I like the underhood shots. Gives me a little more confidence.

MM, have you seen under Todd's Seibon? Does it have bracing like this?

I will have to nag him about that on the other forum.

 

It just has the "frame" around the edge.
I don't think there is much in the middle.

 

hehe. The webpage says it's 150 lbs and it's $150 to ship.

 

So much for lighter!

Someone said the Siebon is 2 pounds heavier than stock. I am sure the bracing shown on this hood will push a little more weight.

I would rather have the bracing than not. Driving the 8 at 60+ in a cross wind the rear of the hood moved so much I pulled over and checked the latch! It was bucking up and down at least 1/2 inch.

A vented aluminum hood would be even nicer. I can imagine the cost.

 

I think they left out a decimal somewhere. Hopefully not in the shipping cost.

 

Yes, this is the only vented hood kit I would ever consider. Just about all the other vented hood kits look like crap to me. The only exception would be the aborted mazdaspeed hood, but people keep having trouble doing the height of the triangle bump correctly and/or don't cut and make it vented... Anyway, the below is a nice hood.

Still though, the whole rain or car wash issue makes me pause a bit...

 

some S2000 people cut up their OEM hood.

Before you dismiss doing this, make sure to check out the results!

I wish I had the tools handy to do likewise on the 8

http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...pic=324009&hl=

 

now this is how you do a hood vent to evacuate air out and increase radiator cooling...

 

Need to put some tape on that hood or it might fly off, lol

 

I like the fake MazdaSpeed (GT3) paint job.
That'll work too, but it isn't particularly more effective unless you have gotten the battery and airbox trays out of the way.

 

absolutely and dont forget to get your fans turned on earlier.
The S2 idea i like.
OD

 

The S2 idea is interesting, but personally I think that's a little TOO much venting, unless that is a track day only car.

The hood that sosonic posted looks ok, but its a little much I think. Though, I could see a hood like that one, but with smaller vents.

I wonder what a "ram air" style hood would look like on the 8. I own a grand am with such a hood, and it does help with air circulation once you remove the stock baffling.

 

or like any good RX8 racecar, have the engine compartment gutted and a 13b-rew and a gigantic intercooler put in place of the renny...

 

This is where you and i will have to disagree.

 

while harsh, currently it seems to be unfortunetly true in most cases -sigh-

 

Depends on what you are talking about specifically, I suppose.

 

I think Vmount is one thing most can agree on...

 

I suppose if you bought an OEM hood off of this forum at a discount getting/making a vented hood for cheap with little risk isn't such a bad idea

 

Two things:

1. I did the rubber stopper thing in place of the rubber seal on the rear of the hood. It wasn't extremely hot today, but judging by my normal driving habits and what I'd expect from the coolant and engine temps, the engine remained where it usually does (180F), but with all the boosting I did, I expected 200F coolant. Instead, it stayed 180 - 190F the entire time.

So an extremely unscientific first glance says that this mod does help, to the tune of 10 - 20F range. As an added bonus, I can hear my BOV much more distinctly now. But I don't have the underhood material in place (because of #2 investigations - see below)


2. I checked with a friend who has cut up his hoods before (He had an old vette that he did some flame cuts for the engine that pokes out the hood). And it looks like the bottom edge of the hood by the latch has a good 6" of space that has no rivets that I can mess with. I'm thinking about a set of 2 horizontal vents per side of the hood in that area. It's far down enough that the only thing that'd get wet is the radiator area where the OEM setup already vents excess coolant.

 

seems like everyone that has tried this has noticed an improvement . Very cool

 

It cost $1.99 for 4 rubber stoppers, and $0.99 for some #10 screws with nuts.

I need to get one more rubber stopper since there's one more spot left without it (but they sell them in boxes of 4), and maybe some paint. From inside the car, you can't see them, but when you pop the hood, it's apparent.

Also it doesn't really bend the hood. There's a bit of resistance when you shut it, you can feel the rubber stops compressing, but the hood looks the same from the top.

 

what height did you make your stoppers ?

 

expo1 posted a pic of the rubber stoppers he got at Home Depot. I printed out the pic and picked up the exact same thing. So if you can find that photo, you'll have the answer. It's not posted in this thread though.

 

Expo says 3/8" thick - they look thicker .

 

on the ram air note.................. its not to add presure ....................its to add cooler outside air in to the motor instead of air comming through the radiator at 190 degrees