Hood Gap Aero

[rh77]

I took a look at the hood of the 'Teg the other day and realized something. The hood is right in-line with the major airflow of the car. You can see what I mean from a lighter-colored model (pic from Wikipedia):

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Acura-Integra-sedan.jpg/250px-Acura-Integra-sedan.jpg

The gap doesn't sit tight -- there's a rubber seal, but daylight can be seen through mine, which means cold air has to be rushing in.

I really need to seal this up for the cold, and this is one piece of several planned. Any suggestions???

RH77

[trebuchet03]

Weather stripping:thumbup:

[rh77]

Weather stripping:thumbup:

So the foam tape stuff (single-sided adhesive)?

I worry about building up too much of a gap for aero. It might be possible to weight-down the hood or adjust the mechanism to close tighter, but I don't know if those are viable options...

RH77

[skewbe]

if it is small enough you can fill it smoothly with caulk.

clean the area where the caulk will be attaching, spray some wd40 on the bottom front edge of the hood and fill the gap with white (black) silicone caulk and make it smooth with a finger. Wait till it cures before opening and open carefully. It should release from the wd40 side and leave a nice custom smooth looking seal.

[TomO]

you could also use colored duct tape, or move the latch mechanism that sits in the radiator core support down further. Don't forget to adjust the rubber spacers by screwing them down once you do this.

[trebuchet03]

So the foam tape stuff (single-sided adhesive)?

RH77

If you get the soft squishy type, it should compress to form fit without increasing the gap...

Someone in another thread mentioned using expandable spray foam... Put plastic wrap (spray with some cooking oil so the plastic releases) where you don't want it to stick spray the foam on and close the hood - let it cure and lift the hood... Seems like it should work :p

[Snax]

The rubber bumpers on most hoods screw in or out to adjust closed fit. Try screwing yours in a turn or so if they are that type.

[rh77]

i wonder why they dont come weatherstripped

It has a rubber seal, but over the times the body panels have been removed and put back together (hail damage repair, ice impact repair), things don't line up like they used to. The rubber is a bit worn and squished too.

Good suggestions so far. I like the idea of tightening the gap with movement of the latch, and using something foamy to seal the deal up front. Along the sides, I might try the caulk method.

RH77

[ajohnmeyer]

Racing-Type hood pins would be the ultimate fix, though probably a last resort.

[Danronian]

I owned two Integras and with some shimming of the bumper-cover up (with washers underneath it), and with some adjustment of the hood latch down, you can make your gap smaller. In more extreme cases, with the bumper cover off, you can bend up the upper rad support (quite easy to bend it really) slightly to further reduce the gap. The rubber seal sometimes does get a little flattened but usually it's not the only reason for the large gap.

[theclencher]

It has a rubber seal, but over the times the body panels have been removed and put back together (hail damage repair, ice impact repair), things don't line up like they used to. The rubber is a bit worn and squished too.

Good suggestions so far. I like the idea of tightening the gap with movement of the latch, and using something foamy to seal the deal up front. Along the sides, I might try the caulk method.

RH77

so many variations tween cars...

latch on tempo/topaz not adjustable- has locating pins. limited to shuffling hood around on hinges and adjusting heights of rubber bumpers. good system tho, it works.

i'yve noticed on ALL front engine vehicles i'yve ever had... no rubber sealing strip along sides of hood, but oftentimes something at the rear by the cowl and/or at the front by the radiator. BUT ALL rear engine vehicles have had totally weatherstripped engine lids. for sure to keep the dust out.

but it shows mfgs do know what a weatherstrip is and for the cheap cost they must have a reason not to put it on front hoods. i don't know why but like anyone i can guess.

ok one guess is they'd rather vent out the heatsoak for xtra hot conditions than keep heat in otherwise, or for whatever aero there might be

[cfg83]

trebuchet03 -

If you get the soft squishy type, it should compress to form fit without increasing the gap...

Someone in another thread mentioned using expandable spray foam... Put plastic wrap (spray with some cooking oil so the plastic releases) where you don't want it to stick spray the foam on and close the hood - let it cure and lift the hood... Seems like it should work :p

I just did this for my car last week. I used this stuff, $4 a bag at a standard-issue hardware store :

1046

My gap was so large that I actually double-stacked the tape in some places. But at $4, who cares?

I can't tell if it helps, but I do think it has been hotter under the hood based on the number of times I have been manually turning on the electric fan.

What I *really* need to do is go hog-wild with the squishy tape. There are lots of little gaps that could be filled. For example, I have tape on the top of the headlights, but I also need it all around the headlights.

CarloSW2

[cfg83]

theclencher -

so many variations tween cars...

latch on tempo/topaz not adjustable- has locating pins. limited to shuffling hood around on hinges and adjusting heights of rubber bumpers. good system tho, it works.

i'yve noticed on ALL front engine vehicles i'yve ever had... no rubber sealing strip along sides of hood, but oftentimes something at the rear by the cowl and/or at the front by the radiator. BUT ALL rear engine vehicles have had totally weatherstripped engine lids. for sure to keep the dust out.

but it shows mfgs do know what a weatherstrip is and for the cheap cost they must have a reason not to put it on front hoods. i don't know why but like anyone i can guess.

ok one guess is they'd rather vent out the heatsoak for xtra hot conditions than keep heat in otherwise, or for whatever aero there might be

Here's a question. If have squishy-taped my hood gaps, and it looks like my car is getting hot under the hood, can't I just pop the hood? At low speeds I can't imagine it flying up in front of my face. And they all seem to be safety-latched so that I could drive at freeway speeds without worrying about the hood flying up.

CarloSW2

[ajohnmeyer]

I vote no on popping the hood while driving. Once upon a time I unknowingly did that with my '87 Omni. I'd meant to change my oil so I had popped the hood, but had to run to the parts store for something, so I just hopped in the gar and took off, forgetting about the hood. After a few minutes of driving on a bumpy (gravel) road the hood came flying up into the windshield. Believe me, that's a heart attack that you want to avoid.

[rh77]

I vote no on popping the hood while driving. Once upon a time I unknowingly did that with my '87 Omni. I'd meant to change my oil so I had popped the hood, but had to run to the parts store for something, so I just hopped in the gar and took off, forgetting about the hood. After a few minutes of driving on a bumpy (gravel) road the hood came flying up into the windshield. Believe me, that's a heart attack that you want to avoid.

Not to poke fun, but the image of an Omni going down a gravel road with the hood suddenly popping-up, a la "Tommy Boy" style, is rather funny. :D

Probably wasn't at the time :o

But yes, I agree. The first pop of the hood engages the secondary "emergency" latch, so the driver has time to pull over and rectify the situation.


RH77

[trebuchet03]

ok one guess is they'd rather vent out the heatsoak for xtra hot conditions than keep heat in otherwise, or for whatever aero there might be

Just like those super sized radiators :p My last car had a rubber/plastic seal strip around the leading edge of the hood....