Performance hood scoops

[RKNRLR]

Got the performance hood treatment on my 68 RR, complete with non-functional sideways hoodscoops - basically just cool-looking scoops that provide a place for the engine callout to reside.
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Anybody here ever converted them to functional ie internally cutout? Is this even possible, or would I have to change the bonnet altogether?

If it was possible, is there any evidence to suggest any improvement in sucking up that fresh air?

Getting my car back in a couple of weeks after having a bit of a clean up, new comp cam (.545 .545)a nice set of aluminium heads (Aeroflow) and abit of bottom end-beef-up. and was just wondering if anyone out there had ever pondered this.

 

[69hemibeep]

I'm not 100% sure but I think the 1969 air grabber and call outs with screens will fit but some bracing under the hood has to be cut out.

 

[Basketcase]

you're correct Bobby (and I'll deny ever saying that)

 

[69hemibeep]

you're correct Bobby (and I'll deny ever saying that)

 

[69hemibeep]

Here is a picture of my hood without th air grabber in place to see the bracing

 

[Ranger]

If it was possible, is there any evidence to suggest any improvement in sucking up that fresh air?

In theory yes, cool air is more dense than warm (hot) air.
In reality, setting the placebo effect aside, you might need a dyno to really tell.
I had the Air Grabber on my first '69, but don't on this one. I had briefly considered adding it, but after pricing it out, I decided that the cost was not worth the gain (unless you are racing it).

 

[69hemibeep]

If you are truly going to race it you don't want the extra weight of the air grabber.

 

[RKNRLR]

I'm not 100% sure but I think the 1969 air grabber and call outs with screens will fit but some bracing under the hood has to be cut out.

cheers for the pic. mine is looking like this at the moment


behind the callout (external) theres a black plate with 4 screws, but from inside it feels as though theres about a 2-inch gap to the inner wall of the scoop (what would be the back of its throat). could this be cutout (even just to allow airflow) or would it need to be changed over altogether?

 

[bjersauto]

from the looks of it you can just pull out the whole asy and replace with air grabber asy no cutting. I cant see a car company making that be of change between two hoods just for call out emblems. Steve

 

[Basketcase]

the air grabber didn't come out until 1969. the OP's car is a 68. when you pull the call outs off the '68 hood, there is metal there that wasn't there on the '69 hoods. you can put '69 callouts or vents on a '68 hood...I've done it, but there is metal that needs removed. and car companies do things all the time that don't make sense. Dad had a '66 Ambassador that you had to cut a hole in the floorboard to remove the starter bolts, a '76 Bonneville that required removal of the right inner fender to replace the blower motor. and ever change the master cylinder on a non power brake B Body...it will increase your vocab!

 

[Big John]

Yep, saw the 69 call outs on a 68 hood with a few mods. I don't know if it works in reverse though.

Either way, the air grabber is pretty heavy and there's no performance gain anyway. You have to have the right air cleaner etc.

I would suggest buying a repop A12 hood and then you have as much scoop as you can stand.

 

[Basketcase]

yup.......

 

[RKNRLR]

the air grabber didn't come out until 1969. the OP's car is a 68. when you pull the call outs off the '68 hood, there is metal there that wasn't there on the '69 hoods. you can put '69 callouts or vents on a '68 hood...I've done it, but there is metal that needs removed. and car companies do things all the time that don't make sense. Dad had a '66 Ambassador that you had to cut a hole in the floorboard to remove the starter bolts, a '76 Bonneville that required removal of the right inner fender to replace the blower motor. and ever change the master cylinder on a non power brake B Body...it will increase your vocab!

I had a feeling that there might be some problems with alignment etc because of this reason. I think it sounds like more trouble than its worth/

 

[69hemibeep]

They are expensive also.

 

[RKNRLR]

They are expensive also.

The hoods or the air grabber setup?

 

[Basketcase]

the air grabber