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The circular air box on the underside makes the difference between a regular BB and the L88. This circular part seals to the foam element around the carb, and draws the ambient outside air in to the carb.
It is not a repo. It has been on the car since 1968. Thank you both, I wanted to confirm it is an L88 hood. It will be in the auction in November. harrisauctionsllc.com.
Yes show us whether it has four oval cut holes for cowl venting or not, and they did sell originals early on, as the stinger was popular, and many regular cars got fitted by Owners with true L88 hoods from over the counter.
Yours looks just a little off! I am not going to explain where or how, as not showing the holes, probably means that you are working diligently to make the holes. Tough love!
Last edited by TCracingCA; 10-01-2023 at 09:07 PM.
The back air inlet is completely open, no oval port holes or center bar but, neither does the one Corvette Specialties is selling on Ebay. So ... what is the right answer.
I won't say that's "not" a factory L-88 hood, but I will say I've never seen a real L-88 hood with the entire portion of the rear side cut out like that. But what do I know?
In can't find one online or anywhere that shows the oval holes. Do you have an image of what that should look like? I do know that John was also an L88 fanatic and back in the 60s and 70s we did things that aren't accepted today.
It is in the assembly manual. I have the Sermersheims L88 under-hood insert because I like form following function for fresh air intake
Ironically, I never installed it...
At first I thought this hood insert was crooked, looked at it on a computer screen, and probably just the angle of the camera. The insert looks factory quality bonded. Yes it does not have the four Cowl holes. I have seen some racers cut it all out like in your picture. The hood latch holder attachment point looks like the right location. I was going to compare yours to mine, But now seeing it from all angles, it looks like a good unit, whether a high end repop, or original can't say for sure. Decent unit to put on a car proudly.
At first I thought this hood insert was crooked, looked at it on a computer screen, and probably just the angle of the camera. The insert looks factory quality bonded. Yes it does not have the four Cowl holes. I have seen some racers cut it all out like in your picture. The hood latch holder attachment point looks like the right location. I was going to compare yours to mine, But now seeing it from all angles, it looks like a good unit, whether a high end repop, or original can't say for sure. Decent unit to put on a car proudly.
Let’s see a few pictures of yours TC…just for comparison purposes.
TC, thanks for that assessment and I agree but, when did they start making Repos? As I mentioned earlier, this hood has been on the car since 1968. I also inspected the the bonds and they are tight and precise like factory bonding. The air inlet edges are done very well, like someone may have taken their time cutting it out. Only saying, more air, more power.
TC, thanks for that assessment and I agree but, when did they start making Repos? As I mentioned earlier, this hood has been on the car since 1968. I also inspected the the bonds and they are tight and precise like factory bonding. The air inlet edges are done very well, like someone may have taken their time cutting it out. Only saying, more air, more power.
We can post good pictures, but nothing compares to the physical inspection. For instance, you can't in the pictures see whether the cowl intake area was cut or molded. The best examples of pictures are searching pictures of the hoods on the actual 1967 L88 cars. Some good pictures there to study. The unit I have has the four holes, but it definitely was not stolen off of a real L88. These went into the Parts Supply chain, just as J-56, Group 2 type parts, etc. When I say repo, that encompassed GM parts supply. Thus this could be one purchased from like a Nickey, Berger, Dana, Rathman, Alan Green parts counter. Lot more of these hoods, than cars. They have turned up on Ebay for years. I bought mine to cut up and reposition for use and alignment on a all Aluminum Gen 1 Small Block (but felt it might be stupid to cut it up). It is leaning on the back wall of one of my storage garages with about 4 other unique hoods, JD dual snorkel, another C3 L88 but a poorly done one styled C2 hood, a real 1967 Stock stinger, and a 1966 modified to mimic the 1966 Penske Racer. I was kind of undecided on which one to run, so I picked up a whole lot of option hoods. Then in the garage of mine, i have a feather weight 1967 Stinger hood, that was fitted with hood pins that came off of my race car, the C3 L88 styled unit for C2s that I am going to put back on my good car, as I have shown in pictures.
Sure I can post pictures, if I can find them. When my good computer crashed, I was able to have a computer recover 95%, but I don't tend to name or label the pictures. I ain't climbing thru that garage to pull that thing out. Hell no!
I was not ignorant to the 1968 claim, and no one in 1968 would have made one of these. It is unfortunate that so many claims by people, generally claim this or that going way back. There was one Company that did knock off a run of these, but I only have pictures somewhere in my Corvette picture database. I am now over 100K Corvette reference pictures. UGH! Takes time to find a particular picture.
Based on what we are seeing with one exception, so if the cut open cowl is molded that way, then reproduction, and if cut out, I will validate this is an original one, but sold over the counter.
TC, I appreciate the response and your knowledge on this subject. I definitely don't have that expertise on this. John was the big block guy. He could hold his own with anybody. The cowl area is definitely not molded it appears to have been very meticulously routed out. You can see the fine tool marks. After taking on this project I never imagined finding what I've found. I knew John for 50 years but I've found a lot of things I didn't know about him. A few examples include a "Fully" documented 66 Tanker, a 68 L89, a 67 396 Camaro, a 64 Avanti, an extra 36 Gal tank, a 68 L88 hood, M22 transmissions and on and on. All going to an online auction Nov 18th. Thanks again and with all the info gathered here I have no doubt in my mind it's authentic.
09-29-2023, 11:47 AM
