This is for 68-72 owners. I was wondering if anyone here has replaced their stock hood with a later model "long" hood that allows for removal of the wiper door?

Before you get mad at me, I have two reasons for doing this. One, the guy I bought my vette from replaced the stock carb with a new holly that required an adapter plate. The increase in height forced him to put a 1" wide 5" diameter air cleaner on to be able to fit it under the hood. I think this thing looks horrible, plus I think that it restricts the air flow a lot. With the "long" hood, I know I will have more clearance, due to the cowl style of the hood, and will be able to fit a larger air cleaner under there.

Second, that wiper door is kind of a pain in the butt. I know this might be blasphemy around here, but there is a reason they quit making them after ’72.

What I want to know is, how hard is it to make the switch. Do the latches and releases stay in the same spot or do they have to be moved? Also if you have other suggestions that would solve my clearance problem I would be happy to listen. I would love to avoid buying a hood and having to repaint it. I guess I could go with a big block hood, but I figure if I’m going thru the process of replacing hoods I might as well get rid of that wiper door while I’m at it.

Latches and hinges stay in the same place. The hard part of the swap is the rear of the fenders. These have to be changed to match the contour of the later hood. I have never seen any that I thought looked very nice IMHO. Are you sure you get more clearance with a later hood? I would get a BB/LT1 hood before I got a later model one. FYI- be aware that the hood support is different 69-71 and 72-76. I have a 72 hood on my 69 and the bolts for the support are further up on the hood itself. Don't ruin the lines of the car with a later hood.

markdtn,

Thanks for the info. So let me get this straight, for the post '72 vettes the hood/fender contour is different than 68-72?? In other words if I put a “long” hood on my 72, I have to do some body work on the rear part of the fender to get it to match? If that’s the case then no thanks, I guess I will just have to find a 72 big block hood. No where I acan find one.

Also, don’t some companies produce an after market hood for 68-72 vettes that are long and allow for the removal of the wiper door? Maybe these hoods are made so that the fenders don’t need to be altered?

I think you are correct on the retro hoods. I have to see a car to remember exactly what the problem is. Something like the later hoods have a different contour the last few inches so the wipers can come up. To use a later hood on a 68-72 you end up with a blob of filler to make the lines match up. If someone else can explain it more eloquently please jump in.

Chris (aka 69myway) has a slick conversion package he put together that eliminates the vacuum system for the lights and was working on one for the wiper door. If you're not worried about keeping your Vette original I'd suggest getting in touch with him for an update on either conversion package.

Wouldn't it be easier just to replace the carb and air cleaner???

Gary,

The carb is a brand new holly (I'd like to keep it), so that means I can only use a 1½" deep air cleaner and be able to close the hood. I gues I could look into getting a thinner adapther plate, or mabe a different intake manifold.

Or I can find a big block or LT1 hood.

how about changing the intake manifold to one that dosen't need the adapter, just trying to come up with different ideas.

I'm with Gary, and I vote for a new intake. There cheaper than a carb, get the correct one so you don't have to use a adapter, so you gain the clearence. I also was going to do the hood switch, I know more than what is needed to make the change, I replaced the complete front clip on my 69, so building the corners would not have been the problem. I have seen a few cars with this modification done, one looked really good, the others left alittle to be desired, also what others said, it will alter the lines to the car on the fender corners and around the windsheild. My wipers don't work, don't tell anyone though. I have a new wiper motor, just never installed it, the cover needs some attention, but just don't have the time, besides, RainX works like a champ

Dave
Mr69vett

Thanks Gary and Mr69vette for the suggestion.

Getting a new intake manifold does seem a lot easier than buying a hood and having it painted. Also the more I think about it the more I like the way the 72 hood looks.

I guess this is a question for the engines area but I'll ask it here anyway. I have a 750 Holley, how do I go about finding an intake manifold that doesn't require an adapter?