Belly Pan

Needmoreboost

New member
Is everyone keeping their's on or off.  To me the cooling and drawing out of hot air in the engine compartment would be worth more than aero or reduced noise.  Any thoughts?
 
From what I read, leaving it off leads to the hood shaking violently, especially at higher speeds. I think people are leaving them on.
 
SoCalSHO said:
From what I read, leaving it off leads to the hood shaking violently, especially at higher speeds. I think people are leaving them on.

Most cars don't have them.  What speeds?  Violently? 
 
It Was Posted On Another Forum. I Believe It WaS To The Extent Thst Hood Pins Were Mentioned In Case The Hood Flew Open. Cmon, You Drive  An SHO. I Know You Can Drive A Little Fast Without Realizing It. But I Think Bpd May Have Some Input On This.
 
I think I was the 1st to have posted on this issue, and there were maybe 4 or 5 others that also posted similar experiences.

In my case, I believe a portion of the contributing factors to this vertical hood shaking, or hood flopping occurrence was due to me having cut open the engine hood, in order to insert the 2013 Mustang GT heat extractors.

I believe this may have contributed to a partial loss in designed, structural integrity.

However, I was surprised to have read posts from a few others (who's hoods were still in factory condition / unmodified) that experienced the same issue.

Essentially, what we found was that there was noticeable, vertical hood flopping, in speeds in excess of 120MPH.

In my case, I *may* have been exceeding the above given figure, when I began noticing what I would say is/was "severe" up & downward movement of my hood.

The primary latch gave, causing the hood to pop open at it's very most outward point (end of the hood, closest to front of the car).

I immediately deceled & thanked my lucky stars the hood didn't completely blow off.

I theorized that since I had my large engine belly pan off (for intended cooling purposes) that at those higher speeds, the volume of air rushing under the car, and into the engine compartment itself, was so great that it caused this observed condition.

Adding to the problem, I believe, was the fact that that volume of air, was getting expelled through the installed heat extractors.

Not entirely sure, I replaced the larger (of the 2 under belly pans) & attempted to recreate the initial environment.

The vertical hood shaking / flopping was NOTICEABLY less, but still present.

The few others that noticed the same thing, never modified their hood, but did have the under belly pans removed. Once replaced, condition decreased for them, if not ceased entirely.

One person also posted about the primary latch having gave way, causing the hood to open at the end, but like in my case, they also stated their secondary latch held out & kept their hood from blowing off.

I spoke to my body shop peeps about installing hood pins, which they said they could do, but the recent body/paint work I had done on my lower rockers & rear valance, along with the repairs of my front lower spoiler & clip, were a tad bit more expensive than I was originally led to believe.

Therefore, i've held off on doing the hood pins (for now).

I guess as long as you're:

A.) Not planning on going in excess of say... 120MPH+

Or.....

B.) Not tracking your car (& having air lift your car up by filling the engine compartment with air at higher speeds)....

Then you would most likely be just fine by removing it.

Hope that sheds some light on the subject matter.



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Some of the guys have removed the lower engine covered and it SEEMED that they noticed hood shaking at speed within a very short period of time.  Also when they reinstalled it that the hood shaking went away.  All I can say is if you think it will be better...leave it off and see how the car reacts and what you observe.
 
Hood pins on my list of mods with the GT vents.

Thanks Mike!

You are my new best friend.
 
Interesting...

Well personally most of the fun IMO is up to about 100mph in this car.  I'm sure with some of the bigger mods some of you have it pulls harder than just a tuned car.  But, I have yet to see anyone trap 120 plus mph yet in the quarter.  LOL

There must be some sort of air turbulence issue (as some people have stated) or overwise Ford would not have added the "belly pan" OEM.  I may try and be another guinea pig and report back any ill effects.  If my hood blows off I may just run hoodless...:)
 
geswek said:
Hood pins on my list of mods with the GT vents.

Thanks Mike!

You are my new best friend.
bpd1151 said:
geswek said:
Hood pins on my list of mods with the GT vents.

Thanks Mike!

You are my new best friend.

I love you to Lord Tubby Ton!

Muah  :hug:

:hump:

:spiteful:
HA Geswek You know that bpd's car is "TO PRETTY TO BE FAST" LOL
 
Needmoreboost said:
Interesting...

Well personally most of the fun IMO is up to about 100mph in this car.  I'm sure with some of the bigger mods some of you have it pulls harder than just a tuned car.  But, I have yet to see anyone trap 120 plus mph yet in the quarter.  LOL

There must be some sort of air turbulence issue (as some people have stated) or overwise Ford would not have added the "belly pan" OEM.  I may try and be another guinea pig and report back any ill effects.  If my hood blows off I may just run hoodless...:)
A 120mph is hard in 1/4mi but 130mph in1/3mi stock is easy! OH YEA!!!! In Sept I HIT A AirStrip to see what a tune no speed gov will do. http://www.wannagofast.com/clayton.php
 
Needmoreboost said:
There must be some sort of air turbulence issue (as some people have stated) or overwise Ford would not have added the "belly pan" OEM.

Thats doubtful that Ford did that...most newer Fords have a engine cover on the bottom these days, I'm going with trying to improve under car aerodynamics for improved MPG's and to help keep the car quieter as the reason they did it. I know the Escape, Fusion and Taurus have it and I believe the Focus does too. Only car that doesn't have it (yet) is the Mustang. That might change in 2015 with the new model.
 
4DRHTRD said:
I hope to break 120mph in the 1/4 soon, Darrelli and First-SHO should be able to as well!
:)

Just shy of 118 is my current highest trap speed, however I'm well over 120 before I get out of it. I think the pan is actually designed for ventilation as well as aerodynamics.
 
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