deleting hood supports

[Angie]

Getting the hood ready for louvers and want to know if anyone has deleted the center support and the 2 small angled supports before? and if you have how much did the hood bounce or move when the truck was driven?

My plan is to cut those out to give the louvers a cleaner look and more spacial for the hood, but wondering how much strength will be taken from the loss of these items.

cheers

 

[cbxer55]

If you delete the center and the two angled, you're deleting everything. There's nothing left. I don't know about that. Is that a steel hood, or aluminum? On my 98, I cut into mine big time in order to install some Mustang heat vents on the hood. But I didn't delete anything entirely. It's a steel hood. It did okay with some material being removed. My 07 Mustang, i cut holes in the hood to put some carbon fiber hood vents in. It's aluminum. It didn't really like it all that much. Once I put the carbon fiber parts in though, it stiffened back up nicely.

 

[Ranger850]

If it were me, I would try to leave the middle support or add some type of support back after you get the louvers.

 

[Dirtman]

Cut it off, do what you gotta do, then weld them back in.

 

[Angie]

Maybe I am not 100% clear here. The hood is steel, and I am not cutting into the hood itself nor deleting anything in the main hood's skin. Just asking about the center support and the 2 angles. The louvers will be the punched in style to let more airflow in the engine compartment. There were globs of rubber glue stuff stuck to the supports and the hood that were all separated so a cut off wheel will easily take out the centers.

I was asking to see if anyone has deleted this area before and if so, did it make any differences in the hood itself. There still will be the middle bend/creases in the original hood for that dimpled strength left in the hood.

thanks cheers

 

[Ranger850]

Do Louvers add or take away from the rigidity of steel when used?
I don't know.
I also don't know if the crease in the hood is enough to support multiple openings and closings of the hood. IF you remove the center support AND the 2 angles, you will be removing 100% of the support system that keeps the hood from "fluttering". If you can live with the hood constantly vibrating ( possibly causing metal fatigue ) then get to Choppin'

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Chop it out and use hood pins. Then there isnt need to let it drop to catch and there is two spots to keep it closed. I cut every bit of support system I could on my race truck and it hasnt creased or bent. I think the middle rib helps a lot, plus its supported on all four sides.

 

[Angie]

Hey floored, yes hood pins are in the works for it along with the center latch to help hold it down. Wanting to punch in a louver center to expel some heat and give it an old school look. Then angie will give a flame job to the sides of the louvers for that added flare.

I really didn't think it would cause any problems cutting the center out myself, however wanted to ask if anyone had any experience with doing this. I have seen many circle track cars with all supports cut out and the hoods seem to stay put, and as you said, the back and front plus sides are still going to be there.

cheers

(ps on another note I did find a local shop that still punches louvers) cheers

 

[Ranger850]

I guess I missed the part where he said it was strictly for a Race set up.

 

[cschannuth]

The supports provide all the strength for the hood. The steel skin provides almost nothing and will probably vibrate, flutter, and may even collapse.

 

[19Walt93]

Hey floored, yes hood pins are in the works for it along with the center latch to help hold it down. Wanting to punch in a louver center to expel some heat and give it an old school look. Then angie will give a flame job to the sides of the louvers for that added flare.

I really didn't think it would cause any problems cutting the center out myself, however wanted to ask if anyone had any experience with doing this. I have seen many circle track cars with all supports cut out and the hoods seem to stay put, and as you said, the back and front plus sides are still going to be there.

cheers

(ps on another note I did find a local shop that still punches louvers) cheers

Louvers will definitely let heat out and it will be sucked into the air intake for your heater-a/c, along with engine compartment fumes. Before spending money punching holes I'd remove the rear hood weatherstrip and maybe add a couple washers between the hood and hinges and drive it a while to see what happens.

 

[ITSA 7]

I have cut out everything but the perimeter bracing on several cars so I could mount a large hood scoop. Camshaft was the only reason the hood vibrated.

 

[Bird76Mojo]

Just came across these that I saved in my V8 swap link folder.. I think they look pretty decent on most vehicles..

http://hoodlouvers.com/product-category/size-medium-hood-louvershood-vents/

 

[Angie]

here is what it looks like now with the new louvers cut in.

cheers

 

[RobbieD]

I think that they turned out great!