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Cowl - what does it do?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2003 7:07 am
by Knight Industries 3000
One of KITT's more distinctive stock features is the raised cowl on the driver's side of the hood. What is its real-world function? It's present on '82 Firebirds, but not on all third-generation F bodies, so what does it do?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2003 7:20 am
by Rockatteer
Hey I asked the same question in another thread...
looking forward to seeing the answer.
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2003 10:10 am
by autralianknight
i think something to do with air flow going into the engine or to
let the hot air out.. i could be wrong.
in australia we have the famous gt falcon and they have a shaker hood scoop which meens that when the engine turns on the shaker shakes..
any way they have the holes pointing towards the front of the car..
to let cold air in but for the cowl ones i think its to let the hot air out.
i could be wrong though
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2003 1:32 pm
by knightdriver
The tear drop scoop (KITT style) opens under excelleration and draws air into the injection system/carb. Air circulates in front of your windshield and that air is drawn in to provide the needed oxygen for your engine under higher RPM's. Front vented scoops are considered forced air (or Ram Air on some models)
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2003 3:17 pm
by Tony
knightdriver wrote:The tear drop scoop (KITT style) opens under excelleration and draws air into the injection system/carb. Air circulates in front of your windshield and that air is drawn in to provide the needed oxygen for your engine under higher RPM's. Front vented scoops are considered forced air (or Ram Air on some models)
In this case, The hood on KITT is called Air Induction
They had the same idea on the 80-81 Camaro Z28
On my KITT car, I have the Air Induction hood working
off of a switch in my upper console. So I can open and
close it when ever I want to..
The neat thing is, when I open my air induction my pursuit
light comes on...
Tony
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2003 6:22 pm
by Darknight
This particular cowl induction is meant to bring fresh, cool air into the engine under high demand conditions. It is specifically mated to the engine's air intake. Other forms of cowl induction actually allow the hot air to escape from beneath the hood. I personally prefer the first type.
DK
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2003 11:27 pm
by Knight Industries 3000
Thanks! Now I know... and knowing is half the battle.
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2003 11:39 pm
by Darknight
Yo Joe!
DK
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2003 11:52 pm
by Darknight
I forgot to mention earlier that the original reason for the cowl hood was for the placement of a turbo, but when Pontiac decided not to use the turbo, they kept the cowl, and just mated it to the air induction system.
DK
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2003 1:41 am
by knightdriver
Not sure if anyone knew this or not but this Hood was used on the second generation Trans Am's as well. It was used on the last of the second gen's and was carried over to the third generation KITT style cars because of the popular and good reactions of the earlier model. Just a neat little fact. The second Generation Trans Am's I have seen them on where always silver with a different accent color on the bottom. Blue or dark gold are two. and the eagles on the hood matched the accent colors. Yes, they used the big Firebird emblems on these hoods too. LOL...
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2003 7:36 am
by neps
Wow, good info to know. Thanks guys. Will make a note of it.