I was just curious to know or find out if hood vents are really that functional? I mean is there that much of a need to put them on a Fiero or is it more for just looks. I have always heard it is functional to a point, but I didn't know if it was a mod that would actually help to a point. Lets hear some opinions.
------------------ 1987 GT 5spd
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01:37 AM
PFF
System Bot
dosed Member
Posts: 337 From: Denver, CO, USA Registered: Mar 2001
Now are we talking about 'hood' vents, or decklid scoops/vents?
I see hood vents as having three (3) purposes:
1. Appearance. Damn, yeah, unless they are overdone, they just look cool. 2. Lowering air pressure under the hood. The vents allow the air that is 'semi-trapped' under the hood to escape, rather than pushing up and out through the headlight doors -- and thus keeping your headlight doors closed at high speed. 3. Encouraging more air through the radiator. Vents provide another escape for the air pushed up from under the front fascia, through the radiator, providing more cooling.
Whether or not you add vents (or anything to your car) is entirely your choice, but in regards to hood vents, yes they are functional, and it generally is a good idea to have them.
------------------ - dosed
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Originally posted by West Coast Fiero: hehe - you just got over-DOSED, :)
They are not "must have" but they do function very well. I have noticed that the vents work well even when in stop-n-go traffic on a hot summer day, the car stays cooler. You also need to take into account where you live. In Florida the benefit would be higher since the outside temps are on average higher. But in the northern area's it may take longer for the car to heat up in the winter.
------------------ Happiness isn't around the corner... Happiness IS the corner.
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08:44 AM
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
Originally posted by sloth85GT: Let me put it this way, if they were REALLY important, they'd be stock. So no, they aren't, but they are functional and will aid your cooling system.
Nah, that logic doesn't hold. Just because it's important doesn't mean it would be stock. Pontiac (and GM in general) will cut corners wherever they can. Essential? No. At least not on a stock car. Important? Maybe. Depends on your driving style and if you've modded the engine.
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08:58 AM
85GToronto Member
Posts: 927 From: Red Deer, Alberta, Canada Registered: Dec 2001
On a similar note has anyone ever done any research/testing on how much can be gained by moving the front plate mount to the side? I have always looked at that and thought it blocks half the area leading to the rad. When I do my V8 swap I want to retain as much of a stock apearance as possible but I'd be willing to relocate the plate if I thought it would help. Thoughts???
Originally posted by 85GToronto: On a similar note has anyone ever done any research/testing on how much can be gained by moving the front plate mount to the side? I have always looked at that and thought it blocks half the area leading to the rad. When I do my V8 swap I want to retain as much of a stock apearance as possible but I'd be willing to relocate the plate if I thought it would help. Thoughts???
I hate the look of front plates.. but since it's the law here, and I don't want to get busted for something as stupid as that.. I'm going to mount my plate on hinges below my fascia.. almost dragging on the ground, but it'll swing up when I go over a speed bump, or into a steep driveway etc. One of the people at the Grand Bend meets last year had this on their Fiero, it was really cool.
Originally posted by 85GToronto: On a similar note has anyone ever done any research/testing on how much can be gained by moving the front plate mount to the side? I have always looked at that and thought it blocks half the area leading to the rad. When I do my V8 swap I want to retain as much of a stock apearance as possible but I'd be willing to relocate the plate if I thought it would help. Thoughts???
From what I understand, most of the cooling air is drawn up from underneath the car by the front air dam...that black plastic piece that is found underneath the aero fascia. Some air does come in through the front openings, but not much. My 94 Grand Prix is pretty much the same way. It looks as though it has two large grille openings in the bumper...but upon closer inspection, most of it is just plastic, with two small holes near the center. The majority of the air is, again, drawn up by the air dam located underneath the front fascia.
------------------ Mike 86 GT 4 Speed "Sucks to be me..."
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11:18 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
Originally posted by sloth85GT: Let me put it this way, if they were REALLY important, they'd be stock.
That logic is definitely faulty. Pontiac, and GM design average cars for average people driving under average conditions.
Here in Texas, the cooling and A/C systems are barely adequate on a new car to handle the heat when it's 110F in the shade, let alone a 14-18 year old system.
Being an engineer myself I know that they try to build in a little margin for system degradation near the "end of life", but I don't think GM had 14 to 18 years in mind when they considered "end of life".
In other words here in the south these cars need all the help they can get to stay cool. I'm thinking of adding hood vents and maybe a fan in the back under the vents to cool things down a bit. Just my $0.02
------------------ 1988 Coupe Fiero - It's like an Actual Miniature Car
[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 04-22-2002).]
