Thread: Louvers in '32 Ford Hood when it rains......

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.....Hi Everyone, after attending the Roadster Show in Pomona last week-end I believe I'm 'sold' on the look of louvers in the top of hoods on '32 Fords. BUT, what's going to happen when I drive in the rain??? Is the motor going to suck in so much water that the car doesn't run right??? Thanks everyone, Bill

no, shouldn't. as long as your air cleaner has a top.

It could. I had 160 louvers in the hood of a '35 Ford, drowned it out once. An open element air cleaner can only handle so much water before it becomes saturated and the water starts making it into the carb.

How about running NO hood? My '27 has none, and it has been driven through lots of typical Florida downpours, where it rains just about every day. I never worried about water being sucked down the carbs, but I was always amazed that the distributor kept working.

In fact, the very last time I drove it before I tore it down for a rebuild, I drove for 5 solid hours in rain where you couldn't see the guy in front of you most times. I always expected the engine to die at any moment, but it never missed a beat. Of course, it had a Ford engine, so experiences with a Chevy may be different. (joke)


Don

At speed louvers generally won't allow water in.
Perhaps a few louvers in the rear will admit water, that due to the weird windflow patterns back by the windshield on some cars.

I've ran my 32 roadster - with top - in several heavy rainstorms, last one a desert cloudburst that flooded the streets in a few minutes - I got a little wet, but the engine didn't.

The car's been parked for short periods in heavy rain and always fired up ok.

Part of it may be the front mounted distributor on the 462" Buick and the other part the wires (Accel 8.8mm's) with their well sealed boots.

I do run an air cleaner.

One caution about louvers in the hood top is that they allow hot engine air to enter the cowl vent at lower in-town speeds.
The cowl vent gets cooler ambient temp air at highway speeds.
I'm pretty sure that happens due to airflow changes over the hood and windshield according to vehicle speed.

For that reason, the hood top on my 31 on 32 rails project roadster is not louvered.

Of course you could use a spray repellant for the ignition parts.

How about a flat black, curved shield mounted to the underside of the hood, but slightly below the hood, that would allow air flow, but divert any water to the outside rear corners of the engine compartment?

Louvers? Louvers aren't a problem . . .

I have louvers in the hood of my '55 and I haven't really had any problems driving it in the rain. Typically, I try not to drive it much in the rain, but as much as it rains here, that is almost impossible unless I was to never really drive it at all. I will say that it seems to be a little harder to keep the engine compartment clean with them, because when you drive it in the rain or when you wash the outside of the vehicle, the water does get down through them and spreads dirt. Overall though, I really like having them because I believe it makes it stand out and is, to me, worth the extra hassle.

Cheers,
Dutch

My merc has no hood, i havnt had a problem yet(chevy motor) and ive driven it in the rain

....THANKS everyone ..... Then louvers it is ..... Bill

Gee this is an old thread but news to me. I always thought louvers required some sort of "tray" spot welded or bolted under the louvers on the inside of the hood so that water running in would run off to the side of the engine away from carb and ignition???

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Drizzle ,Drazzel Drone,....send this little Magneto to a new Home...

This is an old thread, but heres a suggestion that works. Go to a sign shop and get a piece of magnetic flexible sign material such as the type that you see stuck on the side of vans. Cut, or have it cut to the appropriate size, and stick it to the bottom side of your louvered hood when it rains. Or leave it there and just remove it for shows. It's flexible so it conforms to the shape of the hood and it's easily installed or removed in seconds.

I have 172 louvers in my 4 piece hood & never a problem in the wet.

.....I did put louvers in the top of my hood & don't even run hood sides. I have no problem at all in the rain nor when I wash it at the car wash..... Don't know if this makes a difference or not but I have an MSD Marine Distributor.... Bill