Cost Efficient Mod's That Won't Void Warrenty

[Cal Cruzer]

Your experiment confirms what the racing community, car manufacturers etc have been aware of since the 60's (maybe earlier). The area between the hood of the car and the windshield is a high pressure area that will induct cool air in to the engine when a cowl hood is installed on a car.

[earringboy]

...in theory real cowl induction only is possible when the trailing edge of the hood is within less than an inch of the windshield. At least we can all agree that whatever the air is doing it's cooling our Cruisers! I don't mean to be a skeptic on this but the first time one of us blows a hose and makes steam, or oil gets on the exhaust manifold and you smell it inside as the smoke rolls out the back it will be obvious which direction the air is moving. I am more than willing to trade that off for 25 degrees cooler, that's the cheapest 2.5 hp we will find! In the past we have experimented with smoke bombs on this issue and every time it has exited the trailing edge of the hoods...only a few of the old muscle cars had true 'cowl induction' that functioned, most just coined the name for marketing. I know of no hoods on the market other than all out race car hoods, mostly drag race applications with the big tunnel snorkel for the pro stocks that function as positive pressure. They nearly sit against the windshield and they usually have to baffle the carbs to keep the turbulent air from leaning out certain cylinders. With fuel injection that usually isn't a problem. We are currently building a 2003 Cadillac Northstar Eldorado with a supercharger, just the hood strip removal alone lowered the under-hood temp nearly 50 degrees...so this does really work. The 4.6 Northstar/transmission/front sub-frame assembly will fit right in the Cruiser, we are at nearly 500 hp with this....I'm wondering how that might work out in a 3000 lb. Cruiser????

[PK Cruiser]

Just finished reading this thread, VERY good info...I'm going to pull my weather strip this afternoon (unless it is raining<img src=icon_smile_angry.gif border=0 align=middle>) I was skeptical at first, but once I read the entire thread I think it is worth a try...

[PK Cruiser]

Ok, I removed the weather strip, just the one in the rear...now, only question, ya'll just removed the rubber part correct? Or the metal too? I don't see how to remove the metal, so forgive me if I'm asking a dumb question...

[CREWZIN]

PK Cruiser,

I followed this thread with interest and went out and messed around with the weather strip. BUT, I only cut half the strip off (and saved it). Left the half that is front of the air intake because that hot air will be sucked up into the intake. Now I guess if you leave the inside control always in the re-circulated mode it doesn't matter, but I left that part on anyway. I also covered the metal lip on the right side with 3/8inch black tubing cut lengthwise. It fits far enough down so it doesn't stop the hot air from escaping but gave it a finished look.



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[mike]

Pteazer (http://www.pteazer.com/) has a Cowl Induction Power Hood that should cool things down - although I don't believe that they have done temperature testing. Its a whole lot more expensive than removing the weather stripping but it looks cool.

[OurPTGT]

The other cowl hoods i've seen are at PTDreams & Cali.Cruiser

Kevin & Donna's Elec Blue GT

http://www.dreamcruisers.org/index/Page_1x.html

[PK Cruiser]

Ok, did some driving here is what I saw...the stock temp gauge was at the same temp as before...did anyone else notice a change on this after removing the strip? Also, anyone else notice there hood "buffeting" in the wind? The center of my hood bounces up & down, not terribly but enough. Anyone had the hood chaffing on the metal that the strip was on? Thanks ya'll...

[Jeff V]

. . . and the plot thickens . . .

[strangelove]

Hey PK Cruiser,
All you need to do is remove the rubber weatherstrip, no tools required and no metal trimming neccessary. I have noticed also that air turbulance shakes the hood, this is because the support the strip provided is now missing and now there is a 1 inch gap where air flows freely. Bob Stockum has a easy fix for this, he used a rubber shock mount to support the hood in the middle, check out this link, lots of good info: http://www.bstockum.com/toohot.html
If you don't have the part than do what CREWZIN and earringboy have done, just cut down the weatherstrip and replace it in key locations.