WHEN SELECTING HOOD LOUVER SIZE. . .
DON’T LOOK AT THE UNDER-HOOD FRAME
AND JUDGE FROM THAT!
WITH YOUR HOOD OPEN, LOOK AT THE UNDER-HOOD
SUPPORT FRAME. IT IS COMPLETELY
SATISFACTORY TO HAVE SOME OF THE HOOD
FRAME PASSING UNDER THE HOOD LOUVERS!
If so, you can “hole out” or “Swiss cheese”
the Hood Frame below the Hood Louvers while
still maintaining full strength (see Photo 1).
Note, in Photo Below, the UNUSUALLY large brace
under this (Jeep) hood (most are much
smaller!). But, NO PROBLEM! The owner
(Detective Michael Livera of the Odessa, Texas
P.D.) just holed it out with various size hole-
saw drill bits (the large elongated slots were
already there). On wide hood frames you
can use a 1”–to 3”–dia. hole saw drill bits.
On smaller frames, use ½”–to 1”–hole saw
drill bits. Drill in the center ridge of the frame;
leave the frame sides intact to retain strength.
Some vehicles (e.g., certain late Fords) have flat,
unraised central panels that have no real
support function and which can be cut through
and removed.
