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Summary
  • A shaker hood is an air intake system that protrudes through the hood for better air intake.
  • It improves performance, provides cooler air, boosts aesthetics, and protects the engine against moisture.
  • Its disadvantages include high cost, added complexity for maintenance, and minimal performance gains.

The shaker hood once defined a generation of muscle cars. Originally designed to boost engine efficiency, they’re more of an aesthetic upgrade these days. But what exactly is a shaker hood? And why did it have such a chokehold on muscle cars in the 70s?

What Is a Shaker Hood?

A shaker hood, also known as the shaker scoop, is a type of air intake mounted on top of the engine’s air cleaners and protruding through a hole in the hood. Shaker hoods offer numerous benefits and add a distinct, aggressive look to a car. This alone made them popular among muscle car enthusiasts.

Larry Shinoda designed the first shaker hood for the 1969 Ford Mustang 428 Super Cobra Jet. Since then, the hood has been featured on different muscle cars, especially throughout the 70s. Some notable models include the Dodge Challenger and the Plymouth Cuda.

Why Is It Called a Shaker Hood?

shaker hood of 1970 plymouth cuda 440
The shaker hood got its name because it vibrates and moves as the engine runs, resulting in the scoop “shaking.”

The shaker hood got its name because it vibrates and moves as the engine runs, resulting in the scoop “shaking.” This is more noticeable when the car is idling or revving, hence the name.

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What Does a Shaker Hood Do and How Does It Work?

A shaker hood increases engine performance by allowing cooler, denser air to enter the engine. The shaker hood relies on two main components to let cooler air in: the special intake air scoop and the hood.

The scoop-shaped intake has intake vents positioned to force air into the engine. Think of it as a short ram intake that efficiently loads the engine with air. The shaker scoop’s location lets it direct airflow, forcing outside air to enter the engine as the car moves.

The hood is a standard car hood with a hole that fits over the intake scoop. Closing the hood reveals the scoop that comes up and out.

Shaker Hood Advantages

Besides giving cars a distinct look, a shaker hood offers many benefits, like improved performance, shorter air travel distance, cooler air, increased repeat air volume, and puddle protection.

Better Performance

In a way, shaker hoods help your car run better than standard air intakes. This is because an engine that receives denser air performs better, as it produces more power during combustion.

While the increased power is only slight, it’s noticeable enough when traveling at high speeds. Don’t expect notable improvement when driving at low speeds.

Shorter Air Travel Distance

Due to the location and setup of the shaker hood, air doesn’t have to travel far to reach the air filter and engine. This setup is more efficient than standard air intake systems, as it makes oxygen more readily available for combustion cycles.

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Cooler Air

Thanks to the shaker hood’s setup, the engine gets relatively cooler air compared to standard air intake systems. But why is this an advantage?

Cold air has a thicker concentration of oxygen, which means it produces slightly more power when used for combustion. This is why performance vehicles rely on a cold air intake system and why some drivers upgrade to cold air intake to drive faster.

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Increased Repeat Air Volume

The volume of air within each cylinder is crucial for combustion. If you want your engine to generate as much power as possible, the cylinders must get more fuel vapors to match the air. Shaker hoods do exactly that, as they deliver air to the engine using the scoop opening that pulls in more volume of air the faster you drive.

Puddle Protection

The shaker hood raises air’s entry point into the engine’s intake system, which conveniently protects your engine from moisture.

Driving through puddles isn’t as concerning when you have a shaker hood, especially compared to traditional muscle cars that aren’t made for driving through puddles. A shaker hood essentially fulfills the role of snorkels on an off-road vehicle, albeit not as effectively.

Shaker Hood Disadvantages

The three main disadvantages of shaker hoods are their cost, complexity, and limited performance gain.

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Cost

Installing and maintaining shaker hoods can be expensive, which is one of the reasons they went out of style for a couple of decades. The additional components and modifications are enough to turn people off.

Complexity

Shaker hoods also make maintenance slightly more complex. For example, adding oil to the engine might require removing the shaker top first because it sits on top of the engine.

Limited Performance Gain

Lastly, shaker hoods don’t offer many advantages compared to modern intake systems. In some cases, you might be getting minimal gains with a shaker hood. These days, they’re considered aesthetic upgrades.

Why Aren’t Shaker Hoods Popular Today?

There’s been a lull in the production of vehicles with shaker hoods due to the increase in gas prices in the 70s and 80s. Muscle cars with shaker hoods are pricey enough that consumers started shying away from them due to the added expense of gas.

Over time, shaker hoods have been less prevalent up until it was brought back in 2008 with the introduction of Dodge’s Challenger SRT10 concept. After six years, Dodge introduced the 2014 Challenger with the shaker hood again.

About The Author
Written By Automotive and Tech Writers

The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.

Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.

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John

Excellent article – very informative. One question though: if the shaker hood protects the engine from water when driving through puddles, How does the hood stop rain water from blowing in the intake when driving on the freeway – (basically horizontal rain blowing at 65 mph) ?
Thanks for any update/ answer.

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