Hopefully, this post won't start some big war on here, but I would like to ask the community option. I have ordered the Comet GT hood scoop for my 71 Comet from Autokrafters. The hood I have is in good condition except for some paint chiping and scratches. My plan was to create a template from the scoop to mark out the location and drill for the studs. Since I completed the 302 swap earlier this year and have an open Holley air filter on the carb, I was thinking of also making a cut out in the hood so that the scoop would be functional. I have a feeling that there are some very passionate opinions on cutting up a perfectly good rare artifact. In the end, the car is mine and I will do with it what I want and what makes me happy. That said, I still would like to hear what the community has to say on the matter. P.S. Please be nice. I'm inviting opinions, but you don't need to be a troll about it.
I was thinking about making mine functional but what are the chances that a scoop that low actually directs air into the carb? So I decided to go with a early 80’s Mustang dual snorkel air cleaner that will be plumbed into the inner fenders for a true “cold air” system.
I would think that fresh air coming into the engine bay would both help with cooling the block and headers and surely some amount of cooler air would get sucked into the intake vs closed. I'm no expert though.
I would love to see it done as I have been tossing the idea around for a couple of years now but have never gotten to it
Funny this should come up now. I have finally gotten around to working on this. I just assembled the air cleaner this weekend, and may cut the hood this next weekend. It is a similar setup to a 69 Shelby or Boss 429 using a smaller 11 inch filter. There was a guy named Darren on here that had a similar setup. The Comet hood may be hard to come by, but a flat Maverick one is not, which is what my Comet has. I have seen plenty of mods on these cars I did not care for, but as you said it is your car and to each their own. A hole under the scoop may not do much for performance, but it certainly will not degrade it either. I am trying to make it as factory looking as possible. I believe this is/was Darren's: http://mmb.maverick.to/media/img018.11130/
The crusty parts car was a '76 Comet GT by its' VIN. Had a non-functional scoop but looked good over the 200/C4. I used the 'parts' Comet Hood and Grille on '74 Maverick for clearance by cutting open and adding a Teardrop - supercharger tubing didn't quite fit in the Comet GT OEM scoop. Form follows Function(al) ! have fun . . .. . .
Well look at this way, 72 Grabber I did for my son, I got rid of the Grabber hood and went with a standard one then put a Torino Cobra shaker. To bad Ford didn't do it. My 68 Cougar has louviers and a "Eliminator" scoop AKA Comet GT and everyone likes the combo. Also used a Comet GT scoop on my Mercury Zephyr. An unsealed scoop will let cooler air in, but not a "ram air" effect. But cooler air is still better. Most of the time hood scoops allow for taller intake manifolds. But the wrong scoop IMO, looks like cow droppings. My 68 Cougar, I'm 2nd owner and knew the 1st, and it only has 56K miles on it. It's yours, just don't good half assed about doing it and don't be afraid to piss people off as long as you like it. I put a 351W into a 69 1/2 Mav. Some would say, "restore it".
Wish it did. Don't have the car anymore. I did use a Torino trim ring on the hood. This is the under side of my Cougar. Almost looks like Mercury planned it that way.
Do it "old school" way. Tape little 4" string all over the hood and take it for a spin with someone watching it or taking pictures.
That would be interesting to see, I would think the air pushing through the grill would push out the hole in the hood. If I was doing what you are thinking about I would seal the aircleaner to the hood like a factory ram air setup and guarantee cooler outside air was directed to the carb.
That or make a "redneck" wind tunnel. Get a house fan and something that makes smoke. Blow the air over the hood and watch the smoke. Get someone that vaps or smokes a cigarette, something like that.
