Who’s going to make a vented hood?

[Back2Jeep]

So - finally got my twin air compressor, tank, air horns and quick connect for tire pressure inflate/deflate.

Tooled around on I-95 and naturally almost got hit. When to hit my train horn and wah wah wah, nothing. Thought maybe there was a loose connection or something. Stopped and popped the hood and damn if the temp was so hot (it was 96 that day) the compressor high heat cut off had tripped. Took it out after it cooled off and worked like a charm. I love it, and I know it will work great in the cooler months or when I’m up north, but these FL summers are killing me.

I’ve been complaining that the engine compartment is the hottest of any car I’ve ever had. And it stays hot even with the hood up if it’s been driven for any period of time. Our JLU392 cools much quicker.

Thought about seeing if I could swap a TRX or other vented hood but the fitment isn’t going to work. Could install some kind of fan (like a modded CPU type?) but I’d rather see an aftermarket hood with scoop/louvers/vents. Found some for the WK2.

Need America’s most wanted and/or extreme off road to hook me up. Lol.

Any other ideas?

 

[Costa]

So - finally got my twin air compressor, tank, air horns and quick connect for tire pressure inflate/deflate.

Tooled around on I-95 and naturally almost got hit. When to hit my train horn and wah wah wah, nothing. Thought maybe there was a loose connection or something. Stopped and popped the hood and damn if the temp was so hot (it was 96 that day) the compressor high heat cut off had tripped. Took it out after it cooled off and worked like a charm. I love it, and I know it will work great in the cooler months or when I’m up north, but these FL summers are killing me.

I’ve been complaining that the engine compartment is the hottest of any car I’ve ever had. And it stays hot even with the hood up if it’s been driven for any period of time. Our JLU392 cools much quicker.

Thought about seeing if I could swap a TRX or other vented hood but the fitment isn’t going to work. Could install some kind of fan (like a modded CPU type?) but I’d rather see an aftermarket hood with scoop/louvers/vents. Found some for the WK2.

Need America’s most wanted and/or extreme off road to hook me up. Lol.

Any other ideas?

Other than the obvious 'Be a snowbird, head north in the summer' answer, I think your post spells it out. We are all hungry for the after-market to kick in for the W/GWs.

Without the A.M. action, only thing is getting a shop to manufacture one for you. That can cost a real pretty penny, almost as much as a second home in the Allegheny Mountains up north!

Hey @Dahammer , you spend some time in Florida every now and then, know any good shops for this type of work?

 

[Back2Jeep]

Other than the obvious 'Be a snowbird, head north in the summer' answer, I think your post spells it out. We are all hungry for the after-market to kick in for the W/GWs.

Without the A.M. action, only thing is getting a shop to manufacture one for you. That can cost a real pretty penny, almost as much as a second home in the Allegheny Mountains up north!

Hey @Dahammer , you spend some time in Florida every now and then, know any good shops for this type of work?

Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking too. I haven’t seen any shops in mid/south (excluding Miami-because I ain’t got Oprah $) FL I would trust with it.

I’m a little tempted to pull the grill and see if I can add a fan. Otherwise I’m either pulling it until Hell+ temps back down or just keeping it off.

 

[Costa]

Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking too. I haven’t seen any shops in mid/south (excluding Miami-because I ain’t got Oprah $) FL I would trust with it.

I’m a little tempted to pull the grill and see if I can add a fan. Otherwise I’m either pulling it until Hell+ temps back down or just keeping it off.

I would think some shops up in the pan handle might be a good place to go. All the Navy pilots there, can you say 'Need for Speed'? 😁

 

[Dahammer]

Other than the obvious 'Be a snowbird, head north in the summer' answer, I think your post spells it out. We are all hungry for the after-market to kick in for the W/GWs.

Without the A.M. action, only thing is getting a shop to manufacture one for you. That can cost a real pretty penny, almost as much as a second home in the Allegheny Mountains up north!

Hey @Dahammer , you spend some time in Florida every now and then, know any good shops for this type of work?

In my travels to SW Florida, I really haven't found a reliable custom body shop that could be useful. I did read of a shop I think it's in Orlando.
@Costa, I think he could put a louvered air dam on the hood where the fake black grill is. When he's moving, it forces air thru and channels into the engine compartment in summer travels. In winter, they would close to keep the engine warm, so he has heat.
Get a low-profile one, and he too could have a couple of dc fans attached too. However, the load from the fans must be a low consumption type for the least amount of battery drain with a thermal switch when the engine is off. Or he could put fans that run on ac current also. When he parks his car in the garage, he can plug in from the outlet for the fans to operate.
It's complicated but doable. Cost? Several grand.

Then there is the cheap way. A Walmart special. 1 extension cord, 1 metal floor fan, 1 wooden dolly, 1 8-foot PVC pipe, and 2 u bolts .

Break down the floor fan and mount it to the dolly with the fan facing upwards.
Attach PVC pipe to the dolly with ubolts.

Slide the dolly under the engine compartment and pop the hood. Leave it slightly open.
Plug in fan to ac outlet.

 

[Back2Jeep]

We pulled the cover off the front of the engine compartment last night (way easier than it looks, a trim remover tool into the slot on the button, then just pop it out. Couple of open ended slides on the front and one each on the side)

Took some pictures, looks like there is a ton of space to mount a fan.

