DIY vented hoods, suggested methods for grafting vents, ducts?
 

The heat generated by my greddy concerns me greatly. I usually open the hood when I get home just so the turbo can't bake the area around it, the major components are heat-shielded, but still.. if I leave the hood closed, the power bulge will appear swollen until the hood cools because the heat causes it to become detached from the underside, the little glue spots fail.

I bought two aluminum louvred panels from ebay with the intent to find another hood and graft at least one of them on over the turbo.

So, my questions are:

What is the Miata hood made from? Basically is it possible to weld the plates in and then smooth it out with bondo? If not possible to weld, could it be fiberglassed into place?

Any input is appreciated!

It can be done..... I'd suggest finding a reputable old school hot rod shop in the area to do the aluminum work for you though.....

Ya you can have louvers pressed into your hood by certain shops. The only miata that I know of who has done it is 2/3s cobra (on miata.net). I have seen his car in person and can say it looks nice the way he did it.

:cool:

Very nice, flashlegs!

At first I thought ¥ou were just showing me your hood risers but that NACA duct is hot!

I think I may do that.. Does it help a lot? My main concern is the heat on the hood (it gets up to 170*F according to my pyrometer)

Thanks, I'm not sure if it does much or not. Never done any tests to prove it's efficiency. But I THINK it MIGHT work, and I THINK it looks cool.:bigtu:

I am telling you....these turbo blankets are the shit.
http://marylandturbosolutions.com/ca...roducts_id=364
You want to buy it from here though.
http://www.alamoautosports.com/

Shoot Alamo a call. I bought mine from them for $100.
Its amazing how much is cuts down on the underhood heat. I think the T3 one should fit the Greddy turbo ok.

If a couple of you guys want them maybe we can purchase a few all at once and try for a price break. I know I need one for my Vr6 and have 2 buddies with turbo Vr6's who would buy as well.

That's way less ugly than the other solutions. Will the T3 sized one fit a T25 sized exhaust housing? It's basically a potato housing. If it will, i'm in for one if there's some deal goin on.

Matt

It looks very cool, but it's in the worst place it could be for an intake. That area has much less pressure over than under the hood, so it would be a great place for an extraction vent--but a poor place for an intake vent.

What you don't want to do is force air randomly into the engine compartment. That will just lower the pressure difference between the front and back of the radiator. What you want is to keep pressure as low as possible inside the engine compartment, reducing behind radiator pressure as low as possible to promote airflow. Running outside air over the engine compartment is not terribly effective, and very detrimental to air being forced through the mouth and thus through your radiator, intercooler, oil cooler, etc, because of the reduce in pressure differential.

The high pressure areas to utilize for an intake are at the front bumper and at the cowl. If you are going to bring in air at either of these locations, you need to duct it directly to your intake.

I read the threads on M.net too. But I haven't had any overheating problems with this hood yet.

No and I don't think you will either. Your naca duct is more like a naca vent :) I see it as a good thing--it lowers under hood pressure.

[QUOTE=Wideopentuning;59152]I am telling you....these turbo blankets are the shit.

QUOTE]

I'm pretty sure I read something from Corky that said that you shouldn't use those. I cannot remember why BUT I was disappointed because I really need something like that.

Ok guys I just talked to Alamo about the blankets. If we buy 5 or more they are $90. Who is in? I know I will take one and I think 2 of my buddies will pick em up as well.

I would be interested, but I am a little afrade of them too. Seems like it would only make the turbine housing get even hoter, good for the rest of the engine bay, maybe bad for the turbo.

Its your call. You're missing out not running one though. You realize they only cover the turbine housing and not the center section right?

Any word on if they'll fit snugly enough on a GT25/disco potato hotside?

Yeah it sounds like they will be just fine.

Count me in if we can find 5 people. Really want something to get underhood heat down. Thanks WOT, you do a lot for us here, just since I started posting.