Keep your X COOL!

[superslidestyle]

Here's a very inexpensive way to keep you X cool.  Remember that our motors tend to suffer from heat soak from a badly designed exhaust manifold and cat towards the back firewall.  I got these vents for $2 ea. from a local junk yard off a Datsun 280Z (or 260Z, don't remember), and opened up the vent design to maximize the cooling effect.  All you need is a bit of muscle, a bit of layout designing, some hole saws, and a sawzall.  For my install drilled small holes and used Stainless steel rivets to hold the vents in place.  Be very carefull that you don't make the holes or cuts too big cause then you won't be able to cover it up.  It's better to cut smaller and cut your way up if you need to.


This is a before pic

and this is afterwords


Here is the underside

[superslidestyle]

For you skeptics, I have had the vehicle through snow, rain, one desert run and two Xcursions and have not have any electrical problems.  In anticipation to these problems, I used different sized wire loom and Scotch 35 Hi Quality black electrical vinyl tape on the ends to prevent as much as possible and water damage.  I also placed the vent right over the exhaust manifolds where I feel there are less wires and more cooling abilities.  Make sure you run the vents as I did from front to back parallel to airflow.  If you put them sideways, you will injest air rather than just vent the heat and possibly break the hood latch and have the hood smash your windshield at freeway speeds.  I have seen it personally.  I've had this set up on my 240Sx race car up to 130mph at a racetrack many many moons ago with not problems.  I know other guys who also have it done and have yet to have problems.

[strikedistance]

Hood vents are big in the XJ (Cherokee) forums. I picked up a pair of Le Baron hoodvents which is what they use. There bigger than the ones you have and im temping putting them on the X. Would have to paint them first though.

Keep your X COOL!

[fleury123]

yeah I have looked at a metal form , but I like this one. I have even gone as far as trying to find the ones from the 280Z on EBAY. To bad we cant find a PN for the original stock. Then we could order them.  I think  you have a set from two different cars though. On my 280, and 240 the hood vents were diferent on both sides of the same car.


 Worried about the water drainage on a hot manifold. Let a quick sun shower or so. I never thought I would see as much rain here in SOCAL as I have lately. I dont know.

Dont forgot to do the write up for bobble head modification.....

[xperienced]

wow, the vent holes look larger than I expected.  I bet they really release heat well.  They will work well in the desert during the summer.

[superslidestyle]

I should have looked online a bit more.  Those look really good especially since the vents are angled.  My only concern is that you don't have much room to anchor them down (I prefer rivets, personal preference).  I would like to see some pics of other people who run them and how they mounted them.

[strikedistance]

This is how i figured out how to do it. If and when i deside to would you mind helping?
http://www.ericsxj.com/vents/vents14.jpg

[Paul]

It looks like you had to cut the interior bracing to get them to fit. Does the hood seem to still be stiff/strong?

[fleury123]

It looks like you had to cut the interior bracing to get them to fit. Does the hood seem to still be stiff/strong?

yeah I looked at that as well , but the area should not be effected due to the front bracing

[superslidestyle]

If you look at my pictures, I did cut the bracing and it doesn't seem to affect the strenght on the Xterra hood.  If you skeptical, you can always add hood pins like the racing cars for $10 at any autoparts store.  I have two sets of hood pins just laying around and haven't had the need to put the on my X.

If you need help installing a set, PM me at we can meet up. I'm not working right know so I have all the time in the world.  For the labor and know-how, I would only charge you a Cheeseburger combo.

[fleury123]

a cheese burger on TUESDAY?

[4x4forfun]

I noticed the higher temp when I have all the skidplates on and am going to take them to a friend with a water jet cutter and have a series of holes cut into them for extra cooling. Anyone else see the heat rise with them and do this?

[superslidestyle]

It might be cheaper to do several holes with regular hole saws and a drill.  That way you don't even have to remove the skid plates from the vehicle.  Just watch for anything behind where the hole saw is going to come out on.

[4x4forfun]

It isn't gonna cost more than a small bottle of Jack Daniels because he is a good friend and we trade off work time to time. Of course he wins on this one as I will be scaping off popcorn ceiling in 2 rooms for him next weekend. But I will drink his beer.

[fleury123]

Irwin,

 When you did this mod did you abolutely have to cut the bracing or can you separate the sheetmetal?

 I picked up a old jeep hood vent I was thinking going lengthwise  from lets say washer to washer eyelet. But I dont know.  Still npot liking cutting the only thing I really have of value other then my dogs and wife.