Disadvantages of not having a hood...

I talked about this a couple months back, and would like to report my findings of no hood on my '94 Corolla just for the heck of it... and to get a few answers in return.

1) Parts are easily accessible to theives. Luckily, my battery and everything else is still intact.

2) No hood = more air drag. I try to stay off the Interstate as much as possible.

3) My heater needs at least 25min of warming up before it starts blowing out hot air. My heater was already crappy (slow) before, but it takes at least 10 min. more to get warm.

4) Water will foul out spark plugs and distributor cap/rotor... Changing plugs, cap, & rotor, while applying water gasket sealant, has helped this problem since the engine first started missing.

5) While returning to my car after a heavy downpour while at work, my battery was dead. I'm assuming this is because the alternator got wet and wasn't charging the battery on my drive to work.

QUESTIONS:

1) Am I correct in assuming that my last problem is related to the alternator and not just the battery's exposure to the downpour??

2) I'm wondering if flushing and/or replacing the heater core will help my heating issue, even if there is no hood?? My ol' lady has a 2005 Toyota Camry that spits fire the second the car comes on, and I'm wondering if that's even possible with my '94 model Corolla.

** Anyway, I am going to put the hood back on within the next week or so... I'm tired of people dropping their jaws and staring at me as I blow by them (particularly, the cops)!!

put the hood back on. then backflush the heater core, flush the cooling system, and see what happens. i dont know about your alternator problem, i would need more info. sorry i wasnt here before, i could have told you not having a hood isnt a good idea.

(particularly, the cops)!!
Those cops can (and may in future) give you a ticket for no hood.

A buddy of mine had a '69 GTO years ago and drove around with no hood, just because he dressed up the engine. He got a big ticket for missing proper safety equipment, because the exposed moving part represented a hazard to pedestrians.

sorry i wasnt here before, i could have told you not having a hood isnt a good idea.From having it off for a few months, it honestly isn't that bad... the only major problem I've come across is the alternator issue. I'm considering covering it with the water gasket sealant like I did with the plugs, cap, & rotor... but I figure it must be open for a reason, like cooling or something. But no hood means it'll stay cool, so perhaps the gasket sealer could work.

The only other obvious issue that hurts is fuel effeciency dropping while driving faster than 60mph. I highly doubt the weight I'm saving by keeping it off & driving under 60mph could counteract the extra fuel I use when on the Interstate.

But as I said, I'm gonna put it back on very soon anyway.

Those cops can (and may in future) give you a ticket for no hood.They can't do that unless they push the Mississippi legislature into adding a hood to the list of proper equipment... which they're not gonna do for lil' ol' me. Really, tho... I've already been pulled over like 5 times and the cops just stare at my engine and then ask me why my hood's off, I say it looks cool, and we go about our separate ways.

I called everybody in the state asking about proper equipment... no hood and doors necessary!! I should take off the 2 front doors for a day or two just so I can feel what it's like to ride in a Jeep Wrangler!

hey, its your life...
personally i would like to have the door there to protect me in a crash...

why dont you just go and get a motorcycle?
no doors, hood, roof, floor
cant get much better lol

why did you take the hood off in the first place anyway?

If you have no hood, in case of an impact...well...you're pretty much...gone!

I would argue it purely for asthetics

posers without hoods look gay on the street. Even at the drag strip, you're at best bandaiding for a poor induction system, and hurting the aerodynamics

It just looks dumb. Like a guy wearing short shorts and socks pulled up to your thigh.

I should take off the 2 front doors for a day or two just so I can feel what it's like to ride in a Jeep Wrangler!


It won't feel much like a jeep wrangler when the car folds in half.

Open both doors, then jack the car up by one corner as high as you can get it.
Then try shutting one door.

I must say this has been one of the most entertaining threads I have ever read. Especially towards the end (shorts with the high socks:rofl:)

It won't feel much like a jeep wrangler when the car folds in half.

Open both doors, then jack the car up by one corner as high as you can get it.
Then try shutting one door.

A couple of ricers got their car stuck on a speed hump at the university I went to.
They opened the doors to get out and the floor buckled.:lol:

because the exposed moving part represented a hazard to pedestrians.....or fire hazzard if the engine should backfire, and if oil or coolant leaks it could get blown on the windsheild or on pedestrians, or just some smoke blocking your view as your driving...then again I'm pessimestic. maybe its just an "expect the worst reaction" from having an engine scatter on me and another time a tranny line blew, both covered the engine compartment in hot oil.......:uhoh:

....or fire hazzard if the engine should backfire, and if oil or coolant leaks it could get blown on the windsheild or on pedestrians, or just some smoke blocking your view as your driving...then again I'm pessimestic. maybe its just an "expect the worst reaction" from having an engine scatter on me and another time a tranny line blew, both covered the engine compartment in hot oil.......:uhoh:

kinda like the scene in "the blues brothers"