Anyone have Niche Performance (NPI) hood?

[The Screwdriver]

http://www.nichepi.com/94-04mustang.htm

I've heard a lot of stories about them, but nothing first hand. Has anyone ordered one of their cobra 2000 NPI functional heat extractor hoods... carbon or fiberglass? The vents can be closed underneath. Just wondering how it worked... notice any decrease in under hood temps? How was it in the rain - did the closeable vents work to keep crap out of the engine compartment? How was the fit and finish - did it feel flimsy? How was NPI to deal with?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[RedBullitt]

its a cool hood, but my the fit of mine left some to be desired. just couldnt get it to lin up with the fenders. might have to play with it a little more. basically a big panel bolts to the underside of the vents with maybe a dozen or so screws. I dont like this idea of screwing things into my fiberglass, so this summer i am going to try and rig something else up with washers and real bolts. Lots of air does move out thought the vents, but im not sure how much it affects the temperature.

 

[merc123]

I don't have the NPI hood, but I have the Cobra R replica hood. I would think that if it rains it would be really bad. When it rains on my hood the water sits in the "vents" and it is really dirt when it dries. It's not like driving in the rain and you have a dirty car, it is really nasty.

Now imagine that dirtiness dropping down on to your plenum and intake and possible your COPs.

 

[saleen556]

I have the hood and I can also say the fit is not as good as I would like. The curve to it is a little much compared to the fenders. I haven't taken the panel off yet so I am not sure the difference in engine temps it makes. I got a good deal local so I didn't pay any shipping. That is the reason I got it. I would suggest a cervini hood as I have heard alot of good things about them.

 

[The Screwdriver]

Other than fitment issues... anyone have problems with water getting in? With or without the cover on? Also, does the cover screw directly into fiberglass... or are there nuts in there to anchor/reinforce it?

 

[loudog_jon]

Do not buy from them! I purchased the hood from them and it came shipped in horrible crating and broken corners. The crating consisted of two wooden posts anchored to the mounts, and cardboard surrounding the hood itself. The guy that owns the company, also their only customer service person, would never answer his phone after he got my number on caller id. I tried to file against the shipping company, but since it was signed for, i had no claim. it ended up costing me another $400 to get it fixed. Now the sides of the vents are cracking, which may be due to a poor prep job. My suggestion would be to never buy a thing from this guy. Good Luck.

 

[blubullett]

I was going to buy one of those but they didnt have carbon fiber in stock. I got a VIS one and the fitment is horrible. Could barely even get the bolt holes to line up.

 

[The Screwdriver]

Wow, loudog_jon , that really sucks. Thanks for letting me know. I was just about to order too, thanks for replying. Did you get a fiberglass or carbon fiber one? How long ago was this?

This is going to seem like a stupid question, but aside from terrible shipping/packing, horrible customer service, and now cracked vents... have you had any problems with the hood in the rain or the vent cover panel? Among other things, I'm not convinced that the hood would hold up to repeated uninstall/reinstall of the vent cover because it screws directly into the fiberglass.

-Jim

 

[RedBullitt]

i have never had any water issues with the cover on, but i gurantee you would have issues with the vents left open, swimming cops at least... i got a fiberglass one. screw, i think you are right about the screws, i have been trying to figure something a little less half assed out, thought about playing with some epoxy, washers and real bolts maybe.