L88 Hood Install
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 234
Likes: 15
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.
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.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 147
From: S Nevada
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.
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.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,720
Likes: 556
From: Seattle Washington
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?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
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.
You should never have to do any body work to get a hood to fit.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,926
Likes: 739
From: Youngstown Ohio
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.
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.
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....
Former Vendor
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 905
Likes: 5
From: Sylvania OH
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?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 234
Likes: 15
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?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,720
Likes: 556
From: Seattle Washington
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 956
Likes: 86
From: McDonough Georgia
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.
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
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
From: Forty Fort PA
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
good luck
Lang G
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
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...
