Got a couple things done this week...

[Ldub]

Well...it's friday & I got started on my hood insert project this week.
My goal is to make the hood scoop functional as an extractor for under hood heat, repair all the little bubbles/blemishes in the paint, coat the underside of the insert to prevent water infiltration, blend in all the edges around the scoop & fang extenders, prime & re-paint with bumper black, & give the whole works a more "industrial" look by omitting all but three of the original insert bolts & replacing them wiith stainless round head allen bolts/washers.(drilled all the way through)
So far, just have all the cutting/drilling done, the underside painted, & a few coats of kitty hair applied.
Will post pics next week after all is said & done.

[IndianaVX]

cant wait to see what the outcome looks like.......
i really like the fang extenders too.
fun fun fun.......
good luck bud!

[Ldub]

cant wait to see what the outcome looks like.......
i really like the fang extenders too.
fun fun fun.......
good luck bud!

Well...here ya go. I must say it took a lot longer than I expected & I came away from this endeavor with a whole new level of respect for those in the "body & fender" business. Also, I have no particular aptitude for paint & body filler.

Before:



During:





After:



The finish "just ain't right", so consider this a work in progress...

I've ordered a roll of carbon fiber with the intent of sanding off the paint & bedliner & doing the whole thing over with c/f & epoxy resin...I figure, if I can screw up body filler & paint, I should REALLY be able to make a mess of c/f & resin.

[IndianaVX]

Man, i like it ALOT, and i too love the fang-stenders! i have been eyeballing them since i first got the fox. good work dub. i need to work on a small crack in my insert, but dont know if i got the kahoneies to start grinding on it. i will be watching your c-f experiment with great intrest . good luck in advance.

Question....did you do any pre scoop temp testing to see how much heat the scoop is taking out of there??

ill end, good work, looks great, there is alot to enjoy when looking at your truck

[ZEUS]

I'm likin' it man. Post more pics! I agree the finish is a bit much at first but it doesn't look bad at all. Have you thought about maybe painting it silver? You know, on top of the coating? Since it is a work in progress, maybe try an easy method before trying to get all that coating off. Just an idea...

[nfpgasmask]

That is vicious, Dub. Nice job!

Bart

[Ldub]

Question....did you do any pre scoop temp testing to see how much heat the scoop is taking out of there??

Preliminary guesstimates are around 6-8 degrees cooler on the coolant temp.
I drove home today(90+deg.) with the a/c max & the coolant never got above 197. Usually that same set of circumstances would have produced 203-204 deg.(using scan gauge)

I should make a plate to block the air exits & do some testing of a more scientific nature,(same day, same road, same atmospheric conditions, etc.) but that'll be a "back burner" project & prolly not happen yet this sumer.

Zeus, I'm a little "iffy" on the silver idea...I like the contrast between black (or at least DARK) & silver, but I appreciate any & all ideas. Besides, the c/f showed up today...
But don't nobody be gettin' excited to see it, that may have to wait a while, I've got some prep work to do before the Gilbert meet @ the end of this month.