How to Install a Car Hood Scoop

Competing in an exciting brand of track racing includes the sport of drag racing. As one of motorsports most famous brand of racing, the NHRA is a premier league of performance drag racing events that are open to the public. To consider entering in an NHRA event, one of the first things to alter on a semi-pro drag car is the hood configuration that limits the size and height of an engine in the engine bay. Large, oversized air intakes and carburetors dictate that the hood must include a hood scoop that allows for a higher engine deck and satisfies the engine's air intake needs during competition.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Grinder with cutting wheel Hood Hood scoop Zeus clips Rivets Drill

1. Mark the stock hood with the opening that will be needed to sit the hood scoop onto. Measure an opening that will allow for a higher engine deck or increased airflow. When marking the opening, be sure to have the flow of air from the hood scoop opening to be centered in front of and over the top of the carburetor intake. In the semi-pro classes of NHRA Top Sportsman drag racing, attach the air inlet directly to the top of two 4-barrell carburetors and then the rest of the hood is attached around the scoop.

2. Trim the opening cut out of the hood so that the hood scoop rests on top of the hood with at least 2 inches of overhang. The lip of the scoop should sit flat on the remaining hood so that holes can be drilled and Zeus Clips installed to secure the hood scoop to the hood. Measure out an equal amount of holes to be drilled and retainer clips inserted. A good distance between clips would be about 4 inches.

3. Drill holes through the lip of the hood scoop with a 1-inch bit. The size of the hole depends on the diameter Zeus Clips you will use to secure the scoop to the hood. Once the holes have been drilled, replace the scoop on top of the hood and mark matching placements for the holes that will be cut into the hood for the receiving Zeus Connector clips. These holes will house the receiving clip and the Zeus Clip which will secure the two pieces together during use.

4. Rivet together the hood to the receiving Zeus Clip and the hood scoop with the Zeus Clip Collars that will be connected using the Zeus Clip that interlocks the three parts. With a Zeus base, a Zeus collar and a Zeus Clip, the hood scoop can be secured to the hood and still available for removal quickly and easily. The clips that connect the hood scoop to the hood of an NHRA semi-pro racer is something that allows for easier maintenance of the vehicle during competitions.

5. Center the hood scoop over the hood so that all the Zeus Clips are aligned. Take a Zeus fitting and insert it into one of the hood scoop holes and twist it into the Zeus receiving clip using a screw driver. The Zeus fitting will grasp an armature and tighten and lock into place when tightened and secured. Continue to insert fittings into the clips until the hood scoop is completely secure and ready for use.

Tips & Warnings

• Measure the rivets that will secure the Zeus collars and receiving clips into place. The rivet must fully engage and expand the collar in order to have a secure connection of the hood and scoop during a competitive drag race at high speeds.
• Debris! After a hood scoop has been installed on a race vehicle, the opportunity for rocks and debris to be shot into the engine compartment increases. Utilize a hood scoop plug when behind vehicles that are burning out or spitting up debris to protect against engine damage due to debris.

Resources

• Nitrousfitz racing