A Vented Hood That Actually Moves Air: HPO’s Twin Turbo Z06

Justin from Horsepower obsessed is a long time friend and supporter of the brand, and just as he finished his Twin Turbo Build we released our Frunk Duct Kit,which is a direct integration for the RSC ZR1.2 Hood. In addition to the aerodynamic benefits, on a twin turbo car that uses the center heat exchanger as an intercooler, this ducting will also increase the cooling efficiency as a result of the increased air flow through the heat exchanger.  Needless to say, Justin jumped on the opportunity to come out to RSC HQ in Columbus, Ohio and get it installed! 

This is the story of his visit to RSC and his latest upgrade.

Meet Justin from Horsepower Obsessed

If you've researched a Corvette mod in the last few years, there's a good chance you've watched Justin. He's the host of Horsepower Obsessed, a YouTube channel built around C7 and C8 Corvettes. In 2020 he left his career in IT to make videos full time, right as the mid-engine C8 hit the street, and the channel became a go-to source for C8 news, from his first drive in the Z06 to build breakdowns and garage mods. Where he really earns his audience is ownership. His long-term reviews cover what's held up, what hasn't, and which mods are actually worth the money. His own garage backs it up: a black 2019 C7 ZR1, a C8 Z06 he's since built with a twin-turbo kit, and a new Ram TRX for good measure.

The RSC ZR1.2 Hood 

The ZR1.2 Hood is one of the most ambitious parts RSC has developed to date. It's a unique RSC design, sculpted by one of the finest OEM digital sculptors in the industry - the kind of talent typically reserved for Big Three manufacturers. Every crease, radius, and transition was developed to complement the C8's existing design language, not fight against it. The ZR1.2 hood looks like it belongs on your C8 from every angle, aggressive without crossing the line. The kind of detail that makes people walk up to your car at a meet and ask if it’s a special edition Corvette. 

Shaping: The hood is shaped in the spirit of the ZR1 hood, with a vent opening sized right for the front of the C8. Every line is meant to flow into the fenders and front fascia the way a factory panel would. We built multiple full-size prototypes and test-fit each one on the car to get the fit as precise as possible before we cut production tooling. The goal was a hood that looks like it came straight from Bowling Green.

Louvers: The louver system closes off the underside of the hood so the hood looks finished from every angle. When running the street configuration there is a carbon fiber block off panel that bolts into the underside the hood.  In the street configuration; the ZR1.2 hood offers a great ZR1 style hood option that retains the factory frunk area for storage and daily use.

Drainage: When running the hood in the street configuration (non functional mode) the hood has built in drainage and utilizes the factory drainage holes in the front bumper, so any excess water drains off instead of puddling in the vent area like other ZR1 style hood.

Weave: Our visible carbon fiber ZR1.2 hood features a split weave down the middle to match any other GM or RSC visible carbon components on your Corvette.  Our pre-impregnated, autoclave cured, carbon fiber produces the finest weave that is flat, consistent, and free of defects even under harsh sunlight. 

Finish: Like everything we make, the hood is  coated with a high end OEM grade clear coat with the best UV inhibitors to produce a deep luscious finish that is astoundingly clear and won’t yellow over time. Our ready to paint options are available and come in a primed finish - to simplify things for your paint shop and can be ordered with our Carbon Fiber Louvers or Carbon Flash Black Metallic Louvers. 

The Fitment: The ZR1.2 Hood fits the C8 Stingray, Z06, Grand Sport, Grand Sport X and Eray. Does not fit the Zr1. The ZR1.2 Front Hood utilizes the factory mounting locations for the hinges and frunk latch.  It installs just like the factory hood with no modification required to your C8 Corvette.

Multiple Finish Options: 

• Visible carbon fiber (HPO's spec) 
• Ready to paint + visible carbon fiber louvers
• Ready to paint + Carbon Flash Black Metallic louvers

Justin runs the visible carbon fiber hood on his Sea Wolf Gray Z06. It adds to the high-contrast look and sets the front of his car apart from the rest.

RSC ZR1.2 Hood: https://www.racingsportconcepts.com/collections/corvette-c8-z06-carbon-fiber-parts/products/zr1-front-hood-carbon-fiber-corvette-c8-stingray

The Frunk Duct Kit

If you’re the type of person that doesn’t add parts unless they are functional than the RSC Frunk Duct Kit & ZR1.2 Hood is the combination for you.  The ZR1.2 hood can be installed as a stand alone piece that retains the frunk OR you can make it totally functional with our modular Frunk & Duct Kit. 

Justin is running the functional configuration as he just upgraded to a Twin Turbo system and it assists the turbos to stay cooler, essentially his center heat exchanger has been repurposed to act as the intercooler for the turbo kit. 

RSC Functional Frunk & Frunk Duct Kit: https://www.racingsportconcepts.com/collections/corvette-c8-z06-carbon-fiber-parts/products/c8-functional-hood-kit-carbon-fiber

Street configuration. The Front block off panel goes in. You keep full frunk storage, and the hood still has the vented ZR1.2 look with a beautiful visible carbon fiber frunk, and still have room for groceries or a helmet bag. 

Functional configuration. The Frunk Duct goes in and the hood now becomes functional. It creates a sealed path for hot air from the central heat exchanger area, through the frunk, and out through the hood. Justin prefers this configuration to help cool his turbos and add down force to the front of his car.

Switching between configurations give you more flexibility. Run the duct kit through the warm months for track days, then pull it out and put the frunk block off plate and hood block off back in, and you have your factory frunk space again. Only now it's a carbon fiber frunk, with the same access to your factory battery tender location and a carbon fiber cover to protect it. Justin runs the Frunk Duct full time!

One thing to note: the Frunk Duct Kit only works with the RSC ZR1.2 Hood.

Fitment: Fits the C8 Stingray, Grand Sport (with bumper modification), Z06 - does not fit any AWD C8 Corvettes. Don't not fit the ZR1 or ZR1x. 

The Installation & Initial Thoughts with Justin 

Justin got to HQ in the early afternoon and we immediately got to work. We washed his vehicle before we got started because we like to work on clean cars and his car is too beautiful to be dirty. TJ started removing the frunk trim pieces and began removing the stock frunk. He also unplugged the factory harnesses and began drilling out the keyless entry module from the backside of the stock frunk. He re-installed the keyless entry module into the carbon fiber frunk and brought over the stock charging module, as it integrates with our frunk duct tub. He then installed the Duct kit into the tub and buttoned up the installation. 

Justin was blown away with the quality and overall fitment, was happy to finally have a solution to keep the turbos cooler instead of recirculating hot air. He filmed his own video of the process and more in-depth context, give it a watch as it's from his perspective and point of view! 

In Closing 

It's always a treat when Justin comes out to the shop. He made some great content, and he's been a staple in our crew for a long time. We appreciate him, and we love seeing how far his twin-turbo C8 Z06 has come.

Thank You Justin!