Hood Vents

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Im actually trying to cool my engine bay(68 Valiant) I wouldn't mind the look of some louvres either.
 
You would likely have more serious problems than could be fixed by a few louvers for cooling issues. Not sure the louver craze of years gone by carries over the more muscle car era. But hey, it's your car, give it a shot and shoot some pictures to post. There are several good youtube videos for DYI'ers and a couple of companies that sell single punch dies. Look at Lazze or Covell or Eastwood videos to start your search.
 
Blind Squirrel said:
You would likely have more serious problems than could be fixed by a few louvers for cooling issues. Not sure the louver craze of years gone by carries over the more muscle car era. But hey, it's your car, give it a shot and shoot some pictures to post. There are several good youtube videos for DYI'ers and a couple of companies that sell single punch dies. Look at Lazze or Covell or Eastwood videos to start your search.
Click to expand...

Opinions are everywhere, people that haven`t tried things often comment on posts on here, make up ur own mind .
I have chrome bilge vent (marine louvers) on each side of my 6 pack scoop , they do not look bad , but are really noticible.
I have tremendous amount of under hood heat, even tho I have my cooling problems under control. The under hood heat is so bad it`s melting the vents on hot summer days, and I`m getting ready to change them to stainless steel vents.
"They do help ." If I had the coin I`d also buy a new set of inside and out coated headers, that would probly help tremendously too--jfyi
 
Blind Squirrel said:
You would likely have more serious problems than could be fixed by a few louvers for cooling issues. Not sure the louver craze of years gone by carries over the more muscle car era. But hey, it's your car, give it a shot and shoot some pictures to post. There are several good youtube videos for DYI'ers and a couple of companies that sell single punch dies. Look at Lazze or Covell or Eastwood videos to start your search.
Click to expand...

I think the hand made louvers that you're thinking of were a "maybe functional" styling trend from decades back...and while I think they look cool, I agree that they might be out of place on a muscle car era machine.

If I understand Scott657 correctly, he's looking for a way to lower under-hood pressures which allows hot air to have another exit path and it allows more fresh air to move through the radiator. Look at any modern race car and you'll see some kind of venting to accomplish this. The current crop of muscle cars are all sporting these, the C7 Vette, etc.

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@scott657
One option is to get an aftermarket vent, cut a hole and mount it in place...but it has to be in the right spot to be worth your while. Basically, you'd be best off if you could find a low pressure area that also lines up with your underhood bracing.


To find this spot, you can always do the old yarn-tale trick and watch how they move as you travel at various speeds. I'm not an engineer but I believe that areas where the yarn lays flat would be lower pressure area. If anyone has a more educated understanding of this, that info would be welcome.

Found this picture on the internet machine:

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Some cars can use fender space to accomplish this...we would have to cut through the inner fender to take advantage of this but it is a possibility, I guess.
 
Maybe just take the hood off? No more under hood heat to worry about then.
 
There are some premade louvers online, I may go with a set., Ill also wrap the headers as well as possible while still on the engine.
I ran My Model A with no hood:lol:

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scott657 said:
Step 1

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I looked at those, but didn`t care for the tinny added on look. The marine louvers look more like part of the hood--to me .
That type real louver would be kick *** if u could find some old craftsman to do it to ur sheet metal. My hood is fiberglass or I might have tried to find someone that had the dies and could still do it .
I ur satisfied with the look, do it , it will help !
LOOK ON EBAY AND TYPE IN MARINE BILGE VENT LOUVERS-------------
 
famous bob said:
I looked at those, but didn`t care for the tinny added on look. The marine louvers look more like part of the hood--to me .
That type real louver would be kick *** if u could find some old craftsman to do it to ur sheet metal. My hood is fiberglass or I might have tried to find someone that had the dies and could still do it .
I ur satisfied with the look, do it , it will help !
LOOK ON EBAY AND TYPE IN MARINE BILGE VENT LOUVERS-------------
Click to expand...

DON`T USE PLASTIC !!
 
famous bob said:
I looked at those, but didn`t care for the tinny added on look. The marine louvers look more like part of the hood--to me .
That type real louver would be kick *** if u could find some old craftsman to do it to ur sheet metal. My hood is fiberglass or I might have tried to find someone that had the dies and could still do it .
I ur satisfied with the look, do it , it will help !
LOOK ON EBAY AND TYPE IN MARINE BILGE VENT LOUVERS-------------
Click to expand...
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I didn't like the look of mine either.
But...
Since my hood was faded I just painted the whole hood flat black.
Turned out pretty good.
 
I have a 68 Barracuda; which has the hood inserts. I cut out some slots under them then I drilled thru the two decorative bolts in each insert, and installed real Allen head bolts in there, to elevate the inserts to the top of their studs, about a half inch. This was to allow the heat out while idling around the parking lot and to prevent the carb from cooking while sitting in traffic, and to let the heat out when I shut it off, and plan a restart in a few minutes. Click-vroom-vroom, so I guess it works. I doubt it does anything at speed.But that wasn't part of the plan.
I cut a hole in the hood and mounted an oval after-market air-filter house there between the inserts Then I sealed the underside of the hood to the carb. The idle is rock-solid now, and no more hot-start issues.
BTW; I run a minimum coolant temp of 205*F, and uncoated TTIs, with a modest heat insulator under the carb and that is all. But our hottest summer days are only ~100*F
 
There are hot rodders and there are hacks. Some don't know if there is a difference, and some don't care. It's all in the eye of the beholder, and the other issues it creates.
 
It has been proven that reducing the under hood temps help most everywhere in longevity like rubber hoses and wires, and sometimes performance. Non sealed air intakes sucking in hotter air than what can be available from the outside. You do not have to have over heating problems to take advantage of there benefits.

FABO members styling likes or dislikes aside, your car your way.
Do it up!
 
I was going to try a flat gray first. My goal is to drive the car THIS spring and summer and actually enjoy it after working on it almost 2 years. I can get more detailed in the winter.
Thanks for the feedback
 
Blended some flat black with some flat white Rustoleum
thinned with acetone and some valspar hardener
still drying

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