Styling Hoods
About Styling Hoods
Most people do not think much about the hood of their cars. Some don’t even think that they can customise the hoods with different car hood styles. But car lovers take this very seriously. For them, the way the hood looks can even make or break their riding experience.
A hood is a metal part that covers the engine compartment in cars. They are one of those elements that car designers spent their time and energy to perfect the look. The hood plays a vital role in the overall look of the car. Even in rear-engined cars and electric cars, in which the front hood does not have anything to do with the engine, hood style contributes greatly to the overall aesthetics of the car. But the way to a style of the hood of a front-engined car is different from that of an electric car or a rear-engined car. This article will give you a basic understanding of styling hoods, different ways to do it and the pros and cons of each of them.
A guide to styling hoods in cars
There is no doubt that the primary objective of a car hood is to protect the car engine and other vital components from dirt and mud. But, like many other functional parts of a car, hoods also serve as an aesthetic element of the car. Before you go about styling your car hood, you should know the different types of hoods, materials used to construct them, and hood scoops. This article will tell you the most important tips about hood styling in the simplest way possible without getting into the things that are too technical. It is important that you read and completely understand the product before heading for a search and making a buying decision.
Hood scoops and Hood vents
Although for most passenger cars, hood scoops are overkill, in performance cars you can’t do without them. Hood scoops were first featured in American muscle cars to feed more air into their bigger engines. In those cars that have a bigger and more powerful engine, hood scoops help keep the engine cool by circulating the air in the engine compartment. Hood vents also serve a similar function as scoops. In some cases, hood scoops and hood vents work side by side. When hood scoops take in cooler air to the compartment, hood vents remove the hot air.
Benefits of hood scoops
The obvious advantage of a hood scoop is the performance improvement of the engine. As these scoops help keep the engine cooler, there is no doubt that there will be some sort of a performance boost. But it also depends on the car. In normal passenger cars, the exhaust and radiator can manage the heat without a scoop, and any performance improvement with a scoop is minimal. That’s not all to it though. Another benefit of a hood scoop is aesthetics. Even if you do not care much about taking your car’s performance to Nascar levels, you can still install a custom scoop to give it a more masculine look.
Drawbacks of hood scoops for styling hoods
Apart from the benefits, there are a few downsides to hood scoops. As they are basically an opening in the car hood, this acts as an entryway for water and dirt. So, if you have a hood scoop on your car, you should also take time to clean the engine compartment every now and then. Especially if you’re into the off-roading habit. Another factor to consider is the increase in engine noise. Before you add a hood scoop as a part of hood styling, you should make sure that the noise level will stay within the legal limits. Scoops will also increase the drag on the vehicle and decrease the fuel efficiency of the car.
Custom hoods
You can change the appearance of your ride complete with a custom hood. Even changing the paint of the hood will significantly change the look of the vehicle. Custom hoods come in a variety of materials and styles. There are carbon fibre hoods, steel hoods, fibreglass hoods, cowl hoods and many more. Cowl hoods are a good choice if you want to avoid the drawbacks of a hood scoop but still want to increase the performance. If you are a fan of vintage cars, you can give a vintage look to your car using vintage car hood scoops.
Tips on how to buy Styling Hoods
Like all the exterior modifications that you do to your car, choosing the perfect styling kit is important for the hoods as well. Because of the fact that car hoods cost more than anyone would consider cheap, there is not much room for trial and error. So, here are a few things you should follow in choosing the right kind of hood styling accessories for your car.
- Consider the fit and style – Fit and compatibility is more important for the hood than anything. The Hood is a very conspicuous part of the car, and you cannot settle for anything less than a perfect finish. Every car model has different hood dimensions. Even the same model of the car that came out in different years has slightly different hood styles.
- Decide the functions you want with styling hoods – There are many features that you can add to a custom hood. As you are already buying a new hood, you might as well consider adding a bit more bells and whistles to it. You can add a hood scoop, hood vent or more convenient hood support. Also, change the position of the hood hinge if you want.
- Decide the hood styling material – The finish of a car hood has a lot to do with the material used. Hoods come in a few different materials. The more common ones use aluminium and steel. They are the default materials for the stock hood in passenger cars. If you want to go for higher-end hoods, there are carbon fibre and fibreglass hoods.
- Consider the pros and cons of styling hoods – Finally, you should also think about the effects of hood styling. A custom hood will change the performance and fuel efficiency of the car. Even more so, if you are installing a hood scoop or vent. So, if you prioritise fuel efficiency, you should go for a hood that has good aerodynamics.
Finally, following the legal regulations when you make alterations to the vehicle is more important than anything — even more than the design you choose. You will also have to enter the changes you have made in the vehicle registration as well. Some large hood scoops increase the vehicle noise above the legal level. So, you will have to stay away from them if you want to use the car on the road. Finally, don’t forget to check out all the other amazing auto-tuning products from the car supplies category.
Question & Answer
Are hood scoops useful?
Hood scoops and hood vents do improve the performance of cars with powerful engines. They help keep the engine compartment cool on top of the radiator assembly. If hood scoops are useful, why don’t all cars have them? That’s because the effectiveness of hood scoops on all cars is not the same. In most passenger cars, the benefit of a hood scoop is barely noticeable, if there is any. Furthermore, considering the downsides of adding hood scoops to such cars — the decrease in fuel efficiency, creating an entryway for dirt and water to the engine compartment — the negatives far outweigh the benefits.
What is a hood latch?
The Hood latch is what keeps the hood closed. It is a lock mechanism that prevents the hood from flying open and hitting the windshield as you drive the car. But at the same time, hoot latches should also be easy to open and close. Hood latches usually are inside the hood, and you operate without looking at them. So, it should be easy to push open but should firmly hold the hood when closed. Hood latches use a sliding lock mechanism supported by a spring. It will also have a lever to make it easier to open the latch. For added safety, latches have secondary locks in case the primary one fails.
Which car hood style is the best?
There is no one hood style that is a clear winner in all cases. You should pick one that suits your car the best from the different car hood styles available in the market. To be honest, some cars look good with custom hoods, while others do not. Hoods with large scoops only look good on larger cars with an overall sporty look. You can also add them on pick-up trucks as well. But in the case of smaller cars, you can go with a cowl hood which is not as prominent as a hood scoop but will still do the job of improving the looks and performance.
Where can I buy styling hoods online in the UAE?
You will find a wide range of custom hood collections online. If you are looking for cheap car hood designs, you can use the best shopping search engine in Dubai on Shops.ae. This way, you can access the best car hood styles available out there. And if you want to pack more punch to that custom hood on a budget, find some good quality hood scoops for sale online. Don’t forget to explore more than 500+ shops offering them here on Shops.ae including brands like Good Mark, Auto Metal Direct, OER Parts, Omix-Ada, and Resto Parts.