Cole
Expedition Leader
Form or function? Both?!!
I've been building Jeeps and other custom motor sports things for 25+ years and one universal truth is that heat is NOT your friend. Two simple things I have learned about keeping mechanical things alive. 1) Keep it clean 2) Keep it running cool.
Even with the little 3.8L motor the JK is starting to get a reputation for heat related issues. It would seem most are related to the auto trans at this point and that cooling issues may be related to the tow rating also. Once I add a trans cooler the additional cooling from the hood vents should make it that much more effective.
There are a ton of things I need and want to do to the JK. (like a rear tire carrier but waiting to see the finished Aberle Offroad unit to decide) So I figured I would take a moment to do a cool looking "supporting" mod first.
At some point I want to due a Hemi or at least a supercharger, both of which could greatly benefit from additional cooling capacity. I figure, get the hood on now and it will make some of those other additions easier later on. It will also give me the cooling to keep the 3.8L running strong until I decide.
One really nice thing about the AEV hood is that it is all steel, real steel, not that flimsy stuff the stock hood is made out of. MUCH thicker!! No more hood flapping in the wind. Even with my Daystar hood latches the hood sheet metal would buckle up and down with the stock hood. I can't imagine the AEV hood doing that.
Anyway, got it back from paint today. Still need to put new Rubicon decals on it. Want a "factory" type look, even though this hood has a much more aggressive stance to it than the plain stock on.
I will get more pics with the decals on later, here it is for now.
Here is the Jeep with the stock hood first for reference.
Now with the AEV Hood.
More detail.
I've been building Jeeps and other custom motor sports things for 25+ years and one universal truth is that heat is NOT your friend. Two simple things I have learned about keeping mechanical things alive. 1) Keep it clean 2) Keep it running cool.
Even with the little 3.8L motor the JK is starting to get a reputation for heat related issues. It would seem most are related to the auto trans at this point and that cooling issues may be related to the tow rating also. Once I add a trans cooler the additional cooling from the hood vents should make it that much more effective.
There are a ton of things I need and want to do to the JK. (like a rear tire carrier but waiting to see the finished Aberle Offroad unit to decide) So I figured I would take a moment to do a cool looking "supporting" mod first.
At some point I want to due a Hemi or at least a supercharger, both of which could greatly benefit from additional cooling capacity. I figure, get the hood on now and it will make some of those other additions easier later on. It will also give me the cooling to keep the 3.8L running strong until I decide.
One really nice thing about the AEV hood is that it is all steel, real steel, not that flimsy stuff the stock hood is made out of. MUCH thicker!! No more hood flapping in the wind. Even with my Daystar hood latches the hood sheet metal would buckle up and down with the stock hood. I can't imagine the AEV hood doing that.
Anyway, got it back from paint today. Still need to put new Rubicon decals on it. Want a "factory" type look, even though this hood has a much more aggressive stance to it than the plain stock on.
I will get more pics with the decals on later, here it is for now.
Here is the Jeep with the stock hood first for reference.
Now with the AEV Hood.
More detail.
