Now that I'm looking to make the no-turning-back trek down the road to BOMB my truck I'm considering what to do to improve the intake air. After long consideration I've decided the best, most cost effective way to meet my needs is to go with a BHAF. I've downloaded the heatshield template and think I can manage to cut and bend the metal, but then a question popped into my head. Since this device is supposed to block at least some of the heat from the engine from getting to the filter how close does the top edge of the heatshield come to the bottom of the hood with the hood closed? I'd think this would be preferable so as much cool air is coming from other sources, such as the OEM snorkle opening and elsewhere in the vicinity. Anyone have any feedback on this? Or is this of any real concern? If it doesn't come close to the hood in it's original form did you make any changes in the template so it would and if so what were those changes?

As always any comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Steve

 

i wondered the same thing, but when i crawled in there and slammed the hood it was too dark to see........and there was the gettin out problem

 

chew up a piece or a few pieces of gum and put it ontop of the heat shield and close the hood and open it if it stick then its pretty close if not its good

 

I'm in the process of doing the same thing but I read on other forums that the heat shield is not really effective in shielding heat anyway. It's more of a holder for the filter. If I do end up making the shield, I'm going to cover the edges with plastic door edge trim to keep from chafing things.

Jim

 

One of the most important things is that it keeps water, mud, snow, from getting in the filter. Keeps it dry. I never noticed how much until the first storm and saw the water/mud on the side of the shield. Make sure you get an outerwears water resistant cover for the BHAF. This will help keep the filter dry. I got pics in my gallery.

 

It comes pretty close to the hood.

I've seen setups that use the same heatshield, but they put some foam around the top edge of the heatshield to make a better seal against the hood.

Something like door seal material, or pipe insulation, something that would compress in contact with the hood,
since there isn't really a way to see how close it is to the hood, short of removing the engine and standing in there with a flashlight.


phox

 

im telling ya try the gum thing

 

Or playdoh.

 

That would work better.

You need to know how much clearance you have.

The Gum idea is great in theory, but will only tell you if the hood is hitting or not,
not how bad it is hitting, or how much clearance you have before it hits.


phox

 

If you are short on play doh and don't chew gum, rig a story pole alongside the truck, measure the hood over the heat shield area, then open the hood and take the same measurement from the story pole to the heat shield.

Jus Plain

 

hey bill ........ whats a story pole?

 

Hi Willie,

It's just a reference point. If you place the pole along side the truck and use a level to transfer the elevation of the hood over the heat shield area, you can use the same reference point with the hood open to determine the difference of elevation.

Masons and block layers use the method all the time to both lay ourt work and to check progress as they lay the brick or block..

No reason it wouldn't work in this application though.

Jus Plain

 

I just thought of possibly another way to determine the height needed to come fairly close to sealing against the hood. A person could rig up a device that would basically use a sliding stick or tube, such as a soda straw or the like, in such a fashion that you would extend it vertically above where you know the hood will come to rest then slowly lower and close the hood so it would push the straw or tube down as it closes. When you opened the hood you would then be able to measure from some reference point in the engine compartment to the top of the straw/tube and use that to determine the maximum height for the shield. I love it when great minds get together and bounce ideas off each other. Good stuff guys , thanks.

Steve

 

How about some rubber weatherstrip, 1 1/2"-2" in width, attached to the edge of the heat shield? When the hood is closed, the weatherstrip would bend against the hood to form a tight fit. I know JC Whitney sells weatherstrip that would work. This is what I have been considering for mine, when the time comes.

 

I'll cut out a heatshield in a few days. What material/thickness do most of you use?