Custom Hood

[mattshowagon]

I am going to a car show in ohio this weekend.( www.cruisefestnationals.net )
I want to show off under the hood. I was thinking of cuting a hole in the hood, (It's a fiberglass plus hood) about 5 inches away from the outside edge on all sides. Almost like I don't even hace a hood on at all. Filling the space in with plexiglass, to keep out the rain is a must. any comments would be helpful.
Thanks. MATT

 

[flosho]

You may take some heat for this but I think it would be cool. I say go for it. How do you plan on attatching the plexiglass to the hood, and what thickness are you going to use?

 

[mattshowagon]

Not sure on the thickness, I'm kinda worried about melting it thought. Not suer on mounting. If I can't figure it out, I will just take off my hood, and leave it at the hotel.

 

[AutoSHO]

Eliminating all the underhood bracing will make the hood unsafe. Not to mention, if you're gonna butcher a hood, do it to a SLO or metal SHO hood, not a rare Plus hood.

 

[SHO2NV]

I've been to alot of car shows and have never had to remove my hood to show off the engine..........maybe I'm missing what you're trying to achieve.

 

[flosho]

Eliminating all the underhood bracing will make the hood unsafe.

Pardon my ignorance, but how do you make a hood unsafe? I'm guessing it must have some importance in a collision but would it be that noticable? I think plexiglass/lexon wouldn't be much weaker than a plastic/carbon fiber hood.

 

[SHOspazz92]

Why dont you just...umm...open the hood

 

[Hack]

I would just cut out the area directly above the intake manifold. I would also recommend lexan over plexiglass. It is more scratch resistant.

As far as making the hood less safe, I think Chris has a definate point. It is not from a crash standpoint, more from a "wind pulling the hood up in your face" side of things. Of course you would have a nice lexan/plexi window to view out of....

 

[PROPHET]

Nice idea, but not on the fiberglass hood.

I would use a steel hood and maybe installing some hood locks, one on each side of the strut tower and one on each side on the front.

 

[FAST4DR]

I know what he's talking about. I have wanted to do that for years. I think it would be the coolest mod to have a clear window that you could see through and see the engine. Could be lit up at night also. The only way I could see doing it is to get a metal hood, cut out the section you want to replace with plexiglass/acrylic and then have plexiglass/acrylic molded to fit the piece you took out. I know it can be done, just don't know who would do it. I have seen books about forming acrylic but it takes a lot of practice and equipment. You have to heat the whole sheet evenly and have a mold. If you use gas to heat it, it has to be a certain blend that doesn't leave residue on the acrylic. If you can find someone that molds acrylic, I think they could do it. The tricky part would be how to attach it to the hood and make it look good.

Will

 

[SuperG]

Save the hood! Sell it here on the Forum and get a replacement...otherwise...that's a very interesting idea...not something a person would see every day!

 

[SW SHO]

Cool Idea. You might consider lexan instead of plexiglass? Heat issues if you plan on keeping the hood on full time.

 

[ohioshodude]

hey matt are you going to be there all weekend, or just for a day? i'd love to come see the sho **** wagon. that show is really close to me.

 

[mattshowagon]

I will be there all weekend. I'm rolling down there with about 8 other rides. The point to the clear hood, is so when I drive to, and from the show, people know whats under the hood. Remember I have a wagon, people don't know it's got a SHO motor.

 

[James Downing]

I agree with YellowSHO, cut out just the area around the intake. A peice of plexiglas or lexan as large as your hood would be hard to come by, and also VERY flexible, as in- flap in the wind. Lexan and plexiglas both can be formed fairly easily with a heat-gun, as long as youre willing to experiment.

I would cut out a rounded -off rectangle over the intake cowls. Then take the hood, and turn it upside down resting on sawhorses or something. Take your peice of lexan, and cut it about 3 inches larger than the hole. Lay the lexan over the upside down hole, and beigin applying heat to the edges or where it needs to curve. The lexan will slowly relax, into the shape you need it to be in.

I reccommend attaching the lexan with rivets... but use a fair amount of them, and attach the lexan to the underside of the hood.

Enough of my rambling... I wouldnt do it, but as long as its not a plus that youre chopping, ... go for it.

 

[Chris Benvie]

Remember I have a wagon, people don't know it's got a SHO motor.

HAHA Thats the best part about it!!

 

[Camarok]

aren't there companies that make transparent and/or translucent hoods.....? I know that they are illegal but there are companies that make whole hoods like that.... off the top of my head i can't think of the company that makes them.

IF you find the place, maybe (for the $$$$$) they could make you one...?

 

[flosho]

Look in the classic ricer mags(sport compact car) They have adds in there. www.planetperformance.com may have those hoods.

 

[SW SHO]

Here are some photos I found off the net!

This one would be cool on an SHO:

Found this at www.newsales.com

 

[91 SHOplus]

The more things change, the more they stay the same....

[stupid dance]
It's "Greased Lightning"
[/stupid dance]