With out a doubt they are functional .I live in Florida , on the gulf coast . I installed a pair of 88 Sunbird Turbo louvers on my 85 coupe about nine months ago . I have a manuel switch for the raditor fan .I've only had the fan on a half a dozen times during this period .The Turbo louvers from the Sunbird look great on the hood ,if you laid the louvers on the headlight doors they match the headlght doors pattern .I mounted the louvers so that they face towards the windsheild , I've seen them mounted in reverse ,but this defeats the purpose .You want the air to come out the top not force air in to the bottom .I can put my fan on with the engine off and the hood closed and you would not believe the amont of air being forced out.As far as GM doing the right thing in regard to the Fiero ,don't make me laugh .These are the same people who discontinued the Fiero just when they were getting it right ,the BEAN COUNTERS run the show , not car people . Fierogsmith
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12:12 AM
PFF
System Bot
California Kid Member
Posts: 9541 From: Metro Detroit Area, Michigan Registered: Jul 2001
Originally posted by jscott1: That logic is definitely faulty. Pontiac, and GM design average cars for average people driving under average conditions.
First, most average people can't afford to buy a new car.
Second, If they were designed for just average people, then only average people would be driving them.
Third, If average was the target, the why does GM, and every other large automotive manufacturer on the planet, do all of their testing in the Arizona Desert during the hot season? They also test in cities where winter time temps are below -40 F.
Just my thoughts!
As far as vents, if done right they can provide some additional benefit. Could be something to consider it you have heavily modified/changed the engine. Or, if you plan on taking the car over 120mph on a regular basis.
[This message has been edited by California Kid (edited 04-23-2002).]
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12:43 AM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
Originally posted by California Kid: Third, If average was the target, the why does GM, and every other large automotive manufacturer on the planet, do all of their testing in the Arizona Desert during the hot season?
If you work for GM, sorry my comments were not meant as a disparaging remark. I simply mean that cars are not designed for 3 sigma environments. And I wish they would do that heat testing in Houston rather than Arizona, because the humid heat is a different kind of heat altogether.
In addition to my Fiero, I have owned 5 brand new cars and none of them had better than barely adequate air conditioning when put up against humid heat. If Detroit were in Texas I bet those A/C systems would be a lot more powerful!!
Ever notice that carmakers offer heated seats, heated mirrors, heated windows, etc but what about us Southerners? Only the Navigator offers air cooled seats, I bet if Detroit were in Texas all American cars would have air cooled seats!
And by the way, I think most people do drive new cars. For every car from the 80s, I see about a thousand cars that are less than 5 years old. That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 04-23-2002).]
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01:45 AM
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
Originally posted by jscott1: In addition to my Fiero, I have owned 5 brand new cars and none of them had better than barely adequate air conditioning when put up against humid heat. If Detroit were in Texas I bet those A/C systems would be a lot more powerful!!
A lot of that is due to the inefficiency of R134a compared to R12. The AC system in my Fiero works better than the AC in my 99 Grand Am. The Grand Am just doesn't blow air as cold as the Fiero. [knock on wood] Hopefully I didn't just jinx myself and make my Fiero's AC explode the next time I turn it on!
[This message has been edited by Formula88 (edited 04-23-2002).]
I have lived in the St. Louis area my entire life. All I can say is in the summer it's freakin' hot and humid and in the winter it's freakin cold and dry. I have owned several new cars and have never had one that is warm enough on the coldest days or cold enough on the hottest days. Most of the time things are fine. If you think it gets hot in Texas, come up here in late July!! The humidity gets so bad, it's like a light fog. You'll sweat so much you'll be sore! Thank goodnes it only lasts about a month.
------------------ "Its a Fiero thing... Heck, even I don't understand!"
Timothy E. Smith 1986 SE V6 BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN!!!! 1984 Coupe 1996 Ford Probe GT 1999 Chevrolet Silverado Z71 1975 Chevrolet ElCamino SS
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04:05 PM
87GTBro Member
Posts: 1223 From: Edinburg,TX,USA Registered: Oct 1999
Originally posted by DaRkLoRD: I hate the look of front plates.. but since it's the law here, and I don't want to get busted for something as stupid as that.. I'm going to mount my plate on hinges below my fascia.. almost dragging on the ground, but it'll swing up when I go over a speed bump, or into a steep driveway etc. One of the people at the Grand Bend meets last year had this on their Fiero, it was really cool.
I wonder if it would be acceptable to paint the liscence plate # on the front of the car...?
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Originally posted by revin: Scott is right ! Dam it gets hot here! It is so HOT that I have to make the windshield and the back glass roll down just to keep somewhat cool!
hummm maybe that is why I have Soooo many scoops on the car....
Ditto, I am almost done with a hood vent I am custom making for my new GT. I can't wait to see the finished product... List of things to do yet... Aus' stage 2 side scoops, 1/4 window scoops and paint job...
[This message has been edited by 87GTBro (edited 04-23-2002).]
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04:26 PM
Mickey_Moose Member
Posts: 7576 From: Edmonton, AB, Canada Registered: May 2001
Front Plate >> well we don't need then here in Alberta...and honestly removing it made no real difference.
Hood vents >> if GM had actually thought of everything, there would be no after market for 'performance' parts Yes, I am sure they work, although I never had a proble with the headlight doors, but have experienced the front end lift (no I don't have hood vents, I am trying to keep the stock look - but will probably add them on my next car).
