How hard is it to an L-88 intake on a stock
11-10-2016, 11:02 PM
#2
Safety Car
L-88 Hoods
I might be wrong but I assume that you are referring to the L-88 HOOD and not the actual L-88 single plane INTAKE Manifold....
The hardest part of the job was finding a good quality, well made, hood to start with. I spent a few months looking at hoods and was shocked at the differences in construction, cost and quality. The installation is not hard
Find the hood that "fits" your car. This means you have to be ready to "try it on" potentially. I marked my old hood mounting holes and loosened the hardware so I could remove the existing hood and re-install it without problems. Some of the hoods seem to be more "one size fits all". Some just didn't fit at all because of the mounting hardware locations.
I decided on a "pressed" or "molded" fiberglass hood but the prices were out of sight. I went to "Carlisle Corvettes" with a pocket full of cash hoping to get the right hood. I was fortunate, I found a man with a nice used painted L-88 Hood but he wanted $1800, he claimed it was a "real" L-88 hood but I hesitated. The seller was still there on Sunday and he still had it, I ended up buying a "documented" 1968 L-88 Hood for $225 cash at 4:30 pm on Sunday afternoon.
Two weeks later I got a surprise box in the mail from the seller with the original Holley Carb from a 1968 L-88 and a complete chromed "Wedding Cake assembly".
Just wait and find the best deal on a pressed fiberglass hood, the "laid up" hoods are not smooth inside and don't look stock. Also find one with all the hardware if you can, it gets expensive piece by piece.
Good luck!
The hardest part of the job was finding a good quality, well made, hood to start with. I spent a few months looking at hoods and was shocked at the differences in construction, cost and quality. The installation is not hard
Find the hood that "fits" your car. This means you have to be ready to "try it on" potentially. I marked my old hood mounting holes and loosened the hardware so I could remove the existing hood and re-install it without problems. Some of the hoods seem to be more "one size fits all". Some just didn't fit at all because of the mounting hardware locations.
I decided on a "pressed" or "molded" fiberglass hood but the prices were out of sight. I went to "Carlisle Corvettes" with a pocket full of cash hoping to get the right hood. I was fortunate, I found a man with a nice used painted L-88 Hood but he wanted $1800, he claimed it was a "real" L-88 hood but I hesitated. The seller was still there on Sunday and he still had it, I ended up buying a "documented" 1968 L-88 Hood for $225 cash at 4:30 pm on Sunday afternoon.
Two weeks later I got a surprise box in the mail from the seller with the original Holley Carb from a 1968 L-88 and a complete chromed "Wedding Cake assembly".
Just wait and find the best deal on a pressed fiberglass hood, the "laid up" hoods are not smooth inside and don't look stock. Also find one with all the hardware if you can, it gets expensive piece by piece.
Good luck!
Last edited by ctmccloskey; 11-10-2016 at 11:14 PM. Reason: added one point
11-11-2016, 10:19 AM
#3
Le Mans Master
Stinger fiberglass sells to ecklers and others.they make nice stuff press molded etc. for a reproduction I couldn't recommend anyone more highly.I've been in their factory several times.they are passionate about the products they sell.
11-16-2016, 10:43 PM
#4
My '73 has a '77 LS6 crate motor we installed in back then. It has the "198" intake, with L88 cold air set up. Don't remember the make of the hood, but I like it better than the classic factory hood because I've never been a fan of fake "vents".
11-17-2016, 08:33 AM
#6
Dr. Detroit
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11-17-2016, 11:22 AM
#7
Le Mans Master
I was told by an SCCA racer that chevy put it there for that reason,to be cut out for ventilation.they couldn't do it at the factory because they didn't want rain water getting in. I think calling it a fake vent may be stretching it a bit. I wonder what people would think of the Baldwin Motion hood I'm working on now. certainly no fake vents there.
11-17-2016, 12:16 PM
#8
Safety Car
I agree. I guess it is mostly personal preference but not having the front vents isn't a big issue in my opinion (though I do think they look nicer with them). I was more concerned with having a functional cowl.
11-17-2016, 11:16 PM
#9
Hood
Haha...well, I don't care for potentially dumping water down into my engine compartment with an opened up factory hood, although, the car hasn't seen rain in about 40 years.
Just a matter of personal opinion.
Fortunately, the airbox lines up with the carb/manifold/base set up.
Just a matter of personal opinion.
Fortunately, the airbox lines up with the carb/manifold/base set up.