Got my hood done! YAY!!!

[rweis]

I am sorta hyper on cooling the VP44. That scoop is EXACTELY what the engine compartment NEEDS especially in the hotter months. When driving, GOOD airflow, when stopped, GOOD heat escape.



MIGHT obviate the need for an OAT blower on the VP44.



How big is the hole (in diameter or square ") in the hood you cut?



You might just have the PERFECT answer to engine compartment cooling.



Bob Weis



I too would like the part # if possible, but I will call the local DC and see if they can locate it. They are not too good at figuering out things though.

 

[UP N MTNS]

I don't have the part number but it should be simple for your dealer to find it. Maybe try a different dealer. Make sure to tell him it's for a 3rd gen truck, not 2nd gen.

Good luck

I will stop by a different dealer today,the one close to me is not good for much.

 

[ASTAR]

Hey Bob, the hole cut in the hood is pretty good size. I don't have my truck with me at the moment but i would guess its at least 12"x10-12"

 

[UP N MTNS]

The "Hemi hoop scoop" part number is 82208576 AB. I paid $329. 00 and will have it tomorrow... . next stop, hardware store to pick up some metal jig-saw blades ASTAR thanks for the great idea...

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

It's very difficult to weld broad and relatively flat expanses of sheetmetal without heat distortion - but it can be minimized by welding short beads in one area, then moving on to another area away from the first.



It's also probably a good idea to NOT cut out the underhood reinforcement, concentrating on only the top surface sheetmetal - you'll still get plenty of airflow if that's part of the goal...



OR, since you will probably end up needing the services of a body shop anyway, it might be a time and $$$ saver to just take them your hood and scoop, and let them handle the whole job...

 

[UP N MTNS]

It's also probably a good idea to NOT cut out the underhood reinforcement, concentrating on only the top surface sheetmetal - you'll still get plenty of airflow if that's part of the goal...

Gary,I would be to paranoid to chop out the reinforcement on that heavy of a hood. I'm just going to remove the sheet metal. I'm going to make a intake cover(small shaped metal piece) for the scoop that can be screwed on and seal it off for the snow and rain season...

I've been welding,pounding and painting on cars for many years so I'm going to tackle the welding and body work myself. .



I will post pic's after this weekend

 

[RHARVEY]

I am looking to do something like this to mine. . Also not worried about the reinforcement under the hood. . by the time I get thru with it wont flex. . The only concern that I have with the scoop facing forward is the rain. It would be cool to have some functioning doors on the front of the scoop that open and close with the boost level and can be closed shut when it rains...

Way cool job...



Rick

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I am looking to do something like this to mine. . Also not worried about the reinforcement under the hood. .

I've seen a few larger hoods like ours that were cut clear thru the underhood supports - over time, some of them flex enough in use that they develop fatigue cracks. IF I was really wanting a clear opening, I'd have a decent shop weld in a healthy reinforcing ring all he way around the opening, and then have the stock reinforcing attach to that wherever they intersect. That way you get a totally unobstructed opening without sacrificing strength.



Looks better too...



OH YEAH, that IS a nice hood, good job, and other than the potential rain and washing mess it can make underhood, a great mod.



And hey, rweis, for what you are talking about, consider one of the RV vents that mount on top of the usual crankup vent:



-



Complete with a 12 volt blower for ventilation - great looks improver, plus power underhood ventilation... :-laf :-laf

 

[UP N MTNS]

-



Complete with a 12 volt blower for ventilation - great looks improver, plus power underhood ventilation... :-laf :-laf

I wish you would have posted this yesterday... . :-laf :-laf

 

[rweis]

I have a little bilge blower mounted under the drivers front bumper that runs 2 hrs after shutdown cooling the VP44. People tell me I left the truck running? I tell them it's the turbine cooling down, it goes so fast it takes time to come to a stop. Oo. AND they seem like they believe it



I do like the scoop though, like we did on hoods on big block fords and chevy's when I was a kid (not that nice a job though).



120 sq " is A LOT of cooling area. A=pi*r*r. 120=~3 *r*r. 40=r*r. r=~7"



Bob Weis

 

[Diesel Nut]

I like the hood!





Nice looking truck, too.

 

[Bob4x4]

It's very difficult to weld broad and relatively flat expanses of sheetmetal without heat distortion - but it can be minimized by welding short beads in one area, then moving on to another area away from the first.



It's also probably a good idea to NOT cut out the underhood reinforcement, concentrating on only the top surface sheetmetal - you'll still get plenty of airflow if that's part of the goal...



OR, since you will probably end up needing the services of a body shop anyway, it might be a time and $$$ saver to just take them your hood and scoop, and let them handle the whole job...

Gary that hood scoop sheet metal is VERY thin the scoop is so fragile they send a warning label showing you how to pick it up so you don't tweak it



I think I would tig it... ... ... .



Bob

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Gary that hood scoop sheet metal is VERY thin the scoop is so fragile they send a warning label showing you how to pick it up so you don't tweak it



I think I would tig it... ... ... .



Bob

ACTUALLY, I'm a JB Weld fan myself... :-laf :-laf

 

[ASTAR]

Ok, for mine, I did NOT cut the supports under the hood. I felt that there is enough challenge for the scoop to mot develop cracks around it with how much the motor shakes.

As far as rain, I swear it has not been an issue. I have driven through snow and rain, had it parked in snow, rain, and everytime I have checked under the hood for moisture, there is ZERO issue. I also figured on making a cover of some sort to block off the opening for the bad weather months. It is NOT neccessary at all. I don't know if the heat of the motor just dries the moisture on contact or what but the motor has never been wet at all.

I chose to weld it on using TIG. That was a mistake. See, when I would heat the metal to get a puddle, it was WAY too much heat and it distorted the hood badly, I thought I destroyed the hood AND the scoop. My body shop I use is great and was able to not only save it but make it perfect. I would advise MIG welding it. That way it gets a quick ZAP that welds it up. Don't try to run a bead AT ALL!!! Just small tack welds. Take your time and do them far apart from each other and allow for full cooling. That would be the best way to lessen the hood distorting IMO.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

As far as rain, I swear it has not been an issue. I have driven through snow and rain, had it parked in snow, rain, and everytime I have checked under the hood for moisture, there is ZERO issue.

Not really too surprising, since various past testing by a number of sources has well established the LACK of any radically increased airflow thru typical hood scoops.



Contrary to popular opinion, usually the frontal area and forward hood line usually deflects the airstream well above the hood surface while it is underway - rendering hood scoops (unless they're pretty dern BIG!) pretty worthless as any sort of enhancement to engine air intake (ram air).



And as long as the truck hood isn't on a downhill slope when parked, water shouldn't be an issue there either. Probably the greatest potential problem would be while washing the truck - but reasonable care and a good aim with the water stream should minimize problems there...

 

[pwerwagn]

I like it a lot!! looks great! I bet it looks awesome pulling the matching enclosed trailer in the background. Im a sucker for matching trailers.



Where did you get the billet grill for the sport grill?? I cant find one of those...



--Jeff

 

[R-N-R]

I really like the looks of the scoop and the additional cooling. Just curious though, has anybody noticed any measurable effect on fuel mileage?