'73 LS4 Hood Seal

[Peter G.]

Does anyone know the part numbers for the rubber hood seal that goes onto the metal ring to underneath the hood for the cowl induction system. I am really lookinng for the GM replacement part #.

I just purchased one off eBay a NOS Hood Seal and it doesn't fit securely to the ring? Could this part be for a Chevelle/Camaro 454/396 Cowl Induction system? It will fit onto the ring, but will not stay up on the lip with the rubber?

The part may have been mis-marked from the Corvette Retailer. Since it came from a Corvette Shop I didn't bother to check prior to bidding!

The part # on this part is: 03955231.

Thanks.

Peter

[Dick W.]

Re: '73 LS4 Hood Seal

My memory is rusty, but I believe all those that I sold in the '80's and '90's had the same problem. They came from GM

[Michael W.]

Re: '73 LS4 Hood Seal

The repro parts are no better, not even close to the original part.

[Joe L.]

Re: '73 LS4 Hood Seal

Does anyone know the part numbers for the rubber hood seal that goes onto the metal ring to underneath the hood for the cowl induction system. I am really lookinng for the GM replacement part #.

I just purchased one off eBay a NOS Hood Seal and it doesn't fit securely to the ring? Could this part be for a Chevelle/Camaro 454/396 Cowl Induction system? It will fit onto the ring, but will not stay up on the lip with the rubber?

The part may have been mis-marked from the Corvette Retailer. Since it came from a Corvette Shop I didn't bother to check prior to bidding!

The part # on this part is: 03955231.

Thanks.

Peter

Peter-----


The original seal, GM #330524, was NEVER available in SERVICE. Instead, GM always supplied for SERVICE the seal originally used for some 1969-72 Chevelle and Camaro applications. As you've found, it does not fit properly.

[Peter G.]

Re: '73 LS4 Hood Seal

Thanks guys.

I guess I was expecting too much from a real GM NOS part.

I figured out that the retailer must at one time had inverted the rubber seal and then placed some labels on it that would be upside down.

After that I still had to cut 4 inches of rubber off to make the circle close and then I taped it with the black GM type tape.

I guess this is why most repos are sold "cut to fit"!

Peter

[Joe L.]

Re: '73 LS4 Hood Seal

Thanks guys.

I guess I was expecting too much from a real GM NOS part.

I figured out that the retailer must at one time had inverted the rubber seal and then placed some labels on it that would be upside down.

After that I still had to cut 4 inches of rubber off to make the circle close and then I taped it with the black GM type tape.

I guess this is why most repos are sold "cut to fit"!

Peter

Peter-----

Do not think that all NOS GM parts are like this one. This is a very special and virtually unique situation in which GM decided to offer only a part originally designed for another application as the SERVICE part for the Corvette application and the part was, is, and always will be an unsuitable replacement. This sort of situation is extremely rare in the GM parts world.

[Richard C.]

Re: '73 LS4 Hood Seal

DR.Rebuild has one his # 3402200

[Peter G.]

Re: '73 LS4 Hood Seal

Richard..I used a repo I believe from Paragon for years, but it was TOO perfect! The rubber was taunt and stiff so it never flatten out or fell over. Now that I have a NOS I can see the difference. Yes the repo looks much better.

I have learned a good lesson in judging this part. Because so many of the original hood seals are in such poor condition you don't realize that the poor fit was there pretty much from the beginning.

Joe, I guess today with all the technology we are more demanding of quality parts. We forget what it was like when our cars were made.

Peter