Technical Engine hood open during hot days

[gordinir8]

Speaking about hot Greek summer on my previous post i am thinking besides the abarth type 3.5 liter oil swamp to let open the rar hood. something that i find ''sexy'' on those old rear engine cars. I remember my father always leting open by few inches his hood at his poor Hillman IMP which was suffering.
Anyway what is better option to open it, at the bottom or at the top? In a case of letting it open at the bottom end, are they any special hinges available?

 

[oopsadaisy]

Anyway what is better option to open it, at the bottom or at the top? In a case of letting it open at the bottom end, are they any special hinges available?

My daughter had a 500F which had alloy extended hinges but unfortunately not sure where they came From.

 

[the hobbler]

There are basically 2 ways to prop the engine cover up (and I would always recommend that the bottom is open and not the top). 1 is a full blown opening using a 3 legged prop on each side of the lid along with 2 small hinges at the top (Axel Gerstl can supply these---part number 23485, in the 'body' part of the 'Tuning' section). You will need to affix these to the air-vent below the rear screen , and of course to the top of the engine cover, as well as a 'hood pin' rubber holder on each rear corner of the engine cover. Axel can supply all the parts you need. You will finally have to remove the catch at the top of the engine cover and replace it with an Abarth badge (to cover the resulting hole in the engine-cover).
The 2nd method is to fit 2 short (about 6ins long) props at the bottom of the engine cover. These locate onto the original lower engine-cover pivot pins, and the original top catch being retained to give a 3rd (triangulation) mounting point. To encourage air-flow on either of these systems, I would advise that the under-engine shield is left off.
Just for interest, Abarth didn't have the engine-covers raised (and mainly on the 600 bodied variants) for cooling, but as an aerodynamic aid--on the 1000tc models the boot lid fully horizontal added 6mph to the top speed!
If you want a couple of close-up pictures of the full supports, let me know and I can send you some pictures of my installation.

 

[gordinir8]

I prefer the 2nd method for everyday use as the picture above. Any close up on this please?

 

[fiat500]

Co-incidentally, this just came on Ebay.
They even cut holes behind the licence plate.
s-l1600 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr
Great colour.
I have a hunch, expressed on a previous thread, that the undertray geometry acts as an air-scoop helping to ram up the engine-bay air-pressure in order to push out the heated air.

 

[berkeleyman]

I prop the top open on my 500l on long summer runs, I'm sure it helps cooling, if nothing else it protects the paintwork. Just made a spacer plate for the catch.

 

[gordinir8]

That's a nice yellow one

 

[fiat500]

That's a nice yellow one

I think Katie B would agree with us.

 

[portland_bill]

It is necessary to understand the flow of the cooling air before changing it. As teh Abarth models often had the lid propped open, I'm assuming someone did their homework a long time ago.

On a VW Beetle, the air is taken in through the vents on the rear pillars, or the lid, wherever, it changed a bit during the lifetime of the model. The air is then pulled over the top of the engine, and pushed down under, and over the cylinders by the fan. It is important that when the lid is opened, there are no visible gaps in the tray that seals the engine upper. Even gaps around the plug leads can cause issues.
Any gaps allow the hot air to re-enter the engine compartment, re-circulating, so getting hotter. Surprisingly, those air-cooled engines are susceptible to overheating issues if not sealed properly.

So, with the 500, you need to follow the air flow, to ensure that opening the lid does not allow hot air to re-enter the circuit.

The standard vents should be sufficient to allow enough air to circulate. It is doubtful that Fiat would have created a restriction by not having enough or not large enough. Ultimately, airflow is created by the fan, drawing from a bigger intake 'hole' will not create more flow.

But they do look a bit mean with it propped open.

 

[gordinir8]

I think that opening the lower end will not affect negative the air entering through the fan but will help hot air go out from the engine bay, the easiest and better the air goes out, the better air enter in. My opinion, not to mention it looks mean as you said.

 

[gordinir8]

Found something, for those interested Axel Gerstl's has something similar to the first picture.

 

[the hobbler]

I have a pair of the 'short' boot props which are now surplus to requirements, which if you would like, you can have. E-mail me direct with an address, and I will put them into the post to you. The beauty of these short props is that nothing on the car is altered in order to fit them (see my previous comments)

 

[gordinir8]

Email on its way, thank you.

 

[the hobbler]

Evening Thomas;
Short boot props will be on their way to you within a couple of days.

 

[gordinir8]

Returning to the subject, I want to discard the top catch and install two hinges so make the hood open permanently from the bottom, it is more stable that way and also have better access for maintenance. Always pay attention to small details I just don't like the hinges that are available in most stores but looking for something like those in the yellow car above. Those don't need to screw directly to the screen but probably under the screen. Anyone has any idea if those are available or if they come from another model?

Thomas

Just for info I recently had a trip with my local club. We covered a distance of about 80 kilometres. I had my hood opened from the bottom and another friend had it closed. I touched my right fender which was hot but I could let my hand on. On the other car with the hood closed it was just impossible to touch the right fender, not to mention the hood. So open hood really helps at list the hot summer days.

 

[the hobbler]

The hinges on the yellow 500 look like '600' hinges, but where to get them (other than from a scrapped '600') I just don't know--I have not been able to find a supplier. When I was looking for hinges for the engine cover on my Fiat, initially I wanted to fit '600' hinges, but with a conspicuous lack of success. As I have mentioned in a my comments earlier in this thread, Axel Gerstle sell some very acceptable hinges which bolt onto the lower part of the air-vent panel under the rear screen. Due to their shape, '600' hinges will need to be welded to the bottom edge of the air-vent panel.
Just for interest Thomas, are you using the 'spacers' that I sent you? If you DO use top hinges and just a 'spacer' at the bottom of the engine cover, don't forget to work out a way of easily disconnecting the engine cover from the 'spacer'---drop-nose pins or plain pins with 'R' clips would seem to be the 2 easiest ways.

 

[gordinir8]

Ofcourse I am using your spacers, I am thinking to use maybe a long pin that will pass through both hinges and secure it on it's end somehow or just use a couple of aviation type safety pins which are quick disconnect. Unfortunately i don't like those hinges from Axel and i am trying to avoid them. there are also lot of inox hinges made for small boats and come in lot of shapes that I might look for but first ill take a look for 600 hinges. I know a guy with a junkyard that own a 600! Time to visit him.

 

[fiat500]

I know a guy with a junkyard that own a 600! Time to visit him.

If you do, look for a 600T, 850T or 900T/E van; partly for my interest (get a photo please ) but because they have neat little hinges on the engine lid that would adapt to your purpose. They're not shiny or showy, but they are FIAT and I've seen some on a supplier that are brand new...must try to remember where.:bang:

FER_0312 by Peter Thompson, on Flickr

 

[Bleeding Knuckles]

Speaking about hot Greek summer on my previous post i am thinking besides the abarth type 3.5 liter oil swamp to let open the rar hood. something that i find ''sexy'' on those old rear engine cars. I remember my father always leting open by few inches his hood at his poor Hillman IMP which was suffering.
Anyway what is better option to open it, at the bottom or at the top? In a case of letting it open at the bottom end, are they any special hinges available?

Hi Thomas, I've added pics of my modded engine cover, But as Tom@theHobbler will agree the fitting of the two cover props is a devil :devil: of a job to get right. I have fitted my lower arms to the original hinges on the cross member. I do think that this mod does help to draw the hot air out of the engine bay, but again I am using a cooler with a fan that does a good job of keeping the oil temperature well within limits!

Ian.

 

[gordinir8]

Ian can you please get me a couple of pics of those hinges you have?
They look interesting.