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I have a 76 Stingray that I just installed a modified 1986 4 bolt main in. The intake is higher than stock and now I have to use a 2 inch air filter for the hood to close. That just seems a bit too restricting to me. Am I wrong?
There is a hood from a 1974 454 for sale locally but the seller told me it would not fit on my 76. Is he wrong about that? Pics of the hood below.
I can't be the only one who has run into this problem so I am open to suggestions.
I am also open to going another route and it is actually my preferred method. I have absolutely no problem with cutting a hole in the hood and installing a street scoop like in the photo below. Has anyone here done this? The only issue I see is that I think it will sit too low. I would like the butterflies to sit above the hood. I can't seem to find an adapter that will allow it to sit higher. If anyone has done this your input would be appreciated.
This is the hood for sale. Will that 1974 hood fit on my 76, or not? Also included is the street scoop I was looking at. I favor the scoop if it is doable.
I run a ACI brand Vented High-rise Hood. Gives a good 2 inches more clearance than a stock 77 hood. Which is already higher than a 76 hood. Google ACI Corvette fibreglass.
As per your street scoop idea. All that will get you is a ruined hood and a silly looking car.
Yes people have tried this type of thing. No it doesn't work out. Your engine is offset to the passengers side by a fair bit. No way to get your scoop centered. It'll look awful.
I considered one of those breathers as well. But, as mentioned above, the offset engine position is why I personally opted for a cowl. Got it from Jegs.
If I hadn’t already repainted the car I would have gotten a L88 hood and then gotten it all painted to match. But this was a good compromise for me. 4” clearance, easy install.
The ‘74 hood will bolt on just fine, but provide no extra clearance since they’re nearly the same exact design. I would list your intake part number as well as the air cleaner. A picture would be helpful.
I run an Edelbrock 2601 air gap manifold and a 3” air filter. With a proper drop base and dome on the top I have enough clearance above the carb to not affect performance while still fitting under a stock ‘76 hood.
Last edited by Piersonpie; Sep 9, 2025 at 10:34 AM.
I have a 76 Stingray that I just installed a modified 1986 4 bolt main in. The intake is higher than stock and now I have to use a 2 inch air filter for the hood to close.
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? Is the new motor itself setting any higher in chassis than the old motor was ? Specifically, Is the new crankshaft centerline any higher above the pavement than the old crank centerline was ?
That would require special motor mounts. Which would need to be fabricated up. One would have to actually try to get the engine up.
So, kind of unlikely.
The fact that the block is from the 80's means absolutely nothing. Which intake manifold he is running is the issue.
low rise intakes and drop base airfilters get the hood closed. But are a compromise. And the compromise is power.
I'd go taller hood everytime.
The ‘74 hood will bolt on just fine, but provide no extra clearance since they’re nearly the same exact design. I would list your intake part number as well as the air cleaner. A picture would be helpful.
I run an Edelbrock 2601 air gap manifold and a 3” air filter. With a proper drop base and dome on the top I have enough clearance above the carb to not affect performance while still fitting under a stock ‘76 hood.
my manifold is not any higher than yours, I don't believe. How much drop on your breather? Mine is about an inch and a half maybe. I know I can drop more, just not sure how much more.
That would require special motor mounts. Which would need to be fabricated up. One would have to actually try to get the engine up.
So, kind of unlikely.
The fact that the block is from the 80's means absolutely nothing. Which intake manifold he is running is the issue.
low rise intakes and drop base airfilters get the hood closed. But are a compromise. And the compromise is power.
I'd go taller hood everytime.
Exactly. And you are right, a block from the 80's makes no difference. Not sure why I even mentioned that. Maybe because I yanked out that gutless poor excuse for a vette engine and put in a decent motor that should be in the neighborhood of 375 hp or so. So ya.. that's probably why I brought it up for no reason.
But ya....totally agree, and I am not looking to compromise. I want that motor to be able to breathe. That is more important to me than looks, which means if I have to cut a hole in my hood to install a street scoop that sits off to one side and looks weird, then that is what I do. Besides, weird can still look good to some. If that wasn't the case there would be a lot more single people out there. Lol
I considered one of those breathers as well. But, as mentioned above, the offset engine position is why I personally opted for a cowl. Got it from Jegs.
If I hadn’t already repainted the car I would have gotten a L88 hood and then gotten it all painted to match. But this was a good compromise for me. 4” clearance, easy install.
Is it fiberglass or plastic? Is it just bolted on? I assume you just cut a round hole for the breather?
On another note, anyone know what this hood is from? Year? I find the 76 hood to be a bit "blah" to begin with. I will be painting the car once I am done under the hood, but I want to do something with the hood as well. I like the lookes of this hood. I can get it for $150. Probably 100 because it has been for sale for a while.
An LT-1 height intake manifold should fit a stock 73-79 hood.
If you use a GM AC 2.0" drop open element air cleaner.
Almost all other aftermarket air cleaners bases sit higher.
The 73-75 hoods have a working cold air package built into the hood.
That stopped in ~76 IIRC.
Taller intakes than the 4.57" LT-1 do not fit well, without compromised flow air cleaners.
C3 Corvettes and 70+ Camaros have the two lowest hoods around, in the musclecar years.
On another note, anyone know what this hood is from? Year? I find the 76 hood to be a bit "blah" to begin with. I will be painting the car once I am done under the hood, but I want to do something with the hood as well. I like the lookes of this hood. I can get it for $150. Probably 100 because it has been for sale for a while.
That's kind of a neat hood.
A cowl induction style similar to the chevelle or camaros.
And I like the vents.
The L88 hoods have a 2" rise at the back.
IIRC a 76 has about1"
The 2" rise fits a decent hi rise manifold even on a BB, and 1" more room than that on a small block.
So an inch above the LT-1 SBC intake.
Hood clearance
