I pulled the black insulator off from underneath the hood and had a friend say something about excess heat warping the hood or melting the paint. I shrugged it off bcuz "everyone" else did it, but after a while, i am just wondering if it could cause any problems???

 

I don't think I have ever read that anyone had any problems after removing the insulation. The ram air cars don't have the insulation if I recall correctly.

 

My insulation has been off since 1996 when the hood was replaced after a hail storm. Never had a problem w/ any warping, paint peeling, or anything else. IMO, it enhances the under-hood appearance as well.

 

The paint around the middle of the hood could fade, but probably won't be a problem. My new cowl hood didn't come with any insulator.

 

i felt the same, just wanted to make sure. Thanx all

 

I took the hood insulator off of my car years ago because it looked like ***. It is there purely as a sound deadener and to cover up the underside of the hood stamping from the untrained eye of the typical customer. To me, that naked metal looks cool.

 

i ahve had mine off for 3 years with no problems.

 

Hmmmm, I may have to take mine off now as well. I have been thinking about it for a while now, but didn't want the paint on the hood to get screwed up.

Is it possible that the reason Ram air hoods don't have the insulation because they are not made of metal?

Anyoneelse done this without problems?

 

I removed my nasty hood insulation around three years ago. It looks much cleaner underneath and 0 problems with the paint on top or underneath.

 

What do you guys think of removing the insulation with uncoated headers? It seems my engine bay gets REAL hot, esp. tearing around on a hot summer day.
Thanks

 

I have over 100,000 miles on my car, and its never had a hood insulator. no problems with paint chipping, or warping.

 

I have uncoated hooker LT's, runs a little hotter, but no problems. In fact when I went to the track the other weekend the car stayed right at 170*, all though I do have my cooling fans rigged to come on at 160*

 

i have had my insulator off for 3 years, 2.5 of them with headers on the car. no paint problems

 

Actually it's not meant to be an insulator (although it probably does help somewhat) It's supposed to act as a fire suppressor. The idea is that if you have an engine fire, the plastic inserts that hold the insulation to the hood melt at which point the insulator falls onto the engine to help "smother" the flames. Kinda like a candle snuffer...
Whaterver it is, they are an eyesore, had mine off for 3 years without a single problem...

 

I have also heard that it protects the paint . A friend of mine pulled his off from his old buick and after 2 years his paint started to flake off the hood...But that could have been a shotty paint Job...Cuz my wifes truck had to be repainted cuz the factory paint peeled off after 4 years (all over the truck)...GM painted it for free.

Also, most of the people with Cowl Inducted hoods or Some Ram Air Fiberglass hoods would not have to worry about the Heat Sheild as much cuz they have a vent in the cowl area to vent out the hot hair (heat extracters).

I have seen people with out the heat shield and their pant jobs have lasted so far.