(For the statistically inclined -
standard deviations of
0.0168 for the competitor vs.
0.0014 for Suncoast Hand Lay-up and
0.0019 for the Suncoast RTM)
Why is this important?
Thickness equals strength.
The thicker the walls of your hood, the stronger it is.
Uniformity equals stability.
As your hood heats and cools everyday, it expands and contracts. Non-uniform thickness will cause ripples to appear in the hot sun. Over time it will crack your paint and fatigue the underlying material reducing the look you've worked so hard to achieve and, ultimately, the life of your hood.
Q: I already have a cold air intake, will the hood still work with my cold air intake?
A: Just about any cold air intake (CAI) can work but the level of performance will depend on a few things.
The ultimate in performance is where a sealed air path is created so the pressure generated by the forward motion is forced into the air system. All Suncoast hoods offer a sealed path from the scoop inlet on the top to the hood outlet on the bottom but from that point on, the level of "seal" depends completely on the installation. When we interface to the stock air box, the configuration maintains a sealed air path into the air box. When a cold air intake is used the level of "seal" depends on the design of the cold air intake, its heat shield and the filter location. If your cold air intake is in the same location as the outlet of the hood (which is usually the same location as the stock air box) you've met the first criteria gate. If your CAI has heat shields that can be trimmed (or extended) to just "kiss" the underside of the hood around the hood's air outlet you've made it through the second gate. The best cold air intake configurations have heat shields surrounding the bottom and sides, leaving the top open for our hood output. Of course, the heat shield will also have an air inlet for the stock air path, which is fine. At low speeds, you've got double the air inlet volume for that cold air intake. At speed, you've got cold air being blasted in from above and sucked in from the stock air path.
Even if your CAI has no heat shields you will gain a performance advantage in that the hood will blow cold air onto your filter from above while the normal intake path will be open from the side or bottom. The effect is much like blowing on the coals of a camp fire. They always glow brighter due to the increase in air flow. Your CAI will gain in a similar manner. Also, the added air flow pushes away the hot air from the engine compartment to give you the best chance for true cold air entering you intake.
If your CAI's filter is in a wheel well instead of the engine compartment, like many Mustangs and the Cobalt SS, you have decision to make. Try it as is or customize you intake to bring it inside the engine compartment to gain from the boost from the hood. This can be done with or without heat shields.
I always suggest to anyone who has already invested in a CAI to just get the hood and try it with the cold air intake they have. If you feel you still need a better sealed air path, you can customize what you've got, get a different brand CAI that is in the proper location and does have good heat shields, or, on many models, you can even go back to the stock air box configuration. Bottom line is don't spend the extra money until you are sure you need to.
Q: How is the FIT and ease of INSTALLATION?
A: Our hoods are designed to fit as well as an OEM steel hood. Our hoods are true bolt on products so there is little or no cutting or trimming or filling, etc. to get them to fit. You bolt on the SUNCOAST hood as you would bolt on a replacement hood direct from the vehicle manufacturer.
There is more to this question that needs to be addressed. We used to own a body shop and have been through all the challenges entailed in this line of work. Every vehicle is put together a little differently when assembled at different plants so even a steel factory replacement hood may need some adjusting when being installed. Naturally the body shop technician will work the OEM hood into place without much griping because they know it fits. However, give them an aftermarket part to install and if it doesn’t fall right into place many body shop tech’s will blame the part and not their repair work. This is understandable because there has been and still are a lot of low quality parts out there. When you shop for a body shop, be sure to get the body shop managers opinion and feel for doing the work. If they have a negative opinion in general, they will most likely quote you much more money than it costs to paint and install an OEM hood. We also recommend that you use a body shop that has a nice paint booth, preferably with a down draft system. They generally have better equipment which keeps out debris, water and other impurities when painting. As far as prepping our hoods, we recommend that the body shop sand all the shininess from the gelcoat finish and use a cleaning agent to wipe off the hood to clean up any release agents on the surface that transfers from our molds. They then should block sand a couple of times for a nice smooth surface before priming and painting. Pretty much as the same standard procedure when prepping an OEM steel hood.
We sell thousands of hoods a year and occasionally have to walk a body shop through the paint and install process. Typically though, when a body shop receives our hood they appreciate the quality and paint and install it without any complaints. As mentioned before, OUR HOODS FIT, GUARANTEED! We couldn’t sell so many every year if they didn’t.
