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I am strongly considering adding hood vents to my '87 XJS.
I have a spare hood I am going to try first but before I do anything I wanted to query the forum.
I am going to replicate XKE hood vents, i.e. width and numbers.
I will need to fabricate water drain pans like on an XKE.
My two questions are:
a) does anyone have the measurements as to where to position the vents on the hood?
b) how did you fabricate the drain pans and route them away from the engine/exhaust
Brad, I do not; but i did, some years ago do a test with holes in a spare bonnet and posted the results which seemed very good on real time measurement of under bonnet temps on the move. However, I found my initial results to be unrepeatable, and I was sadly forced to conclude it made zero difference.
What it does do, however, is to GREATLY reduce under bonnet temps once the engine is stopped. I decided therefore not to pursue having louvres, and continued to just pop the bonnet on shutdown!
here's the threads https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xjs-x27-32/under-bonnet-hood-temperatures-166641/
Brad... your profile shows VA. I've lived in PHX AZ for 28yrs driving daily, XJ sedans and XJS. I'm thinking AZ high temps are VERY different in the summer, lol. I can tell you this though. A couple of members in our Jag club have modified their hoods over the years and reported NO impact on running temps. So, if you try the modification, consider it "style" only. A properly OE equipped and maintained cooling system will perform just fine.
It's not my car but around 10 years ago I looked at an XJ12 that had louvers in the hood. I asked the guy how he did it and he used a bead roller with a louver attachment to cut them in. I don't think he had a drip tray underneath. It was a very neat look.
Come to think of it, I don't think my 2009 XKR had a drip tray on the hood louvers. Point being - if you're going to put the louvers on I wouldn't worry too much about a drip tray unless you kep the car outside all the time.
Hood vents
