Hi all, hope your Spring is as nice as ours here in central Texas. I have several big block hoods that I've acquired over the years, and need help identify them as repo/original/year. Actually, I have one known repo '69-'72 BB hood. It has no 427 or 454 holes drilled (so I guess it was for an LT1?). It has different rivets (different than the other hoods) for the hood support and the hood latches. It also has a very smooth finish on the underneath with no glass strands showing. It also has the hood prop mounting provisions at both what I will describe as the 12" and the 17" locations. The three BB hoods that I believe are original all have the number 48262 (larger numbers) on them, and what looks like 0103 9 followed by 01 11 followed by 12357. One hood that has the extra release cable bracket has the hood support at the 17" position with no dimples at the 12" position, and has the 427 emblems. The hood with only one cable mount has the same hood support configuration. The third hood has the 454 emblems, one cable support, and the hood support is at the 12" position with dimples at the 17" position. NOW, I also have 3 L88 hoods, but there are no numbers on these?? Should there be? One of these has the support at the 12" position with dimples at the 17' position, and two of these have the support at the 17" position with no holes or dimples at the 12" position. Should there be drain or bezel holes in the L88 hoods? All of these 427 and L88 hoods have the press molded appearence with light glass strands showing, and have what look like the correct rivets. Thanks for any info, george
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Re: '68/'69 BB and L88 hood questions
George ---
The hood with 427 numbers sounds like a '68 or '69 hood.
The one with 454 numbers may fit with '70 thru '74 models.
L-88 hoods had the numbers and, I believe, drain holes.
If someone more knowledgeable provides more exacting information based on the info you provided, I'll be here to read their input. Maybe Joe Lucia will respond???
BTW - you have email.
Kent #6201Kent
1967 327/300 Convert. w/ Air - Duntoved in 1994
1969 427/435 Coupe - 1 previous owner
2006 Coupe - Driver & Fun Car !!!
NCM Founder - Member #718 -
Re: '68/'69 BB and L88 hood questions
The hoods you have are likely not from original production L88's as the cars were rare. The hoods themselves were commonly purchased through Chevrolet dealers to be installed on other Corvettes to allow running a high-rise intake manifold, so they are likely factory hoods. I have not yet seen an aftermarket L88 hood that was press molded. The service hoods were not drilled for the 427 emblems, that was left up to the buyer. The L88 hoods also never had the two trim pieces like the big block/LT1 hoods, so no holes. There were at least two types of L88 hoods with respect to the air plenum chamber. One type has the plenum pressed from the same piece of fiberglass as the hood support frame and is apparently less common (my sample also had a 1/4" thick support at the rear opening scoop). The other type has the support frame separate from the plenum chamber and has a 1/8" thick support at the back of the scoop opening. What do yours have?
Thanks,
MarkComment
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Re: '68/'69 BB and L88 hood questions
Ok, so no holes for the trim pieces, and if a GM aftermarket hood, no holes for the 427 emblems. How about a drain hole? Also, should there be part numbers on the L88 hoods like the production BB hoods? Mark, thanks for the question about the plenums; I didn't notice the difference untill you pointed me in that direction. One of the L88 hoods has the plenum that is pressed from the same piece of fiberglass as the support frame, and has a 1/4" support at the rear. The other two hoods have the seperate plenum with 1/8" supports. One of theae supports is like an I beam with one of the bottom "legs" gone on the bottom left. The other is like an I beam with the top left and bottom right legs gone---making it look like an S. Also, on these two hoods, the area along the rear support frame (top or plenum side)is flat, while on the other hood there is a recessed area. This is great guys, please keep the info coming. GeorgeComment
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Re: '68/'69 BB and L88 hood questions
Tried to check my hoods for the numbers you mentioned, unable to find any but it's in a poorly lit garage. Any way you could send a picture to show where I should look?
Thanks,
MarkComment
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Re: '68/'69 BB and L88 hood questions
George:
My '71 LS-6 coupe has the same sequence of numbers you stated in your intial post.Comment
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Thanks Warren NM *NM*
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Re: '68/'69 BB and L88 hood questions
Mark, the numbers are located near the rear of the hood (towards the wiper door). They are "raised" and fairly easy to see. Hope this helps, g.Comment
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found them!
The ones I found on my 1970 built 3/70 were 1/8" high and looked like some kind of tracking system for date. I have seen similar numbering on other fiberglass panels like the rear valence but I think those numbers were 1/4" high.
I was unable to see any numbers on the L88 hood but the cowl induction covers that area.
Do all of your hoods have the same numbers or do some have more digits than others?
MarkComment
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Re: found them!
Mark, all of my BB hoods have the same numbers. I cannot find any numbers on the L88 hoods----likey covered by the plenum piece. Now if we could just figure out what these numbers mean; but I guess if my 4 different year BB hoods have the same numbers, then there is no date code info, meaning that all BB hood skins were made from the same mode? G.Comment
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Re: found them!
It may not be a date code at all but a mold revision number, in which case you would have to find original early cars to check against.
What numbers did your hoods show?
MarkComment
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Re: found them!
Mark, all the munbers I found are in my first post. G.Comment
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partial match
My hood has the smaller numbers that you posted but some are upside down relative to the rest. Mine look more like 01089 0111 12357 - makes me think of some kind of revision or checking system as in 1,2,3,5,7,8,9,10 (this would have been stamped in reverse on the mold, so 01),11. I'd want to know what the 1968 cars had stamped on the hood! I was not able to find the larger 48262.
MarkComment
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Re: partial match
Mark, I believe the 3 I saw on my hoods is actually an 8, so we are in agreement on this. I have two '68 BB hoods, and they have the same numbers.None of the number on my hoods are upside down? The 2 of the 12357 is a bit lower than the other numbers in that sequence on all of my hoods. The larger 48262 is located about 3/4" below below the beginning 01089 numbers. The 0 (of the 01089) is just slightly right of the 8 (of the 48262). You might want to try a pencil tracing and see if those numbers appear. If you will e me, I'll send you some photos. G.Comment
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