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L88 Hood Install

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Old Feb 13, 2013 | 08:55 PM
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Default L88 Hood Install

Hi All,
Was thinking of getting the L88 hood from Eckerts but very nervous about the fit. Read a lot about the hood not fitting and all sorts of body work needed to get it to fit correct. Has anyone installed this hood? Is it a direct fit or was body work needed. Vendor claimed it's a perfect fit. Does anyone have any pictures of the install?

Thanks for you help.
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Old Feb 13, 2013 | 10:21 PM
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I ordered the Lt-1 hood from Ecklers. The first hood arrived damaged in shipping. Once I got that returned, they mistakenly cancelled my order. I still wanted the hood, so due to they're problem I finally got what I ordered plus they made it right and discounted it substantially

Ok so how does it fit. Damn near perfect. I still need to put in the rubber blocks along the fenders, but as it sits now, the front is faired really nice, the rear adjusted nicely and both sides are almost faired perfectly, that's where the rubber blocks come into play. No trimming or grinding was needed. All in all the hood is a good quality piece. I'd recommend it.

I'll post some pics soon.

Last edited by Sunstroked; Feb 13, 2013 at 10:25 PM.
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Old Feb 13, 2013 | 11:11 PM
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I got my L88 hood from Corvette Central. Don't know if its the same manufacturer, but it fits a lot better than the stock hood did.
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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 01:13 AM
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I have no idea of how they fit but I have seen some L-88 Hoods on e-bay for a great price and if I remember right they are press molded. Also Corvette Image probably produces a press molded Hood. Are You going to use the Air Chamber with the Hood? If so You will probably want it loose and then fit the Hood First and then the Air Chamber. Most Ecklers parts are Grey Gel Coat and ACI are White, or is it the other way around?
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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 10:38 AM
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Not sure what you've been reading, but you should expect to have to tweak any aftermarket hood to fit your car. For that matter, a stock hood would require fitting to your car.

You should never have to do any body work to get a hood to fit.

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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 01:39 PM
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Originally Posted by rodney25
Hi All,
Was thinking of getting the L88 hood from Eckerts but very nervous about the fit. Read a lot about the hood not fitting and all sorts of body work needed to get it to fit correct. Has anyone installed this hood? Is it a direct fit or was body work needed. Vendor claimed it's a perfect fit. Does anyone have any pictures of the install?

Thanks for you help.
What year is your car?.....68-72 short style, or 73+ long style?

I have the Ecklers L88 hood on my '69, and it fit with no problems...just use your hood cables and mounting hardware from your stock hood and you're good to go.

See my sig pic....
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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Gale Banks 80'
I have no idea of how they fit but I have seen some L-88 Hoods on e-bay for a great price and if I remember right they are press molded. Also Corvette Image probably produces a press molded Hood. Are You going to use the Air Chamber with the Hood? If so You will probably want it loose and then fit the Hood First and then the Air Chamber. Most Ecklers parts are Grey Gel Coat and ACI are White, or is it the other way around?
You were right the first time... Ecklers is Grey and ACI is White gel coat..
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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 07:51 PM
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Mine is a 1975 convertable. I was looking to get the short hood. I can do alignment but don't want to get into fiberglass or body work, just paint. Does anyone have any pics of rubber bumper c3 with L88 hood?
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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 11:28 PM
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Originally Posted by AmericanCustomInd
You were right the first time... Ecklers is Grey and ACI is White gel coat..
Thanx for the Tour of Your Shop last year when I stoped in at lunch time. Richard.
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Old Feb 15, 2013 | 08:08 AM
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The hood fit on my 81 just fine.

It is the air box piece that glasses in underneath to make the hood functional that doesn't fit worth a dang.

Large amounts of measuring, cutting and glassing to make it fit.

I've read on here where some have no problem at all, and others, like me, have massive amounts of work to make it fit right.

I even called Ecklers to see if this was the right air box. They assured me over and over it was correct and "should" fit.

Last edited by commander_47; Feb 15, 2013 at 08:09 AM. Reason: add
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Old Feb 15, 2013 | 06:09 PM
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I put a 'long' one on my '75. as Commander 47 said, the hood itself fit very well. I used 4 rubber bumpers total 2 midway along and two at the back. the real work was in the air box. It was not a great match to the underside hood contour and took a little trimming and glassing to make it work well. But in the end it works well. Since I was running 2x4s, I made an adapter to seal the carbs to the air box.

good luck

Lang G
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Old Feb 15, 2013 | 10:04 PM
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Have long had an Eckler's L88 style hood on my '78, which required some minor fitting, but that doesn't necessarily mean there was anything wrong with it. I've always been very happy with the result...

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