SPEAKING of cowls....

[BobList]

A lot of people say the engine runs better with the cowl off.. because of possible exh gas contamination due to a leaky bellows, gasket..yadda yadda.

What design principles dictate that there is only like one very small air intake at the top rear of the cover? Why not have a nice fresh air intake grille in the front straight to the carbs? Or intake tubes mounted forward of the engine?
Are they designed to run best in a closed, hot, possibly stale environment?

Water intrusion aside, is this maybe a safety measure in case engine goes flash/boom! under the cowl? All of my training says a cold, dense fresh air intake is the best thing for an engine.

Discuss.

Bob List

 

[roscoe]

Re: SPEAKING of cowls....

Different motors, different air intake vents, but they all surely provide enough fresh air for the engine to run properly.
Some have holes in the bottom of the cowl. Some on the sides or top.

If someone's engine is choking on exhaust, they have a mechanical failure that needs to be repaired.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: SPEAKING of cowls....

Three and four cylinder pre-1995 Force engines have a massive air intake under the bottom carb. It is sufficient to supply all the air all the carbs need. Not only can you see it when looking from the front, but if you look underneath above between the transom clamps, you will see the holes in the kingpin mount/ motor mount shroud.

Two cylinder 50 hp also have a front intake directly in front of the carb, covered by a silencer box.

The problem with exhaust (leaking bellows at idle relief) is that at low speeds, the engine is not drawing a lot of air so the volume of exhaust leaking into the shroud overwhelms it.

 

[BobList]

Re: SPEAKING of cowls....

I was just curious.. I see the intakes under the bottom carb..

But I was thinking, how cool would that Chrysler in Frank's avatar look with 2 little chrome hood scoops on top?

Bob

 

[fucawi]

Re: SPEAKING of cowls....

Cool is not a Chrysler term nor I suspect Franks !!....most of the modern intakes are at the back part of the lift handle in the hood with a proper air box

 

[huskerdaninva]

Re: SPEAKING of cowls....

@Fucawi, "Cool" may not be a Chrysler term, but I think it is an apt description for many of the old Chrysler boats and outboards! My own little '69 Valiant has been described as "cool" by more than one person. As the old saying goes..."They don't make 'em like that anymore."

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: SPEAKING of cowls....



The mermaid is cool and art, the hood scoops are tacky. Ever see them stuck on car fenders? I'm not talking about the Buick portholes, but the 20 dollar Pep Boy's scoops.

I do have some Chrysler logos with vents that came off dashboards and they will probably go on the next hood I do.

By the way: There is absolutely no difference in performance with the cover on or off other than a lot more noise. Not even 10 RPM. I take the cover off my go-fast sometimes, just so people can hear me coming better, but then I need earplugs. It is most annoying.

 

[Bustedknuckle84]

Re: SPEAKING of cowls....

View attachment 101079

The mermaid is cool and art, the hood scoops are tacky. Ever see them stuck on car fenders? I'm not talking about the Buick portholes, but the 20 dollar Pep Boy's scoops.

LMAO, Exactly my thought... Check your local Walmart for examples.

 

[huskerdaninva]

Re: SPEAKING of cowls....

What are y'all talking about?? Those "cool" Pep Boy/JC Whitney side scoops have to add at least 10 hp at the rear wheels. Cheap performance upgrade...

 

[BobList]

Re: SPEAKING of cowls....

I can envision 5 big chrome " Rearing Stallions" across the top of that bad boy...... and a neon light ground effects package around the whole perimeter of that cowling. Got a set of spinners for the trailer already......