Just got off the phone with the nice lady at Vanacor's, who quoted me some prices for an L-88-style hood and airbox for my '76. Pretty reasonable, actually: $425 for the hood; $95 extra for a bond-in airbox, plus a $25 crating fee.

Problem is--they're in Louisiana. I'm in California. She wouldn't tell me a firm shipping price but I suspect it's gonna be kind of spendy.

Anybody know of a West Coast source for Vanacor fiberglass parts? Or a comparable, quality alternative that's a little closer to the Left Coast?

 

Can't help on your end,but i stopped at vanacor's and looked around.Excellent quality looking parts.When i get around to changing the look of my 80, i will definitely getting my parts from them.I can go pick them up-about a 2-1/2 hr ride.

 

Why not call Vanacor back and ask who they wholesale their parts to...

 

I can't help you with a west coast supplier, but I think L-88 hoods are

 

I got my L88 from vanacor.

 

I'd be really interested in buying an L88 hood with the air chamber. Especially if it fit!!!! I would like an L88 hood for my 1970 so I need a shorter hood since I have the windshield wiper door in front on the windshield.

Fit is really important since if you take your car to a body shop to make the hood fit, you can get some really big prices to make it match. This is not like the body shops are trying to take advantage of you. They can truly have to do some tedious work to make it fit like it should.

Another thing. Just because you buy an L88 hood that will fit your car, don't assume that the hood latches will fit. I had a 427 1969 BB with, of course, the BB hood. I bought an L88 hood from Ecklers (in 1974). I had to pay a body shop to make it fit really good and also there was problem with the hood latches. My stock BB hood latches would not work. I had to buy some different latches. Of course I forget by now exactly which latches, but if you look at Paragon/Volunteer Vette catalogues you can see there are some latch hardware variations.

Doing some of these things is not easy, but this is why working on your car is really fun!!!

Anyhow, anymore more to say about Vanacor? Do they have a webpage. Of course, I'm wondering why they might be better than...
Ecklers? Ecklers is really the king of repro panels, (notwithsanding some grumbles).

 

I got the Eckler's L-88 hood for my 69 a couple of years ago. Nice fit...took a little massaging around the edges though. I think any hood will take some sanding and hood bumper adjustments to fit right. I doubt a many of us could swap factory hoods with each other and have a good fit. The C3 didn't have the best bodywork from the factory.

 

give j-d corvette in bellflower a call . I think they make their own fiberglass and their close enough where you could drive up there and check them out.Only thing is they cost a little more.