TheDucci

I am changing my hood over to a L88 style on my 1972. I have been working on the hood and did a test fit the other week and noticed the hood support from my stock 72 hood will not work. The mounting holes from the L88 seems to be much high. It has the same two hole mount similar to the 72 hood but high up on the hood frame making my 72 support to short. Is there any dimensions I can check to narrow down what year strut I need to purchase? Looking at some of the venders there seems to be a few different years of hood support.

Thanks

MelWff

you would need the 69 to 71 support. I switched from a stock 69 small block hood to an L88 and made no change to the support.

Easy Mike

Who made your hood? They should be able to tell you which hood support it needs.

TheDucci

I am not sure who made the hood. I got it for a smokin’ deal of CL it needed some work but I think it will look good. It does look like very old repo if that is what it is.

TheDucci

MelWff, do you think you could get me a measure from the top hinge bolt to the lower support bolt on the frame of the hood? This way I can double check it is the same depending on the manufacturer?

gbvette62

The 68 and 69-71 hoods all used a telescoping support, while 72 uses a folding one. To the best of my knowledge though, the support attaches to the hood at the same spot on all 68-72 hoods.

Is the L-88 hood you bought a short hood for use with the wiper door, a long hood designed to eliminate the wiper door on a 68-72, or an L-88 long hood, designed for a 73-82 car? If it was made for a 73-82, this may explain why the support doesn't line up.

TheDucci

The hood is the 68-72 stock design to use the wiper door. I know on my stock 72 hood there is two sets of dimples on the hood frame one lower set with the rivets and bolt holes and another set high that is not used. I have been wondering if this higher set is similar to where the older L88 hood support should/would have its rivets and bolt holes? Some of the venders list a 68, 69-71, and a 72-73 hood support and so-on? That is why I was hoping to get a measurement to see where the L88 hood I have fits in?

TheDucci

I took a measure on the L88 hood and the distance from the upper hinge bolt to the lower support bolt hole is 13.5”. This dimension is the same on my 72 stock hood for the other set of dimples (the upper set not used). Is there anyone out there that can verify this measure on a 69-71 hood mounting?
Thanks

MelWff

I can check tonight.

I got 13.5" also. The distance from the rear most bolt on the lower part of the hinge to the single bolt on the support attaching it to the fender lip was about 3.75". Hope this helps.

TheDucci

Thanks MelWff for the measure. I thought I would end up needing to order a 69-71 but now I know for sure as I did not know the manufacture of the hood.