Got my new heat extractor hood

[AustinJohn]

As some may recall I've been on a long, one man mission to lessen the under hood heat generated by my turbo. I ceramic coated my pipes and did some other things and all that helped a little but still I wasn't satisfied.

Earlier this year I talked with Leroy Ranger who runs a shop up the road doing body and custom work and we came up with a design that seems to help. This isn't for anyone who wants the WRX or muscle car look. In fact our idea was to keep it looking as stock as possible.

His approach was to cut out sections of the original hood (leaving all the bracing) and re-skin it producing a hood that retains the suggestions of the original accent lines (visible in the pic near the headlights) and "crowns" half way between the windshield washer sqirters near the front windshield . But, as shown by the inset, the crown is 3/4" higher than the original hood to give a 1/2" exit for hot air either pushed at speed or in stop and go driving by natural "hot air rise".

The cost was about $800 using the original hood or Leroy can get an after market hood for less than $100 so you don't have to drive without a hood. He's much in demand so it's not a quick process but his work is first class. If anyone is interested, his shop is in New Braunfels and his phone number is 210--262-5626.

 

[NC_MP3]

$800?? You got ripped bro. You can get the wings west carbon fiber vented hood for like $750 or so. Has a big ass vent in the hood, would work better than what you did.

 

[Kooldino]

Yeah, but it wouldn't look stock. that's a lot of $, but you're original to say the least!

 

[AustinJohn]

This isnt an attempt to flame NC_MP3. He has his own opinion and is entitled to it. But at the same time I didnt want others to stop with his comment and not think about the problem/solution. Here are a few facts:

1All the aftermarket custom hoods I investigated and there were a lot of them are only available for 2001 and later models. My car is a 2000 model and no aftermarket custom hood is available.

2But assuming there were one available, all the reps I talked to DG, SLP, Wings West, among them - said they made no Protege heat extractor hoods although they did make them for other models. Neither a scoop hood nor a ram jet hood is an extractor hood; they are designed for different purposes.

3Even normally aspirated cars are running hotter and hotter underhood temperatures. In the 1960's the typical underhood temperature was 90C/194F. By the 1980's this had jumped up to 110C/230F. Today, it approaches the 130C/266F range. Add a turbo and the temp can jump 30-50F or more...much more. Add summer temps we experience in Austin or other Texas or Arizona cities and consider that pavement temps in the heat of the day can exceed 200F and underhood temps can climb far above 300F.

4Designers intentionally use a metal hood as a giant heat sink since ambient temps even on a hot day in a hot city like Austin - are cooler than underhood temps. Fiberglass doesnt work as a heat sink; in fact it traps hot air. Thats the reason some cars like the turbo Lotus Elan have difficulty even running where the ambient temps are high; the heat literally bakes stuff under the hood.

5Several folks I talked to in hot cities thought Leroys hood was a cool (to make a pun) idea and might help them with the problems they were experiencing.

So my purpose was just to share info. I didn't suggest it was for everybody. If you dont like it, fine but lets let other folks weigh whether it has any merit. After all we're all in the Forum to learn.

 

[NC_MP3]

My bad bro, didn't know you had done all that research, carry on

 

[LinuxRacr]

Way to kick the knowledge John!