L88 hood
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 75
Likes: 4
From: Boise Idaho
L88 hood
I know this topic was recently covered but I am going to put it differently.
I need more hood clearance on my 71 sb after doing an engine swap and the factory hood isn't going work. I like the looks and idea of the L88 hood that keeps the wiper door functional.
Do you guys recommend buying an aftermarket l88 hood (from ecklers or aci?) , or have a body shop add an l88 scoop to the existing sb hood - if that works and maintains the same appearance?
Thanks.
I need more hood clearance on my 71 sb after doing an engine swap and the factory hood isn't going work. I like the looks and idea of the L88 hood that keeps the wiper door functional.
Do you guys recommend buying an aftermarket l88 hood (from ecklers or aci?) , or have a body shop add an l88 scoop to the existing sb hood - if that works and maintains the same appearance?
Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Im with you on keeping the cool wiper door,
As far as hiring a bodyshop to glass a scoop to your hood or buy one, weight pros and cons,
I bought a nice old school 70s L88 hood hand laid so nice it almost looks like press molded, it has the cold air box and i paid 125.00 found on Craigslist,
Hood fit, be it stock or aftermarket varies car to car,
The guy who says " oh my aftermarket hood fit perfect no work"
Was lucky,
So in that IF you have a small block hood that fits good it might be the best bet to have an L88 scoop added to it,
The 68 to 72 small block hood has a stinger and a 67 427 scoop looks so nice it could be factory on those,
If you have a 68 to 72 bb or LT 1 hood, im jealous
As far as hiring a bodyshop to glass a scoop to your hood or buy one, weight pros and cons,
I bought a nice old school 70s L88 hood hand laid so nice it almost looks like press molded, it has the cold air box and i paid 125.00 found on Craigslist,
Hood fit, be it stock or aftermarket varies car to car,
The guy who says " oh my aftermarket hood fit perfect no work"
Was lucky,
So in that IF you have a small block hood that fits good it might be the best bet to have an L88 scoop added to it,
The 68 to 72 small block hood has a stinger and a 67 427 scoop looks so nice it could be factory on those,
If you have a 68 to 72 bb or LT 1 hood, im jealous
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,192
Likes: 343
From: Allenton Wisconsin
An after market L88 hood scoop has a rise of almost 4 inches. The L88 hood has a rise of about 2 inches. Which intake are you going to use. I've got a 2701 Edelbrock under a stock 69 SBC hood and stock air cleaner with 1/4 in of clearance. I agree with the Bats that the LT1 hood is the best looking hood for the early C3s. You might want to question the forum to find out which manifolds fit under the LT1 hood for the SBC. T
I had an aftermarket L88 hood scoop on the 6t8 for awhile and couldn't see the right front fender, didn't like that at all.
I had an aftermarket L88 hood scoop on the 6t8 for awhile and couldn't see the right front fender, didn't like that at all.
Last edited by terrys6t8roadster; May 12, 2018 at 03:02 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,988
Likes: 101
Personally I think the low L88 hood that goes to the windshield looks best. Never liked that big space that the wiper door demands.
Maybe I'm just getting old but the stock flush hood is worth keeping with the wiper door over any potential power gain of a hi rise intake. If anything I'd go with a stock BB hood.
I have this GM white glass hood, fit worse than the original.
Maybe I'm just getting old but the stock flush hood is worth keeping with the wiper door over any potential power gain of a hi rise intake. If anything I'd go with a stock BB hood.
I have this GM white glass hood, fit worse than the original.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
Personally I think the low L88 hood that goes to the windshield looks best. Never liked that big space that the wiper door demands.
Maybe I'm just getting old but the stock flush hood is worth keeping with the wiper door over any potential power gain of a hi rise intake. If anything I'd go with a stock BB hood.
I have this GM white glass hood, fit worse than the original.
Maybe I'm just getting old but the stock flush hood is worth keeping with the wiper door over any potential power gain of a hi rise intake. If anything I'd go with a stock BB hood.
I have this GM white glass hood, fit worse than the original.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,988
Likes: 101
We agree!
Does anyone sell a hood skin and the substructure separately?
Always thought that would be the best way to buy a new hood and make it fit with the least amount of headaches. I know if I were shopping that is what I would be looking for.
Does a stock 68 to 72 BB/LT1 hood provide more carb clearance?
