you CAN open them....easy...but why? wont "help" any...and you`ll just get water in there if it rains...if you DO have hood insulation ,you will trap moisture...but , yes it "looks" real...but if you expect to get any benefits, none with out ramair set up....which is not cheap, and even then benefits are minimal....but a 400 hood looks great , I went the "cheap" way , just painted the "open" area in mine flat black....from 5' you cant tell if paint or open..