*How-To* LeBaron Hood Vent Install (w/ pics) - Page 3

plunn84 · 06-18-2009, 11:06 PM

I purchased my LeB vents a few months back but have yet to install them. A few of my jeepin' buddies out here feel the amount of dust and dirt in the air would be detrimental to the engine if I just left big holes (however slotted they may be) in my hood. Do any of you have some way to combat this? I am seeing a form of sliding louvre or removable plate underneath the vents to catch the dust. I have already seen the water channeling mod and I figure this approach will only go so far when it is applied to dirt.

**GregB_00XJ** · 06-18-2009, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plunn84

I purchased my LeB vents a few months back but have yet to install them. A few of my jeepin' buddies out here feel the amount of dust and dirt in the air would be detrimental to the engine if I just left big holes (however slotted they may be) in my hood. Do any of you have some way to combat this?

Yes, sell them to me and I will take that bullet for you.

I need a set of "insert hood grille name here" for my truck and love the look of the LeBaron vents. I cant seem to find any at any wrecking yards or online.

I say install them, your engine is sealed, so anything getting in the compartment is only going to make it dirty. Or sell them to me and I will do some "testing" for you and let you know if there are any detrimental effects of the vents on my engine?

just a thought...

mud-dog27 · 06-19-2009, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plunn84

I purchased my LeB vents a few months back but have yet to install them. A few of my jeepin' buddies out here feel the amount of dust and dirt in the air would be detrimental to the engine if I just left big holes (however slotted they may be) in my hood. Do any of you have some way to combat this? I am seeing a form of sliding louvre or removable plate underneath the vents to catch the dust. I have already seen the water channeling mod and I figure this approach will only go so far when it is applied to dirt.

so your worried about dust.......you do relized the engine bay is not air tight...right? the dirt and dust will get in there one way or another

honestly though ive had mine(LeBaron vents) in for a few years now and i live in BC canada it rains mojority of the year here....ive yet to have problems caused by water(which is everyones main fear which is lead on by those who have no first hand experience) and i dont have anything under the vents no plates or drains and in the summer it gets stupidly dusty and dry in the backwoods to the point where if someones driving in front of you on an FSR you have to stop and fall back 10min so you can see the road and i can tell you its no dustier under the hood then it was before the vents

BTW not sure if its mentioned anywhere else in the thread but its a much easier job if ya have a buddy help ya pull the hood off and do the job on the lawn that way ya dont risk snagging something important during the cutting

justanotherjpr · 06-19-2009, 10:59 AM

My engine is no dustier than it was before the vents.

blacklabel000 · 06-19-2009, 01:35 PM

wow those all look GREAT!

wrench hands-howd u go about making your own, i like those.

tbick · 06-19-2009, 01:54 PM

I cut mine with aviation snips. It was like cutting paper with scissors. Just drilled a hole to get started with the cutting. I have an extra set out of a Grand Prix. The drip pans are cut but they block weather pretty well. If anyone is interested pm me $50 shipped.

**bmyohn** · 06-19-2009, 02:37 PM

a scroll saw worked well for me. (like a jig saw, but you can rotate the blade on the top of the tool)

stoneytj · 06-19-2009, 04:24 PM

those grand prix vents are worth more then $50! stick em on a gp forum and you could sell em for $100 easy, just had a buddy pay that for his.

not to be a **** or anything but do you really need an install write up on hood vents? this was the easiest mod i have ever done minus the "squirt gun" trick with the rear wiper

cut, paint, cover hole, done 45 mins tops, unless you use a dremel and keep busting blades

winkosmosis · 06-19-2009, 04:41 PM

Wetting the exhaust manifold is a bad idea IMO, because cooling = contraction and contraction = messing up seals.

stoneytj · 06-19-2009, 06:53 PM

i would think you would need alot of water to contract the manifold bad enough to blow a seal. you get more on the motor when you blow thru a puddle then rain dropping on it. plus a 210* or higher the water would vaporize when it hit the block and manifold. its been raining more then ever this year in va(have not seen a 7 day period without rain! it sucks!) and i have yet to have any issues. i also drove thru a water crossing this weekend and did not have an issue with my manifold cracking, need to be really cold water super hot engine temp and a very large amount of water.

**Wrenchands** · 06-24-2009, 07:40 AM

Black Label,

Thanks for the compliment. A buddy of my has a louver press in his hotrod shop, so I practiced a little bit on some scrap then punched away.

They were really easy to make, you just need the right tools. My friend is actually going to sell some locally because I have gotten some many compliments around town.

Wrench

josh25050 · 03-25-2010, 01:39 PM

well thanks for all the info...i cant wait to install them...they should be here in a few days..

**Gnl.Weirdness** · 03-25-2010, 01:51 PM

DEF recommend this to anyone.

One vent was in all winter long, not a single issue under the hood. Second vent is now in, been through a massive rain storm already, no issues. It's not great for the exhaust prolly, but it's not any worse then anything else that eventually causes them to crack haha.

I def need to clean up the duct tape lol. And they will be painted a powder/sky blue once the diff covers come back (have to bring them to dupont for color matching), and then the whole Jeep is gonna get blasted with John Deere Blitz Black in a few weeks when I have my hvlp set up going again.

**csouers** · 03-30-2010, 04:25 PM

I'm thinking about doing this mod. I'll be repainting some parts on the jeep and might do the cutting beforehand. Now just to find the vents.

Project1 · 03-30-2010, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csouers

I'm thinking about doing this mod. I'll be repainting some parts on the jeep and might do the cutting beforehand. Now just to find the vents.

Heres one 14.00 ebay style

1985 Chrysler Le Baron Turbo Hood Vent Scoop Rat 0309C : eBay Motors (item 230455242396 end time Apr-04-10 08:33:41 PDT)