Diy; The Hood Hack.

[403_r32]

Taken from s2ki.com forums. (Yes, there are Honda pictures in here)

*disclaimer* I take no responsibility if you mess up!

I wanted a vented hood for three reasons;

1. To let heat (from header, engine, & radiator) escape from engine bay

2. To get cooler air into intake

3. To use the low pressure area above the hood to help extract air from under the front of the car thereby increasing velocity under the splitter and floor of the nose which should increase downforce.

Why not buy a carbon fiber vented hood? The affordable knock-off carbon hoods are heavier and less stiff than the stock aluminum hood. I believe the stock hood weighs 14 pounds. The high quality "authentic" hoods (cwest, mugen etc...) cost a bundle and still need to be painted unless you are going for the carbon look. Some if not all composite hoods require hood pins for high speed use. Oh yeah, and I'm cheap. I planned on venting both sides but ran out of time and decided I like the look of just one side. Still debating.

Here's my solution:

How to build your own:

Please use appropriate safety equipment and don't screw up.

Yes, you are about to cut holes in a perfectly good hood so be prepared.

Remove the hood and the hood liner and support it upside down on some padded saw horses.

Make templates by laying paper over each support hole you plan to cut and trace the edge (use the pencil rubbing technique). Use the templates to cut out some perforated aluminum (clean and paint the both sides of the aluminum). http://www.mcmaster.com/

Use a 3/8" spacer against the hood support edges to draw the hole shape. I left a 3/8" lip for mounting purposes.

Using a UniBit, drill a hole in each corner.

Using an air saw, cut out the shape from the under side - leave a small gap to finish off with sanding.

Use a sanding drum on a die grinder to smooth to shape. I tried using a sandpaper wheel on an angle grinder but it gets too hot and the paints starts to peel back.

Once the shape is close, flip the hood over and apply masking tape on the top side all around the new openings.

Use wet dry sandpaper to smooth the cut and feather the paint. The masking tape is there so if you slip with the sandpaper, you won't scratch up your hood.

Lay 3M double stick tape used for moldings/body work on your 3/8" lip and trim with a razor to fit just inside the cut out (find it at automotive body shops).

Use a fine paint brush and carefully paint the exposed edge with factory touch up paint.

Install perforated aluminum and your done. I used some small sheet metal clips to hold the perforated aluminum in place just in case the double stick tape failed due to engine heat but I ran a full track day without them and everything was fine.

Edited July 24, 2007 by 403_r32

[Trust33]

looks good.but wouldnt you have to respray the bonnet to get it looking that professional on the cut edges?

[unarmed_skyline]

that looks tough as, would look way better with bost sides done but then agian may be too busy, ohh btw if your in melb and ever need any geniune parts for your s2000 pm me, i work in spare parts at a Honda dealer, i dont mind helping out a fellow member, even if oyur not in melb and think your getting ripped pm me ill let you know.

cheers

jarrod

[Hungryhippo]

Looks really good. Did it help at all with temperatures?

[DjeMz]

Im going to try it today or tom

*fingers crossed*

[midnight]

nice, still legal too

[403_r32]

Well, I guess you'd really have to have steady hands if you dont want to respray the bonnet, nevertheless make a mistake! Getting a straight cut is probably the most difficult part. Sanding/feathering down the edges may be a bit tedious, but as long as you take off a fairly even amount and the edge retains an even bevel, the touch up paint would suffice.

The s2k hood was done as I said, just touched up around the edges, and as far as I'm concerned it looks pretty damn good As long as you have a straight cut to begin with, and have it all masked off properly there shouldnt be any problems!

Getting more air to run around the iron torpedo of a block will always help lower temperatures. Every little thing helps.

[Ant97GTR]

nice, still legal too

Wrong...refer original thread:

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...howtopic=177821

Unless someone can provide documentation to show otherwise this is the case....

[403_r32]

How many of the users here have 100% legal cars anyways?

[seriesII]

nice, good mod, and looks like it saves alot... wish it was street legil .. dont want more attention.. ill do this for sure when my car goes track...thanx for the diy..

[abu]

Very nice work man, looks neat as!

Very good write up.

Edited February 6, 2008 by abu

[dori34]

looks nice and simple and very effective

[Pauly33GTS-t]

I think it is legal? you dont cut the reinforcements underneath it...

[Factory 5]

im thinking of doing this or something similar on my spare bonnet.... (trac and drag/hillclibs onyl bonnet)

[sotck4door]

Nice work man....Love to see the idea like this~~~

[4drftn]

Im going to try it today or tom

*fingers crossed*

how did you go? i might have a go

[4drftn]

anyone got any pictures of the hood hack to an r33?

[Black Ninja]

what happen if it's raining ?

[JDM032]

u get free water spray on ur intake piping. lol

wouldnt be too much of a problem until u stop. then u need an umbrella for ur bonnet

[DjeMz]

has any1 done it for r32 or r33 yet?