Does anyone sell a hood skin and the substructure separately?
Always thought that would be the best way to buy a new hood and make it fit with the least amount of headaches. I know if I were shopping that is what I would be looking for.
Does a stock 68 to 72 BB/LT1 hood provide more carb clearance?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 365
From: Tolland CT
I ran into the same issue: I know that my aftermarket manifold and air cleaner will not fit under a stock hood.
You mentioned having a bodyshop glass in a hood scoop. I am currently modifying my stock hood for a stinger style scoop simply because I really like the look
I don't have any finished pictures yet since I just started this project two days ago but it really is not terribly difficult. Here is my progress so far
Marking for the cutout.
The hole
Scoop bonded to the hood.
I chose to go with a lower profile scoop which is giving me approximately 2.5" of extra clearance. It is raining today so I will not be doing any fiberglass work but as soon as it dries up I will be finishing the underside with fiberglass and then blending the scoop into the hood for a seamless look.
You mentioned having a bodyshop glass in a hood scoop. I am currently modifying my stock hood for a stinger style scoop simply because I really like the look
I don't have any finished pictures yet since I just started this project two days ago but it really is not terribly difficult. Here is my progress so far
Marking for the cutout.
The hole
Scoop bonded to the hood.
I chose to go with a lower profile scoop which is giving me approximately 2.5" of extra clearance. It is raining today so I will not be doing any fiberglass work but as soon as it dries up I will be finishing the underside with fiberglass and then blending the scoop into the hood for a seamless look.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
And there is something about a short L88 hood on a 68 to 72 that is just too cool looking to me,
Even old school racer ( yeah, i love the road race look ) might have used a wiper door cover panel but still didnt slap long hoods on there in the better looking examples,
but i also like recessed headlights, not fia frog eyes but ecklers style,
I have a set but also kept my pop ups, i flip flop , like with the wiper door something way cool about the lights opening and of course i will use acctulators for that,
Carjunkie,
You hit the nail, i have no idea if anyone sells hood parts but if you can get the skin and under structure not bounded then fitting to the car is far easier for someone with average body work skills,
Mike,
The 67 427 on a 68 to 72 sb hood to me looks so good the factory could have offered it....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,178
Likes: 111
From: Plains Pa
P/S........I like the scoop you're bonding but you may have trouble on the top....it's very flimsy and a pia to get flat........you may have more mud on that scoop than you may expect to have plus weight.....jmo
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 75
Likes: 4
From: Boise Idaho
Before/after. Small block hood definitely isn't going to fit 😏. Might have to reduce the carb spacer size and the switch air cleaner nut to get enough clearance to fit under the l88 hood.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,993
Likes: 1,136
From: League City Tx
A 2" drop base air cleaner like the repro LT1/L88 air cleaner will free you up some room.. Your base looks like its only 1.5" drop.
Definitely do the 2" drop first and see how much more room you need.
Definitely do the 2" drop first and see how much more room you need.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,926
Likes: 739
From: Youngstown Ohio
Measure the space between the top of your air cleaner and the drip rails. If it is 4", the stock L88 hood will not be tall enough. You will have to get the Ecklers L88 Tall Style hood. The stock style L88 hood has 1½" less clearance.
Tall Style L88 Hood......https://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corv...1968-1972.html
Tall Style L88 Hood......https://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corv...1968-1972.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I got this one from Vanacor (no longer in business, sorry) I have a Weiand dual plane intake on a BB and have 3 inches between the air cleaner and the hood. No wiper door- sorry guys- PO got mud splashed by a truck years ago, turned the wipers on and the door would not open. Door went bye-bye.
Just to give you an idea of what a taller than normal BB hood looks like.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 416
From: N J
I don't know if it will help with your situation, but when I put a BB in my 77 with a performer RPM intake, the answer to close the stock hood was a choke-less carb, a drop base air cleaner and a flat cap. No issues at all.
Just a thought. Good luck.
Just a thought. Good luck.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 705
Likes: 96
From: Ventura County CA
I got this one from Vanacor (no longer in business, sorry) I have a Weiand dual plane intake on a BB and have 3 inches between the air cleaner and the hood. No wiper door- sorry guys- PO got mud splashed by a truck years ago, turned the wipers on and the door would not open. Door went bye-bye.
Just to give you an idea of what a taller than normal BB hood looks like.
In black it really stands out.