[flanker_13]

I see now the vent sits inside the hole not on top.
Didn't see that at first

I agree the install does look real good.
Not to hijackbut i bought your book Eric. Is a great source of info.

[lost honda pro]

Thanks to everyone for the comments.

As for rain, I'm not worried about it. I've hosed the engine down before, and have had no side effects thus far, so if/when something happens, I will handle it then.

Thanks again to Eric for his great write-up, and obviously the idea for the angle aluminum was key.

[cdn_xj]

Looks good!

I installed my hood vents as well about a month ago. Fortunately I happend to find white vents and since my XJ is white, did not have to paint them.

About the only recommendations I would add would be:

1) use a jigsaw instead of a cutoff tool (you're less likely to overheat the metal and cause the paint to flake.

2) instead of cutting the angle aluminum into 4 little pieces per vent, I just cut them into one long piece per side. Fewer pieces to muck about with.

[lost honda pro]

Originally Posted by cdn_xj

Looks good!

I installed my hood vents as well about a month ago. Fortunately I happend to find white vents and since my XJ is white, did not have to paint them.

About the only recommendations I would add would be:

1) use a jigsaw instead of a cutoff tool (you're less likely to overheat the metal and cause the paint to flake.

2) instead of cutting the angle aluminum into 4 little pieces per vent, I just cut them into one long piece per side. Fewer pieces to muck about with.

Yea, I think body color would look badass, especially if your bumpers/flares are all white too. Got any pics?

1) Except that the jigsaw cuts on the upstroke, whereas the cutoff tool cuts on the downstroke, which I think would yield less flaking (I got none whatsoever). But I also did several lighter passes, versus one long, heavy handed chop.

2) The only problem with that is, unless you round the corners of your aluminum, I would imagine that the straight aluminum being tightened up to a curved surface would leave indents at the two corners where it contacts the hood. Ideally, you want the smallest surface area possible to avoid this from happening, so thats why I went with the small pieces. Plus, its aluminum, so it took all of 4 minutes to chop up all the little pieces and drill the holes. Soft metal is so easy to work with.

[trailblaze]

how did you get your corners so clean?

just bought a set ( a little more than you paid, but no local JY's had any)

[FitchVA]

very nice!

[lost honda pro]

Originally Posted by trailblaze

how did you get your corners so clean?

just bought a set ( a little more than you paid, but no local JY's had any)

You mean the corner turn signal lights? I think they may just be reflecting brightly, I've never done anything to em except a regular car wash. Thanks tho

Originally Posted by FitchVA

very nice!

Appreciate it...

[trailblaze]

umm sorry i should have been more clearer...i meant how did you cut the corners out so clean? did you drill the corners to get the curve there

[lost honda pro]

Originally Posted by trailblaze

umm sorry i should have been more clearer...i meant how did you cut the corners out so clean? did you drill the corners to get the curve there

oh, lmao, my bad dude.

i actually used the cutoff wheel for all of it. i did like a 45* cross cut, to connect the two sides, then just rounded the corner with the cutoff wheel. sanded it a little bit, and they turned out pretty good. i actually had to sand two of em back a little, which was good, it just made the vents fit tighter, and tighter is always better

ive heard the drill works well in the corners, but i didnt know how thick the hood was, and i was afraid that it would dent in around the corners, so i just Dremel'd it.

[cdn_xj]

Originally Posted by lost honda pro

Yea, I think body color would look badass, especially if your bumpers/flares are all white too. Got any pics?

No pics right now, sorry. Mine's an older XJ sport with the black rockers, grille, bumpers and flares. The body colour vents are great because no one really notices them.

Originally Posted by lost honda pro

1) Except that the jigsaw cuts on the upstroke, whereas the cutoff tool cuts on the downstroke, which I think would yield less flaking (I got none whatsoever). But I also did several lighter passes, versus one long, heavy handed chop.

I didn't have any issues with paint flaking at all. In any case, if there's a concern about flaking the paint reverse cut jigsaw blades are available.

I didn't have the patience to do several passes. It took me something like 2 hours to get the first hole done because I was so paranoid about having the hole in the wrong spot & cutting through the hood bracing. I must have measured 5 times! lol

Originally Posted by lost honda pro

2) The only problem with that is, unless you round the corners of your aluminum, I would imagine that the straight aluminum being tightened up to a curved surface would leave indents at the two corners where it contacts the hood. Ideally, you want the smallest surface area possible to avoid this from happening, so thats why I went with the small pieces. Plus, its aluminum, so it took all of 4 minutes to chop up all the little pieces and drill the holes. Soft metal is so easy to work with.

Yeah, I follow what you're saying. I went out and hada close look at my hood. No dents. But then again, I'm one of those people that don't see the point of tightening soething to the point of not being able to lossen it again. lol

Especially since I still need to paint the cut edges of the hood.

[murrayman23]

do you notice your temp guage is a little lower? I saw that some other guy from the UK did some hood vents and he noticed that his temp guage runs lower.

[lost honda pro]

Originally Posted by murrayman23

do you notice your temp guage is a little lower? I saw that some other guy from the UK did some hood vents and he noticed that his temp guage runs lower.

can't say, but i do see clouds of heat billowing out at low/no speed.

[chevyy1212]

old thread but still so sweet

[UKJeepThang]

I finally did mine a couple of months ago. Love em!!!

[Wrenchands]

I made my own. I have to agree it is pretty cool to see the heat pouring out of the hood. Excellent upgrade.