jgrant721

A couple of projects I just finished:

The original factory underhood heat shield fell apart several years ago and I had noticed since then that the paint was starting to show signs of fading on the underside of the hood. I knew I wanted to replace it and finally came up with something that works and cost less than $50.

The original fiber insulator was held on with plastic inserts that pushed into holes in the hood frame. I figured I could use these holes to insert Riv-Nuts (had this inexpensive tool from a previous job) that could hold a thin sheet of aluminum.

I mocked up a shape that would fit using a sheet of cardboard. The dimensions had to allow for curvature to match the hood. Bought a piece of 1/16" aluminum from Metal-Mart for $40 and cut it to shape. Drilled holes as determined by the mockup (slightly oversize for the M5 metric hardware to allow fitting) and attached it with rubber spacers behind (plumbing washers). It's been on for a few weeks now with no rattles or other issues.

While I was working on that, I realized that it would be nice to have a bright engine compartment light (something that Toyota didn't provide). I had a few 36 LED flat panels left over from an RV project (about $5 from Hong Kong on eBay) and I realized one would fit perfectly in the cutout behind the hood latch.

I patched together a protective box for the LED from pieces of a PVC clamshell pack and used RTV silicone to fix it in place. I ran fused power from my trailer hitch power in the engine compartment and a wire to the grounding switch for my existing engine compartment alarm trigger to turn the LED on and off. If you look close at the front view you can see the blue power wire attached to the window washer tube near the left hinge and the black ground wire attached to the right hinge.

Now the paint on my hood is protected from too much heat and I can see everything nice an bright under the hood.

Happy New Year to All!

Jim G.

jgrant721

Oh,here's a pic of the Riv-Nut tool. Got it for $20 at Lordco in Canada. Probably available at Harbor Freight just as cheap.

Cheers!

Jim G.

hyo

iTrader: (1)

Since no one else is posting I wanted to say this is a geat idea and well though out and completed

jgrant721

Hey, thanks for the thumbs up! I just like to post these things because when someone is looking for ideas to solve a problem its always nice to be able to see what other people's solutions are.

Cheers!

Jim

RAD4Runner

Nice job on the insulator and light! Did you re-install the fiber insulation?
It would do double-duty: Insulate hood, and minimize noise coming up though the hood

The first-gen could use that (my hood paint is also oxidized), so I'd like to do same. I wonder if the Thermo-Shield from Pep Boys would holD up to engine temps, then make support like you did.

Gevo

I also like the heat shield idea. Looks great! I don't know how effective it is though.
My concerns are not only for the heat against the hood paint, but the heat sticking around in the engine compartment, especially at low speeds.

I'll share my thoughts on that when time comes I do some mod like a hood scoop (but not) I have been thinking about.

ksti

I must say that is some nice clean work.

But it seems like there will be added heat to the engine bay as previously mentioned.
With a touchy motor as it is I just wonder if it will do more harm then good, especially on hot days, summer time stop and go traffic.
Keep us posted on how it works out down the road.

RAD4Runner

Good point on retaining heat in engine compartment.

Most common major breakdowns on all our vehicles were related to cooling system, so I'm brainstorming all I can do to ensure overheat conditions is caught right away and to anything do help aid the stock cooling system.

Hood scoop/vent is fine but it exposes engine compartment to precipitation. I'm now researching functional fender vent system. Will post on my thread when I make progress.

Gevo

Damn. I just wrote a long post and hit some other link. On my cel !

Anyway. My thought is to stratigically position 2 fans in the eng compartment to draw air at low to medium speeds over the engine and down the back over the exhaust crossover. High volume low powered ele fans. Think of desktop computer cooling system.

RAD4Runner

Yep. Or position them to blow air out of the functional (not a stick-on LOL) fender vent. (Land Rover LR3 vent is actually functional, too)

Gevo

I hate functionless extras on "performance" cars