AirCleaners, Hood Pins, functional hood scoop upgrades (yes or no)

[rwcstang 201]

Looking for pros n cons here and If I should cut up my current hood and add hood pins, any issues going this route other than a dirty engine bay and cutting into the hood?

I want my hood scoop functional in the early style piecut look or cut out a section of the hood entirely for more airflow to the air cleaner. In addition, I would add a 14" Round air filter https://www.summitracing.com/parts/knn-66-3040 w/ dropbase. Im currently running https://www.summitracing.com/parts/fms-302-350 w/ 13 k&n Air Filter element which also includes a drop base for more clearance under the hood.

I dyno'd at 453rwhp 524rwtq with the 13" Drop base Air cleaner. I saw an engine masters episodes testing air cleaners from stock to salad bowl (lol) and data showed air cleaners with a dropped base can restrict airflow where it sucks air from sides then shoot upwards (where it thins out) and back down into the carb/intake, adding a Top Air filter element should solve this as air is now is sucking from the top element and sides causing no restriction. BUT this video counters almost all that https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWIrIsJSX0U again these are in controlled environments so they are not under a hood/engine bay where all the heat is contained. 

Im wondering what aftermarket air cleaners you are running under your 351w with stealth and 750 (brawler/holley carbs) under your functional scoops, are you using drop bases? 

In addition, I'm debating if I should add Ford Racing hood pins to keep the hood down from blowing out as I think the undercover innovations radiator support cover I have is bending upwards allowing air to escape at higher highway speeds shaking the hood. One option is using the UC cover as a template and make one out of thicker sheet metal or just simply add some more mounting screws on the existing UC unit. 

What do you all think? should I go with it?

 

 

 

[RogerC 136]

I'll just say I had the hood fly up on my 68 once upon a time. It was not a fun time. I will be using Ford torsion clip pins on my 69. I bought them several years ago for just under $50. Pretty sure they're up around $80 now though. The Ford ones have a reinforcing plate for the bottom side. As far as air cleaners go, I can't comment other than I used a velocity stack previously with the short boss cobrajet scoop, all with a cleveland engine.

[rwcstang 201]

Thanks, the FRPP Hoodpins are around $45.00 https://www.summitracing.com/parts/fms-m-16700-a so its a great buy compared to the overseas made pins that scott drake sells. 

I was also thinking flush hood pins with the locks: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/qul-ql-38-lpbp or push-in type https://www.summitracing.com/parts/qul-ql-38-lpbp since Im more in the resto mod category, however, the FRPP seems to be the best one with out cutting too much into the hood. 

[Ridge Runner 1,113]

I have never had a hood blow up ,but i always run hood pins ,my brother let a 69 hood blow clean off the car ,it went clear over the car and landed in the middle of the road ,he didnt have the hood pins on ! I have worked on many Mustangs that had the hood blow up or off and smash the front of the roof and rip out the hinge nuts taking them with the hood ,hood pins are one of the best safety features you can have! 

[rwcstang 201]

Thanks Ridge, any recommendations on the hood pins? looking for some that won't rust over time. 

Also, are there any measurements or schematics to go by, like the hood scoop template?

[Mike65 476]

14 hours ago, RogerC said:

I'll just say I had the hood fly up on my 68 once upon a time. It was not a fun time. I will be using Ford torsion clip pins on my 69. I bought them several years ago for just under $50. Pretty sure they're up around $80 now though. The Ford ones have a reinforcing plate for the bottom side. As far as air cleaners go, I can't comment other than I used a velocity stack previously with the short boss cobrajet scoop, all with a cleveland engine.

Those are the same ones I have to install on my 69 Coupe.

[Ridge Runner 1,113]

11 hours ago, rwcstang said:

Thanks Ridge, any recommendations on the hood pins? looking for some that won't rust over time. 

Also, are there any measurements or schematics to go by, like the hood scoop template?

Scott drake stainless steel 

[RPM 1,190]

My replacement hood pins are stainless. I think the 69s visible hood pin assembly is one of its defining features.