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Figured I would do a thread on the install of the louvers in my hood. Keep in mind, I'm not a body guy. The louvers come unpainted. I painted them to match the original medium grey metallic. Included were the directions, templates, and 3M panel bonding adhesive. Very careful measurements were taken before marking the cut outs. Marked and ready to cut. After getting the nerve to cut some holes, i used a fluted bit on a dremel to make the cuts. The hood is surprisingly easy to cut once you get going. Again in the instructions are measurements for the final location of the louvers. The louvers are bonded to the hood using the 3M adhesive and GE black silicone. Two people place and hold the louvers down while a third cleans up the excess panel bond that squeezes out. You must work quickly as the panel bond has a 5-6 minute bond time. The finished results.
The louvers are available with drip trays that keep the water out of the engine bay. However, i will not be using them as I do not drive this one in the rain (it won't melt, I just don't enjoy it) and only installed them to vent underhood heat after a hard run when the car is moving slowly or stopped and wanted nothing in the way of the air moving out. (Car has a turbocharger and gets quite a bit of heat under the hood now.)
I have noticed a reduction of heat now. The hood was previously getting hot enough to smell it after a hard run. Now the heat actually has somewhere to go instead of baking my hood and paint.
Last edited by Mixednuttz; May 30, 2020 at 02:05 PM.
are they the ACI fiberglass ones (formerly Toledo Pro) or some other type ?
Is there an increase in engine noise with those?
i have a p600b supercharger which has an annoying gear whine at idle.
also, i was surprised you said its a 3 man job to install them !
Thanks! I got them from Mold Kraft http://www.greenwoodvette.com/options.htm. (Didn't realize that I had failed to mention where I got them.)
My turbocharger is pretty loud when you get on it so I really haven't noticed an increase in noise.
Two people could do the job but a third set of hands is nice as you have to work so quickly.
Thanks! You could just spray the underside with a high heat flat black or satin spray. I think the only fear I have about those large vents, is when it comes to washing the Vette. One may have to use plastic sheeting and tape it off on the underside of vents prior...
Thanks! You could just spray the underside with a high heat flat black or satin spray. I think the only fear I have about those large vents, is when it comes to washing the Vette. One may have to use plastic sheeting and tape it off on the underside of vents prior...
I'm not too terribly worried about that. Just going to have to be very aware of where I'm spraying the water!
You'd have to work pretty hard to get anything fragile wet under my hood. On the driver's side it would mainly just be the turbocharger.
Last edited by Mixednuttz; May 31, 2020 at 01:26 PM.
are they the ACI fiberglass ones (formerly Toledo Pro) or some other type ?
Is there an increase in engine noise with those?
i have a p600b supercharger which has an annoying gear whine at idle.
also, i was surprised you said its a 3 man job to install them !
After a little more time with the car with the louvers, I can answer your question about additional noise. I normally drive with the roof off (have a targa brace that stays in most of the time, another reason this car doesn't see rain!) I have noticed that the noise from the turbocharger is a little bit louder. That makes sense as the louver is almost directly over my turbo and would be right over the filter on the L98 centrifugal blowers I've seen.
The louvers do the job I installed them for, well. I no longer notice the smell of hot plastic after a long drive. The hood is cooler above the hot side of the turbocharger, and my master cylinder stays cooler.
What would be really cool would be filming or taking a few pictures of the hood with a thermal camera.
Last edited by Mixednuttz; Jun 7, 2020 at 11:16 AM.
C4R hood louvers
