1960 - When was the redesigned hood introduced?

[Donald H.]

I have an early build 1960 (1st or 2nd week of November 59). It is a 270HP car but it did not have a tank top radiator and has the 59 hood that is not cut out along the front to allow for the expansion tank on the tank top radiator.

The TIM & JG says that "Also, it's believed some 270 & 290 HP 1960 models were delivered with a standard copper radiator." So that means if my car is correct as far as hood and 270HP engine, then it is one of these.

Is there any information as to when the "new" hood went into production in 1960?

Once the new design hood went into production, did all the 1960 cars have the same hood, or was it only used on 270 & 290HP cars and the older 59 design still used on all others? It makes sense to me that once Chevrolet changed the design there was no reason to produce two different hoods.

I have found a few things on my car that a holder over from 59 but were changes introducted in 1960.

Thanks,

Don

[Tom D.]

Re: 1960 - When was the redesigned hood introduced?

Paragon has a "tech line" which gets you to their restoration shop. You have to call after 11 AM Eastern, if I recall the time correctly. They have actually modified at least one hood to fit the "top tank", and I guess they might know some answers.

[Norris W.]

Re: 1960 - When was the redesigned hood introduced?

i don't know if this helps answer your question, but my '60 is in the low 7K's and has the hood. I've owned it for over 25 years and since it was undamaged and 1 repaint over original paint when I stripped it, I am confident that it is the hood that it came with. I've seen one other car earlier than mine (can't remember by how much) with the hood also. Actually I've never seen a '60 that did not have the newer style hood that would clear the top tank radiator.

This car had the orginal engine long gone when I bought it, and the original owner had swapped in a 300 horse block and heads for the original 283 giving up the original as a core. I wanted the 2 4's on it and made it look otherwise correct (except for the double hump heads and 2870 block) and bought the radiator from Dewitt's expecting to have the hood issue to solve. At that point I compared the hood on the '60 to my '59 and realized they were different, so started looking around at other '60's as I ran across 'em.

[Jerry C.]

Re: 1960 - When was the redesigned hood introduced?

I also have a 270HP with copper radiator #808 and appears to have the notch in the hood

[Jim D.]

Re: 1960 - When was the redesigned hood introduced?

Don, Does your car have the rad. support for a tank top rad. or a copper one?

[Donald H.]

Re: 1960 - When was the redesigned hood introduced?

Don, Does your car have the rad. support for a tank top rad. or a copper one?

Yes, it has/had a copper radiator and support. I've since replaced the rad support and radiator. The old support was mostly rusted out at the bottom. I did find out from Tim Mickey that no one knows for sure when the notched hoods were started in the 60 models, but some early ones for sure did not have the tank top radiator and notched hood. So I am OK there. I was concerned that with an engine at 270hp I would take an automatic hit for wrong stype radiator and hood.

I'm pretty sure my engine has been restamped, but the assembly characters are correct per some very knowledeable NCRS guys. And my car has the correct tach for 270/290hp 60 model year cars. Unfortunately I have the 245hp carbs which I have already had restored by Bob Kunz.

Thanks,
Don

[Jim D.]

Re: 1960 - When was the redesigned hood introduced?

I've inspected several 1960's and after talking to Noland Adams, I come to the following conclusion, someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

All solid lifter cars were destined for a Al. rad. and had the support and hood to match as it came down the line. Hyd. cam cars used a different support and had the older hood until the supply ran out and then all cars had the newer hood.

The JG refers to some solid lifter cars had a copper rad. That is because there were production problems with the aluminum rad. and the supply was occasionally interrupted. In that case, a solid lifter car that had a copper rad. installed would still have the rad. support and hood for the aluminum rad. The only problem is that the drain for the copper rad. is on the pass. side vs. the driver side for the aluminum rad. The solution was to rough cut an access hole in the support for the copper rad. drain. On these cars, there would be the original hole on the drivers side as well as one added to the pass. side. An original solid lifter car that came with the correct rad. would only have one hole (drivers side).

Since we now realize your engine has been re-stamped, my guess is that since your car had a support and hood for a hyd. cam motor it had a tach. change at one time.