L88 Hood
10-17-2012, 11:32 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
L88 Hood
Hi There,
Does anyone know the difference between different vendors 68-69 L88 Hoods ?
Corvette America, Willcox and the Ecklers ?
They range from $599 - $700 for what looks like the same thing.
Does anyone know the difference between different vendors 68-69 L88 Hoods ?
Corvette America, Willcox and the Ecklers ?
They range from $599 - $700 for what looks like the same thing.
10-18-2012, 09:47 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
Yes, the fit can vary by manufacturer but there is a difference also in how they're made. The original GM hoods were press molded (the fiberglass put into a mold and then a machine presses it together). This makes for a very strong panel with very few air pockets, etc.
Most of the cheaper hoods are hand laid. This means the fiberglass is laid into a mold and then some type of roller is used to to smooth it out and remove air bubbles. Then layer by layer the panel is built up.
Press molded panels are considered better/superior to hand laid.
A press molded panel will be smooth on both sides whereas a hand laid panel will be rough on the underside. Sermersheim's sells a press molded 68-72 L-88 hood for about $1,400.
I believe the hoods below $1000 are probably hand laid.
Most of the cheaper hoods are hand laid. This means the fiberglass is laid into a mold and then some type of roller is used to to smooth it out and remove air bubbles. Then layer by layer the panel is built up.
Press molded panels are considered better/superior to hand laid.
A press molded panel will be smooth on both sides whereas a hand laid panel will be rough on the underside. Sermersheim's sells a press molded 68-72 L-88 hood for about $1,400.
I believe the hoods below $1000 are probably hand laid.