Nooo. Ok, here's an attempt to figure out air flow.
Every object travelling through air creates either a lifting or downforce situation. Race cars use things like inverted wings to force the car down onto the track, increasing traction. The average street car however tends to create lift.
Air is rammed onto the front of the car. Once the air stagnates at the point in front of the car, it seeks a lower pressure area, such as the sides, top and bottom of the car.
As the air flows over the hood of the car, it loses pressure, creating lift. When it reaches the back of the hood/ base of the windscreen, it again comes up against a barrier, and briefly reaches a higher pressure. The higher pressure area in front of the windscreen creates a small (or not so small) downforce. This is akin to pressing down on the windshield and pressing air down into the interior air intake system. It's a good thing our engine compartment is sealed off from this open area.
The area over the roof and trunk is all lift and drag.
The underside of the car is also responsible for creating lift or downforce. If a car's front end is lower than the rearward end, then the widening gap between the underside and the road creates a vacuum, or low pressure area, and therefore "suction" that equates to downforce. Air could thus be sucked out of the engine compartment to the downside potentially.
On my 400E, the front dam is neutral in height with the rear, although i would say the engine tray is lower. I imagine that on my 400E, there is overall lift at speed, and no air being actively sucked down out of the engine compartment. In a 500E, esp. a lowered one, with the lower front dam, it might well be that at speed, air is forcibly sucked out of the engine compartment to the downside. I don't know for sure.
I think there is enough space around the engine and the tray behind, that i doubt making those exotic fins and vents is of use. Lower the dam first. Keep your fan clutch fully operable…or your electric fan system. Ensure you have all the proper rubber seals around the radiator, incl the one on top that is often left out!!! With all this, you will not overheat from inadequate air flow, and so not need to cut hot rod vents in your hood
Chris
