We must admit it took some nerve to cut a hole in the hood of this brand-new Hemi Magnum, but the improved performance and looks of the new Shaker scoop by Classic Design Concepts made the job worthwhile. |
Our initial impression of the kit was very favorable because it included all the pieces necessary for installation. Instructions were clear and concise, which allowed us to quickly begin our project. |
The first step was to locate the template that was included with the kit. this step is critical to a properly fitting Shaker system. |
With our template located, we tape off the hood in the area that it will be cut out. This will prevent damage to the hood's original paint. |
With our hood taped off, the template is taped back down to the hood. We can now cut out the center section of the template where the hood will be cut. |
Using a razor knife, we cut out the template, cutting through the tape on our hood to transfer the pattern of the hole we'll need to cut. |
The Chrysler Corporation has always been ahead of the game in terms of performance, and their new line of Hemi-powered, rear-wheel-drive cars is no exception. While they don't really resemble the musclecars that we remember from the '60s and '70s, we must admit that in terms of performance and luxury, these cars have a lot to offer. When it comes to styling, however, we tend to have a nostalgic side and love the look of the Shaker scoop that was found on early '70s E-bodies. These scoops were functional, stylish, and intimidating as they increased the induction roar while forcing cool outside air into the engine. Another cool thing about the shaker hoodscoop is that it is attached to the engine, thereby adding motion or "shaking" even when the car is sitting still. Kind of like those new wheels that keep spinning after the car is stopped . . . well, not really, but cool nonetheless.
When we learned that Classic Design Concepts of Walled Lake, Michigan, was producing a cold-air inducing Shaker scoop for the new Magnums and Chargers, we had to check it out. Classic Design Concepts has been manufacturing quality, aftermarket components since 1990 and has a reputation as an innovator in the design of stylish parts with factory quality fit and finish. Their materials and manufacturing processes meet or exceed OE standards, and their customer service is second to none. When we called we actually spoke with a real person, who answered all our questions and had our hoodscoop kit on the way in short order. Now all we needed was a Magnum to install it on. does Enterprise rent Magnums?
Actually, our friend J.D. from J.D.'s Paint and Body in Mulberry, Florida, had just the car we needed-he just didn't know it yet. When we first called J.D., we simply said we had a cold-air kit that we wanted to test on his new Magnum. Always willing to help out, J.D. said, "sure, come on over." When we arrived it was apparent that this was no ordinary cold-air kit. While the Shaker kit does route cool outside air to the engine, it also requires a giant hole be cut in the car's hood. We must admit that J.D. showed some concern that if he didn't like the finished product he'd be left with a Magnum with an enormous hole in the hood. so we told him if he didn't like it, we'd buy him a new hood (a blatant lie). Turns out we didn't have to make good on our offer as the Shaker hoodscoop is both stylish and subtle, adding to the Magnum's already muscular good looks. J.D. loved the new look of his car, and we were impressed at how easy the kit was to install.
When we opened the box it was obvious this was a quality kit. All the parts and hardware necessary to complete the installation were included, and the instructions were thorough, containing lots of pictures to help make the installation easier. The kit even included a template to trace the outline of the hole onto the hood for cutting. All the visible parts were already primed and just needed to be finish sanded before they could be painted. While it only took us about six hours to perform the complete installation, we did it over a two-day span because we painted the scoop and hood trim and needed to let them cure overnight. With the exception of a jig-saw with a metal cutting blade and a die-grinder with a cutting wheel, only basic hand tools were needed to complete the installation.
When finished, we were impressed with the look and sound the new scoop provided. The induction noise was noticeably louder from outside the car, but the Magnum's insulation and seals ensured that the cabin stayed nice and quiet. When we took a quick drive down the street, it was apparent the new forced-air induction was doing its job. Our seat-of-the-pants dyno told us that, along with the louder induction roar, came improved acceleration from the cooler intake charge. But what impressed us most about this kit was the new look of the vehicle. The Shaker scoop just looks cool on the new Magnum and really gives the wagon a sporty appearance.