out on those rainy days. This was just for air cleaner clearance, not a "real" ram air set up.
I have cut a LOT of hood holes and I was once in the business of Cold Air Intakes and designed and marketed my own design. So, dont worry about it .. cut away!
Scout...you could what i did....I made a top for the aircleaner that i ran when weather was debatable...and just pop it off when all is good ....KISS....
Just shove some high density used McDonalds bags in there. Without a pan under the hood and surrounding the carb like the factory deals you need something to stop the water from getting into the engine compartment, that foam should work. The manufacturers did make provisions for water and snow on a lot of cars with open hood scoops "back in the day". The open Ram-Air hood scoops on '68 GTO's with the option came with closed scoops you installed in inclement weather or for the winter. Later models had flaps that closed using a control inside the car the labeled "Ram Air" that closed little doors that covered the scoop openings. Other car brands had similar deals with either manual or vacuum operated doors to close the scoops, they also had drains in the bottom of the lower pan to drain water when it did get in there. There were also scoops with flapper doors that only opened when needed. The best scoop I ever saw was on a primer red '68 Cougar at the drag strip. It was a 8" round heat duct elbow that was attached over a hole in the hood above the carb and facing forward. The car would win it's class every week and had a trunk full of trophies.
I don't know what "back in the day" means. But when I put a 327 Chevy in my Austin Healey Sprite with a three-two carb setup I needed clearance for the two front carbs. I just whacked a rectangular hole in the hood and added three small chrome bonnet aircleaners. No scoop or cover. Just the front two aircleaners peeking out the hole. As far as I remember, back in the day, I drove that sucker in rain, snow, sleet, and sunshine without ever thinking about it. Of all the vehicles I've owned that's the only one I destroyed the hood. I'd rather cut off my left--------------------- earlobe than do that again!
Okay, oldtimer - "back in the day" means when it was new. "Bad" means good. "Hot" means cool "Cool" means I approve Dig it?
Thanks Gents for the review and comments. I plan on cutting the hole tonight and will post some pics.
As the old adage goes, "No guts, no glory"...:2_thumbs_up_-_anima I was wondering if using a screen in the scoop opening would minimize the amount of water that would(or could) enter? Just thinking out loud. Did the factory use any type of baffling? Jack
This isn't about a hood scoop but hood louvers. I had 50 punched in a hood one time. Well I left the car sit out in a thunderstorm one night, the next morning I went out to move the car and it wouldn't turn over. I even hooked jumpers to it for more power. Engine was locked up. Rain water went through the louvers, Down the air cleaner stud into the carb and then into the engine. The # 7 cylinder intake valve must have been open, filling the cylinder with water. Water doesn't compress so it bent #7 connecting rod. No more holes in hoods for me.
I got the air filter installed and the hole in the hood cut. The air filter is 11", but 1.5" of the filter top along the edge is covered, resulting in an 8" area for air to enter. I cut a corresponding hole in the hood and then added a rubber air dam to focus the charge into the air filter. When the hood is shut it just touches the top of the filter. I test drove it for about 50 miles today and I think I'm noticing a difference - maybe it's just my imagination. Seems to be peppier. Here's some pics: Next I'm going to wire up these turn signal lights in the back of the hood scoop so that they work properly.
When I put the hood scoop on it bugged me that it wasn't functional. I really like the way the hood scoop looks on the wagon and now it's more "legit". The original air cleaner setup was so restrictive it's a wonder any air made it in the carb. I said all of the above to myself as I started cutting the hole in the hood - it is kind of a "what am I doing?" moment but you just have to dive in! Now I've drilled 8 holes in the hood for the scoop, cut an 8" hole for the air flow, and drilled 6 more holes to mount the air dam. I want to put hood pins on it which will be 2 more holes in the hood - at this point each hole gets easier!
