Hood Vent
#16
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Location: Goldsboro, NC
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Used door trim from local autoparts store to cover the cut edges... Not really worried about water but if I do have any problems it would probably take a couple of bucks and a very little time to make up some drip pans to route the water to safer areas...
#17
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Never did a write up before so if there are still questions after just hit me up...
To start here are pictures of the materials I purchased for the vent. Grill-O-Sheets for the mesh
and door edge molding from any local autopart store.
In this picture it will show the cut-out locations... I did try to make the center line and the top line run parallel to the center line and in the upper edge of the hood as well...
After I laid out my masking tape I measured and drew out my two triangles... then I measured 1 1/2 from the top outer points and drew a line down and measured 3" up from the bottom points and drew a straight line out... I basically just cut the points off... then I took my Roto-zip with metal cut-off wheel attachment and went to work cutting out the shapes... the hacksaw in the picture was to cut the corners to prevent cutting too far with the cut-off tool...
after grinding down the edges and priming the bare metal I put the door edge molding on... then from under the hood I put the mesh material up against the hood and cut it down a little... After scuffing, priming and painting the mesh I secured them to the hood with black silicone and masking tape to hold them up overnight.
The next morning I pulled off the tape and there was my finished homemade hood vents...
it was pretty easy, just a little scary making the first cut but overall it can be done in just a few hours... Obviously you can also come up with your own shapes and designs... and if it concerns you, drip pans should be a piece of cake to make if you got this far... Hope this helps....
To start here are pictures of the materials I purchased for the vent. Grill-O-Sheets for the mesh
and door edge molding from any local autopart store.
In this picture it will show the cut-out locations... I did try to make the center line and the top line run parallel to the center line and in the upper edge of the hood as well...
After I laid out my masking tape I measured and drew out my two triangles... then I measured 1 1/2 from the top outer points and drew a line down and measured 3" up from the bottom points and drew a straight line out... I basically just cut the points off... then I took my Roto-zip with metal cut-off wheel attachment and went to work cutting out the shapes... the hacksaw in the picture was to cut the corners to prevent cutting too far with the cut-off tool...
after grinding down the edges and priming the bare metal I put the door edge molding on... then from under the hood I put the mesh material up against the hood and cut it down a little... After scuffing, priming and painting the mesh I secured them to the hood with black silicone and masking tape to hold them up overnight.
The next morning I pulled off the tape and there was my finished homemade hood vents...
it was pretty easy, just a little scary making the first cut but overall it can be done in just a few hours... Obviously you can also come up with your own shapes and designs... and if it concerns you, drip pans should be a piece of cake to make if you got this far... Hope this helps....
#21
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Year: 2001
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Engine: 4.0
UPDATE: in case anyone was wondering on the silicone...
Pulled some info off the permatex site:
Black Silicone Adhesive Sealant
DOWNLOAD TECH DATA SHEET
Black Silicone Adhesive Sealant
General-purpose, black RTV sealant. Seals, bonds, repairs, mends and secures glass, metal, plastics, fabric, vinyl, weather stripping and vinyl tops. May be applied to horizontal or vertical surfaces. Waterproof and flexible. Temperature range -75ºF to 450ºF (-59°C to 232°C); resists oil, water, weather, vibration, grease, and more. Non-paintable.
Packaging information is provided on your left.
KEY FEATURES
* General-purpose RTV Silicone
* Black
* Temperature range -75ºF to 450ºF (-59°C to 232°C)
* Resists aging, weathering, thermal cycling
* Use on metal, glass, wood, plastic, painted surfaces and more
I'm pretty confident that it should hold with no problems...
Pulled some info off the permatex site:
Black Silicone Adhesive Sealant
DOWNLOAD TECH DATA SHEET
Black Silicone Adhesive Sealant
General-purpose, black RTV sealant. Seals, bonds, repairs, mends and secures glass, metal, plastics, fabric, vinyl, weather stripping and vinyl tops. May be applied to horizontal or vertical surfaces. Waterproof and flexible. Temperature range -75ºF to 450ºF (-59°C to 232°C); resists oil, water, weather, vibration, grease, and more. Non-paintable.
Packaging information is provided on your left.
KEY FEATURES
* General-purpose RTV Silicone
* Black
* Temperature range -75ºF to 450ºF (-59°C to 232°C)
* Resists aging, weathering, thermal cycling
* Use on metal, glass, wood, plastic, painted surfaces and more
I'm pretty confident that it should hold with no problems...
#23
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Clarksville, TN
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
I am totally going to copy you! I love this and have been looking for an inexpensive way to cool off my engine compartment! I'm even willing to bet that you could save the cut outs and refit them to make inserts for the winter or heavy rain.
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Model: Cherokee
#27
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
man ive been looking around for a cowl hood but now that i seee how you did this i may have to copy you my bad .........but i would probably do a different design .....o yeah did you do anything for the edges of the cuts where the paint might start chipping or peal some touch up paint or clear
Last edited by greencherokee; 11-25-2009 at 04:20 PM. Reason: idea