Because racecar

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion) 07/12/2018 at 01:26 • Filed to: Miatafications

19

30

From beginning to end, installing hood vents took 7 hours solo. Simple, but not easy. And yes, making that first cut with the angle grinder was bloody terrifying.

Didn’t have a measuring tape handy, had to resort to a ruler app downloaded off Google play. Solid start!

Applying the vinyl was the scariest part. Not joking, I’ve screwed up not one, but three windshield banners. This is not where my talents lay...

I *ALMOST* fucked up the decal irreversibly. Managed to save it, but there are definitely a couple creases and stretch marks

Cutting setup for the top layer of the hood. Little did I know, this was going to be the easy part

The NA Miata has a super light aluminum hood, and it maintains rigidity by use of super convoluted under bracing that’s 4 layers thick in some places.

Now we’re cutting from below...

Getting closer, but I realized I needed the underhood bracing cut back an inch further on all sides than the top layer. Tricky stuff, when the bracing is sandwiched against the top layer, and you reaaaaally don’t want to cut through your hood

“man glitter” as a certain Canadian enginerd would say.

About 4 hours in at this point. I thought I was almost done. Ha

Hey archduke, I need another wrenching shirt. Where are the Miata’s at...?

Still needed to attack the corners with a dermal, and file down all the edges

Doing the final underhood trimming took another 2 hours

Ready for vents! First I had to bend each fin into place as they ship flat

My awesome duel-wielding neighbor (sti/corvette) came by to help with the riveting. There is no possible way I could have done that solo.

And washing all the metal gunk off! I love the vents, the hood is still rigid, and still needs to be aligned. I’ll do that eventually

Somehow I did this whole job with zero major fuck ups. The vents are centered, the paint is in good shape, my cuts cleaned up well... Madness!

There’s a built in gurney flap at the front of each of the three vent plates, which is cool. I think I'll paint the rivets black so they match better. I considered getting the vent plates powder coated white, but.... I'm not ready for that level of *loud* quite yet. 

KevlarRx7 > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 01:30

6

Good to see you didn't give up! Looking nice!

AdverseMartyr > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 01:42

2

Dermaling? Isn’t that what Leeloo had done to regrow her skin in 5th Element?

AestheticsInMotion > AdverseMartyr 07/12/2018 at 01:43

2

Dremal!

It's been a while since I've seen 5th element, should really remedy that... 

Dusty Ventures > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 03:42

0

...pretty sure that’s still not right

Sovande > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 05:39

1

Is this just for looks? Will anything cover the holes? That had to be the nerve wracking! Nice work. 

random001 > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 06:48

3

Captain of the Enterprise > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 08:10

1

Bold play, I like it!

Lokiparts > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 08:17

1

Looks good ! J ust need to get a closer shot of the vents , they’re k i n d o f hard to make out in the pictures.

I r e m e m b e r m a k i n g a c u s t o m v e n t e d h o o d f o r o n e o f m y c a r s a l o n g t i m e a g o . I r e m e m b e r i t w a s a w e i r d f e e l i n g c u t t i n g i n t o t h e h o o d , b u t i t d i d n ’ t s t r e s s m e o u t t o o m u c h .   M a i n l y b e c a u s e , t h e c a r w a s a p i e c e o f c r a p . . . a n d I a c t u a l l y h a d a n e x t r a h o o d j u s t in case I c o m p l e t e l y s c r e w e d i t u p .

Tapas > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 08:40

1

Speed holes are awesome!

Where’d you get the alfa tee from?

shop-teacher > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 08:55

1

Successful operation doctor!

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 09:19

2

This. Is is my type of madness right here. I love this like you can’t even imagine.

Well done. I’d buy you a beer in a heartbeat. 

fintail > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 09:35

0

Extra cooling in the rain?

Decay buys too many beaters > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 09:47

1

You did the whole thing on car!!!?? W When I cut my FRS hood it was way easier on a bench.

Looks great! I should really see about getting some extra cooling holes cut into my Miata.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > fintail 07/12/2018 at 10:45

4

Yeah, I was thinking that. Cut holes in the top of my car? In the PNW?

Pass. 

fintail > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 07/12/2018 at 11:05

1

I wouldn’t do it to my car either (I’m a fuddy duddy in that I like a stock look) , but this car isn’t a concours queen, it probably won’t hurt anything while driving - just cover it when parked. Not like a 300SL gullwing was cut up, no harm don e.

AestheticsInMotion > fintail 07/12/2018 at 11:57

1

Not too worried. All electrical connections are waterproofed to OEM levels and my undertray is aluminum. If it becomes a problem... I guess the only solution would be to buy a Volvo. Yep, the only solution.

AestheticsInMotion > Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru 07/12/2018 at 11:58

1

I'll hold you to that, someday! 

AestheticsInMotion > Decay buys too many beaters 07/12/2018 at 12:00

1

I don’t have anywhere to set a hood!

You should, between this and the new radiator, even driving 10/10 in 90° weather I can't get my temps over 190°. And... I'm pretty sure either my fan isn't working or my thermostat isn't opening

AestheticsInMotion > Tapas 07/12/2018 at 12:00

1

Our own resident tee creator, Archduke

AestheticsInMotion > Sovande 07/12/2018 at 12:02

0

Purely functional! Wind tunnel testing and heat mapping to determine the b est placement, and the exact same vents are on many of the highest performing Miatas out there in the big leagues. 

Sovande > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 12:19

0

Is there a turbo in there or something?  What needs to be vented?

AestheticsInMotion > Sovande 07/12/2018 at 12:21

1

Reducing engine bay temps in general.

But... Once I finish all of the cooling work (still have a coolant reroute, SPAL fans and ducting) I'll be gathering turbo parts to triple the horsepower. Two years spent building everything up to handle more power and I'm almost done

fintail > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 13:28

0

Do it!  

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 13:28

1

Looks awesome! Good work sir!

AestheticsInMotion > fintail 07/12/2018 at 13:30

2

Student loans will be paid off mid August, after that... I'm free to make poor choices! 

AestheticsInMotion > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! 07/12/2018 at 13:31

1

Gracias! I was just told by another Miata user that they were quoted $550 for the install. So glad I did it myself

fintail > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 13:34

0

One month away, start looking now.

Sovande > AestheticsInMotion 07/12/2018 at 13:55

0

Sounds like fun!  

AdverseMartyr > Dusty Ventures 07/13/2018 at 02:52

1

Powershiftmedia-ResidentDSMGuru > AestheticsInMotion 07/14/2018 at 06:55

0

Come to Ohio and I got you :)