Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications General Mods Hoodliner Observations

Alright...Now this is talked about far too much but I have some observations I would like to share.
I have a 99 SVT that came factory with a hoodliner.
I removed it and liked the sound, less dust, so on so forth.
This last weekend I was thinking "Wow, I wish my engine was a little quieter." So I put it back on.
Now I notice twice as much heat soak on my KKM, and my engine temp, as indicated by the guage, runs about a needle's width higher. When I open my hood I am flogged with hot air and my filter is way hot to the touch. I also have a trunk mounted battery so alot of cool air flows up there.
Now before without my hoodliner and battery I did a test...I started the car and let it warm up to operating temperature..Then took off down this straight road and pulled it through all gears and cruised at over 100 for a mile or so...Then slowed down to the posted 55 and cruised for a couple of miles...Then blasted to 100+ again...slowed down again and shut my car off at 55, put it in neutral and coasted to a stop...Jumped out quick and touched filter...Not hot or warm..But cool to the touch...I did this same test yesterday on the same road with the same setup except with the hoodliner...My filter was hot as sh*t. no good at all....I have also noticed a slight drop in mileage this last week w/hoodliner...So I am now going to take it off again. Interesting....I think it also holds a signifigant amount of more heat on the intake manifold too. Just thought you'll might like to know this.. :p

Interesting. A custom airbox would help the KKM but youre right, the extra heat may have an effect on the intake manifold. Did you feel a difference in maniflod temp? How much louder? May have to find out for myself.

Hey, maybe this is how the 2000SVTs kept 200HP despite a displacement reduction. Cheap and effective.

What do you mean by that, Dan? Mine's got a hoodliner, is that what you're implying?

No hoodliner here. I took it off because of the dust. I was getting a lot of heat soak with KKM also, so after removing the hoodliner i just put the K&N back with the stock box. I don't think i'll ever put that thing in again.

Just a joke, going back to all that 200 -205 HP discussion awhile back.

I was thinking that all the 2000s lost the hoodliner, but now I recall some still have it.

A heat shield definitely would help. JC Aimhigher (John Miks) makes an awesome one. I just don't have an extra 60 bucks right now. I did notice that the intake manifold was hotter...I didn't test it with a guage but you could tell. It really isn't much louder without the liner and not much quieter with it. Mind you I suck alot of air because my battery is in the trunk and I removed all the fron tray sucking air straight from the ground. It is only "noticebly" louder during the opening of the secondaries. Cruising no louder at all.

The other day I got the crazy notion to remove my hood-liner. With the hood-liner removed my car definitely feels like it has more midrange punch, more torque never hurt no one. Although the other day when I went to wax it I had to let the hood cool down because all the spare heat from the motor wasn't soaked up by the hood-liner, a small price to pay.

I've been thinking of dropping the liner myself. Since mine basically rests on the top of the intake it acts like a heating blanket for it.

To relieve the hood heatsoak at shut down. Pop the hood. I always do anyway (it's so damn hot), but I have a garage... Also, as a fall back to my turbo days, I let the engine idle for a minute or so before I shut it off with the hood popped.

Guys, I just made a customized shield for my KKM and the car pulls much harder all the way to redline! I am going to post pics soon......in short, a heat shield/CAI is a good thing!!!!

Excellent observations.

I had to cut holes in my liner anyway, to get my hood to close with my ITG. Looks like crap.

Now you've really got me thinking.