a) the hood is heavy
b) (for the 951) it tends to run hot in summer
c) it tends to run very cold in winter (due in part to the hood scoop installed for b) above)
d) the lack of winshield cowl allows various debris to enter the battery/fuse box trays

I'm looking for a fabric that's:
a) waterproof
b) somewhat flexible
c) can withstand engine heat

I'd like to be able to stretch the fabric taut over the hood area and pin it to the points shown in black circles in the image.

The hard part is going to be making it look presentable when on.

I haven't seen anyone do this, any ideas on how to start?

 

If the car is running hot or cold you have a problem that is not related to the hood.
You don't need a hood scoop to keep a 944 cool.

You could make a seal of some type to protect the cowl area...even a cut-up pool noodle jammed into place would work.

 

Is there a type of fabric that would stand up to air flowing over/around it at highway speeds? Whatever they make sailboat sails out of might be best suited but even that would deform at road speeds. Not to mention that's a large surface area so any dynamic pressure from the air will go a lot farther.

 

+1 to both. I've run a 951 at -10 F and +110 F, and the temps work out fine regardless. I'd check on your cooling system and go from there. And closing off the cowl in the winter makes more sense than anything else if needed.

 

If you are seriously looking into options to save weight by replacing the hood with fabric, it would be challenging to make it aesthetically acceptable. Stretching fabric over the engine will not look normal. I can imagine the air box and fuel rail causing bumps in the material unless you find a solution. You would need heat tolerant material. odonnell's point about it blowing in the wind is another concern.

 

Well, it will bounce around, the thin glass hood on the turbo bounces a lot at speed (can't see as much from the roof cam, but in-car very noticeable)

As to heat, I'm with the others, and I live in FL.

 

Maybe if you built a basic, lightweight structural skeleton you will be on to something.

Maybe if you used something like the below to build a frame then stretched + mounted a material. Tarp is made so strong and in so many different varieties today tat you could probably find what you wanted in guards red. Wouldn't look brilliant but it might weigh only 5 lbs.

 

By the time you add spars and stringers to support the fabric so it doesn't go into a flutter mode and shred itself I bet you're not saving any weight. If you're worried about weight, get a fiberglass hood. If you're worried about heat, cut holes in said fiberglass hood.

If you want to further convince yourself this is a bad idea, roll down your window and tape a piece of plastic over it and drive down the highway.

 

Just remove the hood - that's what the drift guys do.

 

This

 

LOL. But it can be done!

 

Troubleshoot cooling system, it should work no matter what outside temp is.

 

He mentioned weight reduction.

 

By all means it is your car, if you want to run dryer hose exhaust and tarp hood go for it. That's what makes America great, but my opinion is below. Take it with a grain of salt.

 

What he said.^

I can't believe this was a serious post.