Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications General Mods Hoodliner Observations

I am thinking of taking some Hi-Temp Mastic and applying it around the areas on my hood that are not near the intake. My 98 SE didn't come with a hoodliner (maybe it did but I'm the 2nd owner) so the noise is definitely louder than some Contours. I can actually hear the valvetrain (no it's not a engine problem) and the injectors firing off!
So I figure the best of both worlds - cool intake, quiet outside the car. All this from www.mcmaster.com

BTW that stuff is nice on the inside too if you have loud dB's

Driving impression:

Performance is slightly improved. Less "bog" at startup. Feels smoother and more responsive all around. With hoodliner gone, more of the filter is exposed to air, and some air is allowed to route pretty much unobstructed around the edge of the hood and up and over the driver's side headlight.

I barely notice any extra noise. I hear more stuff, like the "whoosh" of the intake, and some valvetrain clackety clack, but I can't say it's unpleasant. Cruising, it isn't really noticeable.

Ok, so I read this post, and thought, "Hey, a mod that I can do for free! I love the sounds of my Duratec, so why not increase the volume, and keep it cooler too? Awesome!" So I ran out to my car (during my lunch break), popped open the hood to see how many plastic rivits I would be dealing with, and..."What? No hoodliner!? That must be one of them fancy fandangled SVT luxuries that I am missing out on." Well, now I know why I have fallen in love with the various sounds of my Duratec. It hasn't been hidden by a blanket! That also must be why I zipped through Death Valley in 119 deg. heat with nary a budge of the temp. guage, eh?

Not too high tech but im glad I shared this.....Now move your battery to the trunk and tell me how loud your KKM is...Mine is loud on the gas quiet off....Perfect for me!

I always thought that the purpose of the hoodliner was not just to reduce sound but also to protect the paint from engine heat...

No?

Most cars don't come with one...???

The hood liner is mainly there to fall over the engine in the event of a fire. I haven't heard of to many Contiques going up in flames so its probably not a big worry.
-Andy

Hood blankets are designed to reduce interior noise levels. A secondary purpose is to reduce hood temperatures, which can extend the long term life of your paint(on the hood). Any use as a fire deterrent is 'salesman talk' and has no basis in reality. Entry level cars seldom have hood blankets, midlines start to have them (especially on top trim levels), and high line products almost always have them. Once removed, you will not be able to reinstall the blanket as tightly and flush to the hood as the factory did the first time. This effectively traps the heat between the blanket and hood, thus the car seems to run hotter. If you really wanted a more scientific survey, you would need 95-97 both with and without hood blankets, 98-00 with and without hood blankets, as well as SVT's with and without hood blankets. This doesn't even take into account the Zetecs or ANY other modifications. If you want a louder car and don't care if
the paint eventually cracks and fades, REMOVE THE HOOD BLANKET!
Mark

I took mine off and I'm happy with the results.

This just sounds almost too good to be true! What kind of life do you guys think it takes off the hood paint vs. with the liner on?