hood scoops

[fasthappy]

I bought a "top sportsman" car, that hasn't been run with the motor that came with the deal. I'm in the process of puttting together the loose ends with the hopes of bracket racing with the car. The carbs come up through the hood and a fiberglass "fresh air" scoop bolts to the intake manafold and comes up through the hood. I'd like to post a pic but lost my camara for the moment. I'm gussing the car will run 7.50s. Is there any rule that says I cant simply bolt a metal pan and scoop to the top of the carbs? It would be easier to get on an off, etc. and easier to service the carbs. What are the disadvantages? Thanks in advance for any input.

[Ken0069]

Boy, are you about to open a can of worms! Hood scoops can make or break a tuneup! There are several of us on here that have done quite a bit of testing with data loggers looking at AFRs with different induction systems. I'm going to move this to the Fuel Systems section as it's probably more suited there and we can look forward to some "info" from real life testing concerning this topic. I'm in the middle of some machine work for a friend or I'd start it here but will post later after "work" is done.

[fasthappy]

thanks ken. In the meantime I'm going to read through the "search" section". A pan and scoop like you seem to have on your stud, looks like an easy set -up to me.

[Beretta]

Can make something like this on the bottom of your scoop???

[Ken0069]

Ty there's three of us on here (and maybe more) that have been experimenting with hood scoops while logging AFRs down track. The old wives tale of having to seal off a scoop has pretty much been debunked to a point as none of us three have had any success with a scoop that was sealed off at the top of the carbs. You mentioned that Studebaker scoop and yes, I have run that on my Camaro with mixed results, ie, it kinda worked OK if it was NOT sealed off on the under side but would have taken some major air bleed and jet changes to get a flat AFR down track! With it sealed off my AFRs down track were all over the place which told me that air turbulence around the top of the carbs down track created more problems than benefits. Donee (Slowpoke) has seen similar results with his car too.

Another item that has been used is what is known as "the flute", which is what Tuner called it. You can search on here for "flute" and see a pic of it. Scott Smith did some A/B tests with his car using the flute and not using it and that had a major impact on his down track AFRs as well, ie, it was better WITH it than without it.

Now since your car seems to have been professionally built, one would think that the scoop setup on it would already be optimized for that particular combination. In other words, you might be better off with that than trying to re-invent the wheel. But let me caution you that if you do choose to buy one of the scoops like on my Studebaker, DO NOT BUY IT FROM those people on www.up22.com, aka, Unlimited Fiberglass Products! I bought one from them that is the bigest piece of s**t I've ever seen!

[fasthappy]

thanks guys. If my scoop was cool looking like beretta I'd be happier to leave it alone. I appriciate the advice however and realize I should use what I have.

[Scott Smith]

Still a long ways to go but here is day one.

[jmech]

My car has a pan that just sits on the carb. Foam seals it to the scoop. The scoop is held on with two rods bolted to the engine and two 1/4 turn faseners at the back of the scoop. I ran it without the tray and the pressure under the hood almost lifted the hood off. With the pan in it stays flat.

[Beretta]

I think there is a lot to do with how the front of your car is sealed off as to how much air is going under your car and into the engine compartment.