Brainstorm (may have already been done/suggested): GT Hoodscoop... BACKWARDS! Cut a hole in the hood, chickenwire it or something to prevent crap from getting in there... and mount a Mustang GT hoodscoop over it backwards.
wahtcha think?
keep in mind guys, I don't have my ranger yet, just love tossing out some random ideas

Edit:
Found exactly what I'm talking about...

 

Pretty, and I like it. But I have enough issues seeing offroad without putting something else sticking up on my hood. I'm liking louvers still.

Also, the late model Ranger hood, with its center valley, would require some custom work to fill the valley at the leading edge of the scoop. Otherwise it would look hacked.

 

This is true. you're talking about the Edge hood right? as i recall the XLT (and Fx4) hoods are flat where I plan on putting it. I'm actually getting pretty psyched about the idea now that i'm seeing it...
as for offroading... I would be taking it the distance and bondoing it up... the GT hood scoops are held on by tape AND 12 studs, so it would be just as sturdy as the louver idea you guys have right? and with the bondo, a branch coming across the hoodscoop wouldn't have n e thing to catch on.
just an idea, someday... maybe i'll do it. cause i frigging love the idea now.

 

I like the idea, something else i had considered doing was using the lund hood scoops backwards. The ones that come as two pieces, put one on each Edge power dome and cut underneath them.

 

yeah. i like that idea too.
I'm more of a centred guy for some reason tho (go nuts on NFSU:2) but there are definatly a lot of possibilities out there for this mod. i dunno, more than likely i'll spank the GT scoop on there unfunctionally for a while, then when i get my nerve up down the road i'll actually cut the hood. Resale value would be completly shot though

 

just to add.. I also love the leading edges coming off the scoop towards the windshield, helps blend the scoop with the hood better. most of the aftermarket ones i've seen just drop off. i've just been searching for a smaller hood... less attention drawn. those GT scoops are pretty big...

 

the XLT hood has a cowl type "scoop on the hood that stretches over almost the entire hood and has a valley in the middle. you may be able to see wut im talking about on my site HERE

 

since 2004 all the hoods are the same regardless of model

 

Within the years 2001~2003, all Edge, FX4 and 4x4 XLT hoods were the same powerdome style with a depressed area in the center that would complicate the installation of a reversed hood scoop.

For the same years, The 4x2 XL and 4x2 XLT had a lower, flatter hood.

Beginning in 2004, the hoods on all Rangers were commonized to a raised powerdome style, similar but not identical to 2001~2003.

 

ohhh. thanks guys. for some reason i was under the impression that the depressoin was an edge only hood. so i guess i'd have to pick up a 4x2 hood eh?
guess it's not gonna be as easy as i thought. once i get the truck, i'm gonna start seriously considering this mod. anyone have a rough idea of the benefits i'm gonna see with this truck?

 

what kind of benefits are you referring to. make a sig so we can all see just what you got.

ps i like the idea of the scoop, you may want to check out some older ford scoops too, the one on that mustang is a redesign of one from the 60s

 

By coincidence, there is another active post that shows an Edge hood that has had the center depression filled before adding a hood scoop.

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ead.php?t=3836

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ayphotohosting

 

oh. sweet man, thanks a lot. that shouldn't be too hard to do at all

currently, i don't even have a stock truck. gettin it next month, so no mods. benefits i wasthinkg of is increased airflow (will i see anything if i don't snorkle it?) cooling temp... etc. basically, will the engine perform any differently?

 

If the engine is in any way being limited by heat, yes. If not, no.

 

so a stocker with dual exhaust and an intake won't benefit?

 

I hate to keep saying it this way: but it depends.

If you are looking for more performance somehow, you need to be "undoing" something that is limiting performance. For instance: if your intake air temperature is high from engine heat, then finding a way to get a cooler, denser charge is good. Cooler/denser means more air molecules. This will be measured by the MAF and this will cause more fuel to flow at full throttle. Short of that, you will notice no difference. That's the main way lower temperatures improve performance.

Inside the engine, temperatures are controlled by the cooling system. You need a lower temperature thermostat to reduce them unless the engine is overheating. Then you need to fix that and it could be that cooler engine bay temps would help, or more flow through the radiator, etc.

Exhaust wraps are primarily to keep the exhaust gases hot and fast moving. As they become cooler and denser they slow down. For performance, exhaust wraps are not mostly about underhood temperature, they are about keeping exhaust velocity up to prevent reversion and increase scavenging.

So, louvers and vents will do nothing for performance, unless they are solving a problem. The ADD nothing to the engines performance.

 

huh, well then.
i was thinking though, it may allow me to run a performance air intake without a heatshield. if u think about it. air coming in and having an open area to leave from the hood will create a steady stream of airflow past the intake, therefore greatly reducing (if not eliminating) the hot air getting to the intake. as well, the air flowing over the hood and around the scoop will create a vaccum at the opening.
what do u think?

 

Your basic idea is correct. Depending on your intake temperatures and all, it may help under certain conditions. It is not, however, a GENERAL performance boost under all circumstances.

It will increase engine ventilation, regardless. How much performance benefit that will give you is questionable. If you commonly race, especially in hot conditions, then it can help. But a car rolling down the road already at highway speeds is already ventilated pretty well. In that circumstance, it may make no difference.

Like so many things (like "wings" for instance), they look better than they perform because they only help in specific circumstances. Most times, they are doing nothing.

 

alright man, thanks a lot. never really considered that the car could already be ventelated as much as it needs to be
so basically... if i do it... it's purely cosmetic. well... there goes justifying what IMO is a sweet look

 

uhh, sorry. a 01-03 XLT hood does not have a "valley" remember yours is an FX4 witch is basically an edge because it has torsion bars

 

Well, if you follow this forward, you have other issues such as long term reliability and such. Lower temperatures equals a longer mean time between failure for electronic parts -- of which there are MANY under your hood.

The rationale for vents is not just performance and if you do the mod, you are getting benefits under hot conditions. So, you can do it and make it about more than just an appearance mod. It doesn't have to be useless just because it looks good!

 

http://www.carhoods.com/ShopOn-Line/

check out ford ranger hoods, last one on the list...about 15 minuts of cutting and u got a badass, functional hood...

 

Of course, it won't fit 98+ trucks properly.

 

so in other words... this... is a good idea?

 

I think so. I'm putting louvers on my truck somehow (exact ones not decided) for offroading where slow travel in rougher terrain can promote overheating.

As long as you are sensible about where you put them, I see no harm, and some to much potential benefit.