For those that have cut their hoods for installing vents ...

[GTP]

How did you handle cutting the underside layer? The under layer is close to the top layer in some areas but spaced away by a centimeter in others.
Was the "3D landscape" challenging to cut out?

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[turbofiveoh]

When I cut my hood to install vents I used a cut off wheel and just gently scored the metal little by little until the metal separated. It wasn't hard, just time consuming.

I've installed vents with the hood on the car and with the hood off the car. I'll never install another set with the hood on the car. It makes a mess in the engine bay, even with the area covered, and the cuts are not as clean.

 

[GTP]

I plan to remove the hood and cut it on sawhorses on my back patio.

What about the inside? Was it tricky to cut the under layer when it had a sloped shape? Did you use a template underneath?

 

[turbofiveoh]

I did not use a template underneath, only on the upper portion. If you're going to have the hood off the car it shouldn't be tricky provided you're using a good quality cut off disc on a good quality cut off tool.

If you're not using a template, tape off the area and mark the cut lines and make notes on each line for the gap between the layers of the hood just so it's staring you in the face when you're cutting. You'll be tempted to starting making deeper cuts because the scoring takes a while and exercises your patience. If you cut that way the wheel should stay very shallow and not break the space between the layers.

 

[NeverSatisfied]

Tape it up and take the angle grinder to her

 

[Highoctanecobra]

In those areas very close to outer skin, I took several shallow cuts until I thought I was through. Unfortunately i did end up cutting through the outskin a little at one area. Luckily, I got it covered up with the vent flange.
I used a 4 1/2”angle grinder with a thin cutoff blade.

 

[tosha]

Hood is aluminum, very easy to cut. I used oscillating multitool with half moon blade on the back - very controllable. I had hood off the car.

 

[991GT]

I used a jig saw and the blade was long enough to cut through both the outer and inner layers of the hood. Before you take the hood off mark the hinge locations well to help get the alignment so you don't have to fiddle with getting it aligned when you re-install it.

 

[tosha]

cut through both the outer and inner layers of the hood.

At least for the trackspec louvers, you need to cut out extra couple inches of inner layer only, when using nuts and bolts. I think this is what GTP is asking about.

 

[991GT]

At least for the trackspec louvers, you need to cut out extra couple inches of inner layer only, when using nuts and bolts. I think this is what GTP is asking about.

Ahh I missed that part.

 

[GTP]

At least for the trackspec louvers, you need to cut out extra couple inches of inner layer only, when using nuts and bolts. I think this is what GTP is asking about.

No I forgot about that so thanks for the reminder. I suppose making underlayer cutouts is not necessary when using pop rivets?

 

[tosha]

No I forgot about that so thanks for the reminder. I suppose making underlayer cutouts is not necessary when using pop rivets?

Can't say about pop rivets. I went with bolts and nuts, and fabricated rain trays that use same bolts for mounting/unmounting.

 

[991GT]

I installed Race Louvers and also used nuts and bolts. In the case that the layers are close together I was able to just go through both layers with the bolt. In the case that the under layer was further away from the outer skin I was able to get the nut into the gap without much issue. Race Louvers didn't provide any direction on the use of the nut and bolt kit that suggested a different approach to cutting the under layer so I just made it work. Thinking about it cutting the under layer back an inch or two would have made the install a little easier.

 

[kz]

I've used Milwaukee cut off tool to cut everything, including inside later. Jig was less than ideal for it.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...-3-in-Cut-Off-Saw-Tool-Only-2522-20/305663849

 

[tosha]

straight clean cuts should take minimal extra time. Taking these things on and off takes 10min with a beer, and they keep engine bay dry through car washes and heavy rains.

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