Q: What do you mean by the term FUNCTIONAL when describing your product as a FUNCTIONAL RAM AIR HOOD?
A: There are basically three types of hoods in the marketplace. There are hoods that do not have any openings or cutouts and are for appearance only. There are hoods that are advertised and sold as ram air hoods, have openings to let air in which blows into the engine compartment but can’t be made functional without some major modifications and still cannot be driven in the rain without dumping water all over the engine. Finally there are FUNCTIONAL RAM AIR HOODS which channels the cooler denser air being rammed in through the openings in the scoops into an air intake system and thus into the combustion chamber to create ADDITIONAL HORSEPOWER and BETTER GAS MILEAGE.
All of our hoods are designed and manufactured to be functional. When designing a new hood we first determine the look we want to create making sure the design flows with the lines and curves of the vehicle. Once the style is set we then determine the best way to channel the air flow to meet up with an air box application and also be able to channel rain water away from the engine and electrical parts. If possible we will design the hood to be MULTIFUNCTIONAL by incorporating optional heat extractors into the design. Some of the designs we create channel the air directly to the factory air box and with only a minor modification to open the stock air box into the engine. Other designs require the purchase of one of our high flow air boxes to capture the maximum flow of air. If you have already purchased an aftermarket cold air induction kit you may want to only purchase the hood which would allow you to enjoy the aggressive styling in all weather conditions and force additional cooler air from the the ram air duct openings onto the air filter of your cold air induction kit. You can always purchase our air box system in the future if you choose.
Q: What are OPTIONAL HEAT EXTRACTORS?
A: Heat extractors are air vents which allows heat generated by the engine to flow out of the engine compartment. Additional cutouts and grilles are provided on the rear underside of the hood and also in the very back of the hood where the ram air scoops end. Water channels and drain holes are provided to expel any captured water. As you drive down the road the air blowing through the front fascias, grilles, etc. and into the engine compartment gets vented out through the heat extractor openings allowing the engine to maintain a cooler temperature. The heat extractors are an option for most of our hoods and are especially useful to those who have added blowers which tend to increase engine temperatures.
Q: Will WATER get into the engine if it rains?
A: Our hoods are made to be driven in all weather conditions. We have designed catch plates to block the water and not the air. The water then flows through built in channels to drain holes away from the engine.
SHIPPING INFORMATION:
Hoods are shipped semi truck freight. Most other companies flate rate there shipments, meaning that if you live in the same state we ship from, it would cost you the same amount as if we shipped to the other side of the county. NOT with these hoods, the shipping cost is based on your location in the united 48 states. Saving you money. Please refer to the zone map included with the hoods image.
PLEASE ALLOW 1-3 WEEKS TO RECIEVE YOUR HOOD DEPENDING ON YOUR LOCATION.
WE CAN SHIP WOLDWIDE, IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE OF THE U.S. PLEASE EMAIL US OR GIVE US A CALL FOR A SHIPPING QUOTE.
PAYMENT OPTIONS:
- Order Toll Free 7 DAYS A WEEK 9AM-11PM EST 1-866-826-1940
- We accept credit cards and electronic checks online. You can process your order at the bottom of this page using a credit/debit card when you click purchase.
- We also accept mail order payments. Money orders, certified bank checks, and personal checks are accepted. All mail order payments must clear prior to shipment of products. Out of state checks can take anywhere from 3-5 days to clear. Please include your shipping address for shipment, & contact information such as email address & telephone #. We never give any personal information away, it is for the sole use of processing and shipping your order.
Mail order payments can be sent too: Chautauqua Automotive Group 5288 Blockhouse Rd Fredonia NY 14063
(WE AT Chautauqua Automotive Group ARE DEVOTED TO MAKING YOUR PURCHASE AS SWIFT AND EASY AS POSSIBLE. ANY PROBLEMS OR QUESTIONS WITH PLACING AN ORDER FEEL FREE TO CALL US OR SEND US AN EMAIL TO HELP FURTHER ASSIST YOU )
PH: 1 (866) 826-1940 7DAYS A WEEK 9AM - 11PM EST
Email: support@xtremeautosport.net
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