I’m also attaching some pics of the compressor with a mount we fabricated to sit over (not on) the fuse box, the compressor switch we installed under the parking break, the horn button on the steering column and the quick connect behind the rear hitch cover. It actually installed pretty smoothly. Been running it 2 weeks now and its pretty great.

I was going to add a pic of where we went through the firewall, because that was super easy too, but I can apparently only upload 5. Lol

 

[Costa]

We pulled the cover off the front of the engine compartment last night (way easier than it looks, a trim remover tool into the slot on the button, then just pop it out. Couple of open ended slides on the front and one each on the side)

Took some pictures, looks like there is a ton of space to mount a fan.

I’m also attaching some pics of the compressor with a mount we fabricated to sit over (not on) the fuse box, the compressor switch we installed under the parking break, the horn button on the steering column and the quick connect behind the rear hitch cover. It actually installed pretty smoothly. Been running it 2 weeks now and its pretty great.

I was going to add a pic of where we went through the firewall, because that was super easy too, but I can apparently only upload 5. Lol

One question I didn't ask, do you have the Towing Package?

I loved the space in the engine compartment when I first looked at the GW before ordering. Had that feeling you could jump into the thing and not worry a bit (unless you are like me, a few pounds shy of a Santa suit). Space makes it easier for things like you've done, clean, easier access than other makes, I've been enjoying getting back to an American design/mostly made vehicle.

 

[Back2Jeep]

One question I didn't ask, do you have the Towing Package?

I loved the space in the engine compartment when I first looked at the GW before ordering. Had that feeling you could jump into the thing and not worry a bit (unless you are like me, a few pounds shy of a Santa suit). Space makes it easier for things like you've done, clean, easier access than other makes, I've been enjoying getting back to an American design/mostly made vehicle.

Yes, I have the towing package. The trailering controls are on the right lower side of the dash, similar placement to the parking break (and now my air compressor) controls.

so.much.space. Even underneath.

I’ll climb under and take some pics of where we installed the air horns and the tank.

 

[Costa]

Yes, I have the towing package. The trailering controls are on the right lower side of the dash, similar placement to the parking break (and now my air compressor) controls.

so.much.space. Even underneath.

I’ll climb under and take some pics of where we installed the air horns and the tank.

Hi, did you get a chance while BBQ'in this weekend to grab any pics? 😁

 

[Back2Jeep]

Hi, did you get a chance while BBQ'in this weekend to grab any pics? 😁

Hey, sorry about that. I ended up having to go out of town and just got back. This is all passenger side.

 

[Back2Jeep]

So you can see the mounting plate was manufactured from diamond plate. I’ve been running this for about a month ? And beyond the heat issue with the compressor it’s been great. Very happy with the setup. (But beware, they didn’t properly coat and/or use stainless, parts on the undercarriage. Lots of rusty parts, considering Bessie doesn’t have 10k miles in her quite yet. Just one example below. (It was hot. I was tired. Lol) So something to consider.

 

[Costa]

So you can see the mounting plate was manufactured from diamond plate. I’ve been running this for about a month ? And beyond the heat issue with the compressor it’s been great. Very happy with the setup. (But beware, they didn’t properly coat and/or use stainless, parts on the undercarriage. Lots of rusty parts, considering Bessie doesn’t have 10k miles in her quite yet. Just one example below. (It was hot. I was tired. Lol) So something to consider.

Thank you, shows a good area to mount it all.

Curious, any issue with debri getting into the horn with it that low in the vehicle? I would guess you mounted it there for visibility protection if someone snoops around by just opening the hood. Just wondering about rocks/mud, etc. when going off road (like fishing trips, etc.)

 

[Back2Jeep]

Thank you, shows a good area to mount it all.

Curious, any issue with debri getting into the horn with it that low in the vehicle? I would guess you mounted it there for visibility protection if someone snoops around by just opening the hood. Just wondering about rocks/mud, etc. when going off road (like fishing trips, etc.)

No issue so far. If necessary, the horn can easily be removed and rinsed. They are on the frame rail so I’m not too worried about going over larger rock. It’s going to hit the rail before the horn. I’ve been through some FL flood waters and zero problems so far.

 

[Wagonstro]

Would put the vented hood in the same category as the Carolina drooping drawers trucks, in my opinion that it would be ugly

 

[Costa]

Would put the vented hood in the same category as the Carolina drooping drawers trucks, in my opinion that it would be ugly

Esthetics are all individual in nature. Beyond that, what would be your solution to the extreme overheating given the parameters we've been provided in this thread?

 

[Costa]

No issue so far. If necessary, the horn can easily be removed and rinsed. They are on the frame rail so I’m not too worried about going over larger rock. It’s going to hit the rail before the horn. I’ve been through some FL flood waters and zero problems so far.

@Back2Jeep Thanks for the scoop.....

Have you ever take the next steps on the heat/vented hood path?

 

[Back2Jeep]

@Back2Jeep Thanks for the scoop.....

Have you ever take the next steps on the heat/vented hood path?

I havent. Its getting cooler-ish (read below 92 lol) most days down here so it hasn’t been as big an issue. Im hoping to see some mods popping up here and there soon. Fingers crossed.