1984 Trans Am Hood Function ???

[1984TransAm]

I have owned several Firebirds, but never one with the type of hood scoop mine has.(offset scoop). Underneath the hood there is a sort of valve with wires hooked to it and on top of the air filter there is a round hole that comes in contact with the hood when it is closed. I know this is probably for better air flow or "colder air"....but how exactly does all this work. I know some of the later Formulas have this hood also. Any help appreciated,
Thanks,
1984 Trans Am

[IronHorse]

Is this the thing your talking about?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ram-air-box-82-92-trans-am-firebird-l69-ws6_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43946QQihZ020QQitemZ300200419940QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[1984TransAm]

YES.....That is it....I was just curious as to how it worked....

Thanks!!

[IronHorse]

YES.....That is it....I was just curious as to how it worked....

Thanks!!

The little metal cylinder thing you see is an electric actuator. It opens up a flap inside the enclosurer, that in turn allows cooler air flow into the intake via the air filter.

Of course I have no idea what determines the opening of the flap but if I was going to make a guess? I'd say it is tied into the WOT setting through a activation switch located some where near the linkage for the fuel delievery system. I don't know if this was intended for a carburated vehicle or TBI system but both look simalar and both have linkages that look about the same...

Anyway, just from the apperances of it I'd say that when the accelarator is floored by the driver. The linkage swings to it's wide open postion which pushes in a pin on a switch that sends an electrically signal to the actuator on the hood. It then opens the flap. Otherwise the thing remans closed under normal engine load... Back in the late 60's and early 70's they had systems on several cars that had vacum assisted flaps that would open and close inlets on cowl induction hoods and the like whenever the accelarator was pushed to the floor.

Do some research and I'm sure you will learn how this thing works. If it doesn't function it should be fairly easy to make it work as long as the flap isn't frozen. That will require a bit more work. You could get it to open and close be  placing a switch in the car where you the driver could activate it at will. However I oppose this idea, makes it much more interesting if you can make it open and close depending upon how far the gas peddle is pushed...