Cooling the 6.0 with an Aluminess Bumper - Page 2

Ford_6L_E350 · 08-21-2013, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjpvi

Quote:

Hood louvers work great to get heat out of the engine compartment.

Image

Chris, I know you and a few others have added the louvers. I really want to and see the clear benefit. I can't seem to get past my concern with water intrusion into the engine compartment from above. Have you (or any others that have added louvers) had any issues with water into the engine compartment from above? I know the passenger side louver would be above some electric distribution.

Thanks,
Phil

I wouldn't worry about water getting in. Everytime you drive in the rain water comes in through the radiator and the belts throw it everywhere. It is all water resistant.

Mike

**BroncoHauler** · 08-21-2013, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjpvi

Quote:

Hood louvers work great to get heat out of the engine compartment.

Image

Chris, I know you and a few others have added the louvers. I really want to and see the clear benefit. I can't seem to get past my concern with water intrusion into the engine compartment from above. Have you (or any others that have added louvers) had any issues with water into the engine compartment from above? I know the passenger side louver would be above some electric distribution.

Thanks,
Phil

I wouldn't worry about water getting in. Everytime you drive in the rain water comes in through the radiator and the belts throw it everywhere. It is all water resistant.

Mike

There are also a few people who have added vents to the fenders, just in front of the front doors.

Herb

sdwindansea · 08-21-2013, 11:47 AM

I keep on seeing posts about hood/fender louvers. However, I haven't seen anyone post if they actually made a difference, besides looking good. Have I missed this?

It seems like a great, relatively inexpensive improvement, assuming it makes a significant difference in temperatures. I'm more than willing to be a guinea pig, but would need some help...

UJOINT · 08-21-2013, 08:01 PM

We haven't had any issues with water thru the vents. If it's a concern, a simple tray can be made to direct the water where you want and not restrict the air flow. it's amazing how much heat comes out of them, you can't hold your hand above them! More on the 6.0's than my 7.3.

I've had one van come thru the shop with the fender vents, they don't work as well. The HVAC box on the pass side blocks most of the air. It may work ok @ speed, I haven't ridden around on the hood to find out

scatter · 08-22-2013, 08:36 AM

I know I posted this before, but I installed fender vents. I think they look neat, but they really don't help at all. When the van's at rest after a long ride there's really no hot air coming out of them. My wife volunteered to hang out the passenger window while I was driving and she said that she couldn't feel any warm air coming out. That goes along with the fact that I didn't notice any drop in engine temps.
Louvers in the hood should really pour out hot air after driving, but I don't know about while driving. Air flow does funny things around vehicles. It's either wind tunnel time or trial and error.
One thing to keep in mind is that our hoods are fiberglass. The louver "stamping" machines a lot of us old farts used back in our hot rod days worked great in sheet metal, but won't work in fiberglass. I would think that the only option is to cut a hole and insert a pre made louver plate.
Anyone interested in hitting a pic and pull for a test hood and going at it with scoops and louvers? Us guys what live in the boonies don't got no wrecking yards. So far I haven't seen any vans dumped in the woods....

**daveb** · 08-24-2013, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UJOINT

Hood louvers work great to get heat out of the engine compartment.

Who sells these?

I know Zeta did similar and side vents.

Will the hood bra cover the vents? The Ujoint hood vents look wider spaced. I'd like to keep mine but really need to address the heat issue. Chris do you have a full picture of that hood?

**BroncoHauler** · 08-24-2013, 02:00 PM

Not sure of these are the same ones, but I've kept this place bookmarked for some time. Just looked at the website, and they added quite a few models since I last looked.

http://www.hoodlouvers.com/

Herb

**daveb** · 08-24-2013, 03:36 PM

Thanks Herb I'll keep that close and probably order soon. It looks like Tom's vents are too close to use the hood bra but the U Joint install looks further apart. I'd like to see a full on picture of it. Maybe placement is limited to the bottom structure of the hood?

Zeta · 08-24-2013, 04:01 PM

I set mine apart so they exhaust as much of the radiator air as possible. Even pulling a trailer all week, over a 9500ft pass or two, I never saw over 228°. And it cools off very quickly. I conclude moving the transmission coolers to the bumper, adding lower bumper scoop, and hood vents has been very successful.

Z

Millerfish · 08-25-2013, 10:55 AM

If the hood vents work as well as they do, how about this.

I removed the rubber seal along the back side of the engine compartment. This leaves a half inch gap at the rear of the hood. I replaced two 6 inch pieces to stabilize the hood (not sure it is really needed). This yields approximately 30 square inches of open vent. Also any water coming through would be deflected away from the engine.