Corvette (Big Block/LT1) Hood

[Angelo M.]

Does anyone know who sells a press molded big block hood for a 68 corvette? I have looked everywhere and only hand laid are available. I assume 68 thru 72 big block and LT1 hoods will inner change. I know 68 hood latches are different, I am currently using the newer 69 hood latches. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Dick W.]

Re: Corvette (Big Block/LT1) Hood

1968 and most of 1969 hoods will interchange. L'69-'72 hoods have the different latches

[Joe L.]

Re: Corvette (Big Block/LT1) Hood

Does anyone know who sells a press molded big block hood for a 68 corvette? I have looked everywhere and only hand laid are available. I assume 68 thru 72 big block and LT1 hoods will inner change. I know 68 hood latches are different, I am currently using the newer 69 hood latches. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Angelo-----


I think that Dr. Rebuild sells press-molded hoods. They are considerably more expensive than the hand-laid hoods, though.

As far as the hood latch configuration it's just as Dick mentions. The 1968 to ABOUT October, 1969 hoods have the same hood latch configuration. The ABOUT October, 1969 to 1972 hoods have the later configuration. Actually, I think only one of the two latches has a different mounting configuration but the latches have to be used as a set.

You can use the L1969-72 hoods on a 68 if you also use the L-69-72 upper latches, cross cable, and cone-shaped lower latch bolts. By the same token, you can use a 1968-E69 hood on a late 1969-72 if you use the corresponding upper latches, cross cable, and lower latch bolts.

[Dick W.]

Re: Corvette (Big Block/LT1) Hood

Joe, I stand to be corrected but I believe the bolt pattern is different on the hood latches.

[Terry M.]

Re: Corvette (Big Block/LT1) Hood

Joe, I stand to be corrected but I believe the bolt pattern is different on the hood latches.

[Dick W.]

Re: Corvette (Big Block/LT1) Hood

I traded a friend out of a '68-E'69 hood (I had the later hood) and took it to Kent Keech, about a year before he passed away. I believe that weekend was the last time I saw Kent

[Joe L.]

Re: Corvette (Big Block/LT1) Hood

Joe, I stand to be corrected but I believe the bolt pattern is different on the hood latches.

Dick-------


The bolt pattern is different on the left side latch, but it's the same on the right side. It's moot, though, because the latches have to be used as a pair and can't be "mixed-and-matched".

Below are photos of the latches. The latches on the top of the photo are the 1968-E1969 latches. The latches on the bottom are the L1969-1976. You will note that the mounting pattern for the right side latches are the same (although the latches are otherwise considerable different). The left side latches are different in many ways, including the mounting bolt pattern.

By the way, there were THREE different sets of 1968 upper latches but I think all are functionally interchangeable. I believe the ones pictured are the third version, also used for most of 1969.

[Joe L.]

Re: Corvette (Big Block/LT1) Hood

OOPS. I forgot to attach the photo and I can't figure out how to do it with an edit so here it is:

[Dick W.]

Re: Corvette (Big Block/LT1) Hood

OOPS. I forgot to attach the photo and I can't figure out how to do it with an edit so here it is:

Joe, to add a photo to a prior post, go to edit, then advanced, and the rest is like adding to a new post

[Kevin G.]

Re: Corvette (Big Block/LT1) Hood

On the subject of BB hoods, take notice of the edge running front to back on the bulge and the grind/sanding/mold(???) mark? It's on both of my cars, the LT1 and the LS5, only on the left edge in the bulge. Is this from the mold or something else? Anyone else have these marks?

[Ralph S.]

Re: Corvette (Big Block/LT1) Hood

I have a 68 427 hood on my late 69, i need a late 69 hood. my car was built 12/11/69 Fathom green

[Terry M.]

Re: Corvette (Big Block/LT1) Hood

Ralph's pictures

I hope he intended me to post them. The white cable is the 1968 hood, and the black cable is his 1970 hood.

[James B.]

Re: Corvette (Big Block/LT1) Hood

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I also seem to recall that there were some differences in the location between model years of the bolt holes for the hood prop.

[Terry M.]

Re: Corvette (Big Block/LT1) Hood

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I also seem to recall that there were some differences in the location between model years of the bolt holes for the hood prop.

Good catch Jim. 1972 had the prop support location closer to the hinge than earlier years, and the service replacement hood had both locations set up for the hood prop. Or at least the REPLACEMENT at one time was set up for both locations. Joe Lucia will know more about the details of that.

[Joe L.]

Re: Corvette (Big Block/LT1) Hood

Good catch Jim. 1972 had the prop support location closer to the hinge than earlier years, and the service replacement hood had both locations set up for the hood prop. Or at least the REPLACEMENT at one time was set up for both locations. Joe Lucia will know more about the details of that.

Terry and Jim------


Yes, the on-hood hood support flange location changed for the 1972 model year. The reason for this is that the hood support, itself, changed for the 1972 model year. The configuration and design of the 68-71 support was completely different than the 72-76 support. The 68-71 support used a "ratcheting" mechanism. The 72-76 support used an "over-center" type mechanism.

The part numbers for the 1972 PRODUCTION hoods were GM #3996855 (base) and 3996864 (LT-1 and LS-5). These same part numbers were sold in SERVICE to replace the 1968-71 hoods. So, the hoods must have been designed to accommodate both the 68-E69 and L69-72 left side hood latch mounting configurations, the 68-E69 and L69-72 cross-over cable bracket locations, and the 68-71 and 72 hood support flange locations. However, I do not know if the PRODUCTION pieces of the above part numbers were fitted with "dual application" mounting points or if the specifications for the above-referenced part numbers were revised for SERVICE.

It would be interesting to learn from folks with original 1972 hoods.