heat management, CF hood alternative

[Reaper]

When tracking the FRS/BRZ under boost heat management because a concern. Larger radiator, oil cooler etc are the initial reactions to the problem. Some of us have modified the front bumper in an attempt to increase airflow. But the limitation to the system is not air INTO the engine bay its air OUT of the engine bay.
Proof of this can be seen by hood flutter even at highway speeds. A vented hood in my opinion is a must. For aero and cooling reasons. But some/most weigh MORE than the factory hood and dont generally fit as well as OEM. I also have a tuff time stomaching the price of a poorly fitting heavier than factory hood that i still have to paint match.
Robispec an early pioneer in the frs tracking community was thinking the same thing and louvered his hood. Sometimes hard to find someone who can do that. But i searched the internet and found Trackspec Motorsports.
((I am not affiliated or sponsored by them))
They make a simple low cost rivet in hood vent that's used by hundreds of time attack/NASA racers in the southeast. I literally see these things on corvettes, camaros, BMW's, porsches etc all the time.

They sent me a vent kit for the S2000 and asked if i would get some feedback from the FRS/BRZ community. Their vents are in the mid 300$ range and they make many sizes. They come with a simple template i measured from the four corners of the hood and taped it with painters tape. Drilled a hole in at one corner to insert a cheap fine tooth airsaw and cut out the template. Laid in the vent drilled a few more holes and put in some rivets. I had a significant reduction in front lift, 30+* drop in under hood temps and my BOV and other turbo noises are louder now. (ha) For 1/3 the cost of some CF vented hoods.

[Dallen]

thats cool as hell

[Reaper]

thanks! i was very impressed with it myself in function, price and how it looks now.

[Dallen]

where are they selling?

[Reaper]

tracspec motorsports. i contacted them via their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Trackspec-M...5927/timeline/ since the s2000 vents were not on their website yet http://trackspe.nextmp.net/

[Reaper]

@nelsmar @csgmike

[mrk1]

I've been wanting to go this route as well, cut vents not a CF hood.

[nelsmar]

I considered doing this at one point... I know some other companies have been looking into producing some rivet install parts. I have also been considering louvering the hood for a long while now... But for the price of these vents I think I would rather louver the hood even though this would probably be a bit more beneficial but it stands out so much more on a street car than some louvers!

A lot of the CF hoods also have something that blocks air, or the edge going into the bay may disrupt flow. The ones you installed actually go above the hood line which should help evacuate in the way a wing works to lift an airplane up. I am kind of surprised that there doesn't seem to be any manufactures focused on making a functional evacuation hood. Putting a heavier carbon hood that doesn't dissipate heat as well as aluminum is "meh". I mean sure the vents they add nullify the fact that carbon doesn't help with heat conduction but.. =/

I was also considering just cutting out some panels on my hood and adding in a mesh so it didn't stand out too much but by not having a leading edge you don't get the benefit of the high velocity air going over the hood helping siphon the air out of the bay.

If they had a more subtle looking setup or if I had a black car (hah)... I would be more open to giving a setup like this a try! But my car is a street car and that looks wayyyyy too aggressive for me =(

[Reaper]

I tested louvers in a wind tunnel and came up with the same results robispec did. You would have to do the whole hood for them to work. They are not very efficient at the angle our hood is at.

[RehabJeff86]

U r my hero!! @CSG Mike

[crazyfrenchbiker]

We installed those vents in our carbon fiber hood and fenders for added venting. We've had nothing but great results.

[crazyfrenchbiker]

Here's a picture of the vents on the race car.

[Reaper]

@crazyfrenchbiker which fender vents did you use from them?

[Draco-REX]

I like. I may get a set for next summer. Though I would prefer smaller ones I could put closer to the front of the hood, over the belts. Usually that area has lower pressure than further back on the hood.