Bonnet Snout Rubber Inserts

[99PBATR]

Curious one this. My Monaro has the standard 2 bonnet snouts with the plastic grille behind but mine has what can only be described as 2 large rubber inserts that fit in behind the plastic grilles. Are these standard as they actually seem to completely blank the plastic honeycomb mesh grilles from behind. Seems a bit daft as surely the snouts are there to allow air to flow into the engine bay . Mine is supercharged so does that have any reasoning why they are effectively capped off?

I'd be interested in knowing if others have this and did you remove yours?

[Lincsls1]

The bonnet inserts are standard, the snouts serve no purpose other than the aggressive look.
The cars cooling system has been designed and tested by the manufacturer with these blanked off, essentially exactly the same as the early pre-snout Monaro.
In fact removing the rubber inserts might actually make the car run hotter as the flow of air through the engine bay will be altered and not necessarily for the better. Its a complicated science, not one I understand but GM will have spent more than both you and I will ever earn in purely in R&D on the subject!
You will however get nice puddles of water on top of the engine where you don't want them.
Hope this helps.

[mfp4073]

I believe that the rubber inserts you're talking about are water baffles? they stop the engine bay getting too soaked in heavy rain.
Holden could have just made blank dummy intakes, but I suppose they wanted to give some credibility by making them semi functional.
They do allow heat to escape at low speeds but at high speed they are in the wrong position for a ram air effect, as most of the air flows over the top and not through them.....apparently?
Some people don't like the vented bonnet, but I think it looks great in a 1970's kind of way.
Mind you I don't care for after market scoops and vents that people stick on their cars, like a Volvo estate car I saw a while ago with a massive intake stuck on the bonnet!!!! for me it has to be a factory fitting to be acceptable.

Edited by mfp4073 on Wednesday 20th November 19:49

[Lee20k]

Would love a bonnet with vents as mine is one without but they are like rocking horse **** to find!

[vxr2010]

if people were willing to pay i’m sure a metal fabricator could make one up and look as the original one does , i would also like a vented bonnet but could not justify the cost , the money went on mods instead

[SturdyHSV]

As above, the nostrils are for appearances only, they don't serve a function and removing the inserts won't be of any benefit.

[Ronaro]

TBO I used to want a nostrils bonnet on my 04 CV8 but now I’m actually quite pleased I didn’t go down that road, as I much prefer the cleaner original look of the early models.

But as ever it’s down to personal taste!

[SturdyHSV]

Ronaro said:

TBO I used to want a nostrils bonnet on my 04 CV8 but now I’m actually quite pleased I didn’t go down that road, as I much prefer the cleaner original look of the early models.

But as ever it’s down to personal taste!

For me on the CV8 it looks more balanced without the nostrils, the HSV body kit sort of works either way.

[99PBATR]

Cheers guys, always get some useful answers on here...looks like they are staying put !

[anonymous-user]

If you do remove them, your engine bay will end up covered in mud. Leave them where they are.

[99PBATR]

They are staying exactly where they are

[Major Monaro]

I have played with them in and removed and have had abit of a cooler engine stuck in traffic in the summer as abit of heat escapes. But always leave them in as people have said your get a messy engine. I have also took engine cover off and left nostril plugs out and it makes a small difference in the summer not worth it tho

Edited by Major Monaro on Monday 25th November 21:32