Gen I & II Engine Cooling

[ssmith71]

Have never seen this as an option for Gen I and II hoods, but does someone sell a part or a way to use the fake hood vent (Opposite the AC/Heater inlet) to help vent the engine heat and cool the engine?
hood.jpeg

[dave6666]

Some have done it with a hole saw. Completely unnecessary if your cooling system works right. I drive my car in 110+ degree ambient in traffic and never overheat. And have never wanted to do that.

[LifeIsGood]

But Dave has a bunch of air movement UPGRADES.

[Sybil TF]

I did it. Helps with cabin temps in stop and go.

Geez that hole is wack. What did you use a hack saw? lol

[Fatboy 18]

OMG!!!! He cut holes in a 16K Hood!

[Viper Red]

Not a bad idea, might help defrost your windshield LOL

- - - Updated - - -

OMG!!!! He cut holes in a 16K Hood!

I'd sell mine in a heart beat for that! LOL

[daveg]

Have never seen this as an option for Gen I and II hoods, but does someone sell a part or a way to use the fake hood vent (Opposite the AC/Heater inlet) to help vent the engine heat and cool the engine?
hood.jpeg

Ouch, would never do such a thing (cut a hole to vent)!

[AZTVR]

I think that there was an aftermarket windshield cowl made with mesh grill vents in it to accomplish the same thing.

[98RedGTS]

I think that there was an aftermarket windshield cowl made with mesh grill vents in it to accomplish the same thing.

http://www.autoformgroup.com/index.p...=31&Itemid=782

While on the subject of the grills. Anyone take theirs off and paint the hood black under them? Seeing the red through those grills kind of drives me nuts.

[ssmith71]

http://www.autoformgroup.com/index.p...=31&Itemid=782

While on the subject of the grills. Anyone take theirs off and paint the hood black under them? Seeing the red through those grills kind of drives me nuts.

I ordered one from Autoform, just haven't received it yet. What red are you talking about? From the intake manifold?

[98RedGTS]

My car is red so under both vents the hood color shows through the vents when up close. Yours wont be nearly as noticeable since it would be blue. I know it's first world problems but it's just something my OCD kicks in on which drives me nuts.

[Coloviper]

Some black vinyl tape does that same trick without the permanent effects under the vents.

[ssmith71]

Got the vents painted, put the weatherstrip back on, everything screwed together fine. Hopefully it will give me some more margin on my engine cooling capability Thanks Autoform.
newcowl.jpg

[Sybil TF]

Got the vents painted, put the weatherstrip back on, everything screwed together fine. Hopefully it will give me some more margin on my engine cooling capability Thanks Autoform.
newcowl.jpg

I have the same thing. Did you make your own trim seal at the top edge or did it come with one?

[ssmith71]

I have the same thing. Did you make your own trim seal at the top edge or did it come with one?

I removed and reused the one that was on the stock piece,

[Sybil TF]

I removed and reused the one that was on the stock piece,

Interesting. Ours was glued on to never come off without damage.

[SmoknTires]

Got the vents painted, put the weatherstrip back on, everything screwed together fine. Hopefully it will give me some more margin on my engine cooling capability Thanks Autoform.
newcowl.jpg

That's not a bad looking product. I've never needed to do anything to cool down my Gen1 with normal use (even in traffic). Those cars do run hot, but designed for that. However, when I used on the track it was a diff story. The best mod I even did was get an aftermarket radiator for it, it was shocking how well it cooled the car - that's all that was needed. But this is indeed not a bad looking product at all.

[ssmith71]

Finally got the Autoform windshield cowl. Painting the vents now. This is what my 96 GTS looks like under the cowl. I just see black under mine.
window.jpg

[GTS Dean]

That looks really nice! Much improved over the original version.

[C5Longhorn]

I agree, looks good in the flat black.

[ViperTony]

This topic has been beaten to death over the years so if this is a re-post from me I apologize in advance. The vented cowl from AutoForm helps hot air escape the engine bay. It won't bring your coolant temps down, in and of itself. The vented cowl was the very first "cooling" mod I did to my GenII 12 years ago. I followed that with a lower temp t-stat, again, does nothing in and of itself. The key, three keys really are:

(1.) Clean radiator. Believe it or not these radiators clog up easily. Mine was completely clogged @ 26K miles. I routinely, as in yearly, drain an flush my coolant in the GenII but it doesn't seem to matter. Radiator flushes don't help. This past winter I took my radiator to a local shop had it cleaned and re-cored. Couldn't believe how bad it was.

(2.) Air Movement. More air flow needs to move through the radiator. About 10 years ago I installed a Roe Front Fascia duct and it made a noticeable difference especially on the track and highway speeds. Not for the faint of heart as it requires cutting a rectangular opening under the front fascia, but worth it. Pusher fans would be much less intrusive but I'd do both.

(3.) Reprogrammed the PCM to turn on the low/hi temp fan at lower temps to compliment the lower temp t-stat and above mods. Dan @ VSP did this tune for me almost 9 years ago. Done using an SCT tuner.

I never had a heat issue, in stock form the GenII never over-heated and operated within guidelines around coolant temps. Since doing the above, my coolant temps are noticeably lower. Even with all of the head work and engine work, the stock cooling system is great. Not freezing but noticeable. On track days it makes a noticeable difference.