(Photos: Speedy’s Garage) The 2008-up Dodge Challenger has been an awesome ride since it was unleashed. With good looks, great engine options and excellent performance out of the box, enthusiasts have flocked to them. But even though Dodge did do a good job of putting the car together, there are always things that can be done to make them even better. One of those things involves the hood. Every Challenger comes with a twin-nostril hood, but on most models, those scoops are more fake than half of the tanning bodies on South Beach. Fake scoops suck, but the fix is stupidly easy. Here’s what you need to get cool, fresh air under your hood:
A roll of painter’s tape will protect the paint, because you are going to be working on the outer surface of the scoop. Two plastic cards will get the job done, but using two dash removal tools to pop the retaining clips will make the job go easier. You will also need the functional hood scoops from an SRT-8 Challenger, which are P/N 55399338AB (right hand) and 55399339AB (left hand). The job is simple: lay some tape at the lower edge of the scoop on top of the hood. Using the removal tools/cards, pop the two clips at the lower edge of the scoop, then pull the scoop insert out. Insert the new, fully open scoop into the hole, then reach up under the hood and pull the tube through the hood. Remove tape and you are done.
Speedy of Speedy’s Garage performed the mod on his 2009 Challenger R/T, which packs a nasty Arrington-built Hemi with a Magnuson blower on top. He measured the under hood temperatures before and after the modification, and here is the difference in under hood temperatures:
The scoops as a pair are about $100 together on eBay (and possibly cheaper elsewhere) and the entire installation shouldn’t take but ten minutes if you are taking your time. It’s a simple upgrade that will bleed out some of that hot air from underneath your hood, and you’ll be able to shut up any joker who wants to make a crack at your “fake scoops”.
CLICK HERE to check out the original post, as well as see a video of the process!
Thanks to Speedy’s Garage for the information!
terrible idea! if it’s not ducted to an airbox(or a radiator, like the top mount intercooler of some performances compacts/hatches), then it’s doing nothing more than increasing underhood air pressure and creating lift – THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING!!!
the only non-ducted sort of hole(s) that you should have in your hood are extractor style(late model GT350/GT500, Z28, C7, ’03+ viper, ’03/’04 mustang cobra, etc., etc.). extractor style vents do exactly what you think – they extract air FROM the engine bay, thus decreasing lift. also, they SIGNIFICANTLY reduce underhood air temps – *FAR* more than this scoop mod ever will.
this scoop mod does nothing but hinder performance.
When I hear functional hood scoop I think of cold air getting to the intake system. This doesn’t do that. I don’t think think there is enough area in the in the two openings to accomplish that if you used them for that. I haven’t had the hood open maybe the already have cold air coming from another source.