To Hood... Or Not To Hood?

[PSU442]

I figured I'd kick off this thread with something I often debate with myself (because my girlfriend could care less)... a ram-air hood. I've long been obsessed with the classic ram-air 442 hoods, who hasn't? Having once seen a picture of a '76/'77 aftermarket ram-air hood in Car Craft, I've often debated getting one for my '77. Now, thanks to THUNDER-2 on cardomain, I've finally located the supplier (VFN) and this is close to reality. BUT -- I get a lot of compliments for keeping the car original. I hate to loose that authenticity. BUT -- if I get the hood, have the stripes painted on the scoops, and finish it off with the same pin-striping my current stripes have, will anybody know it's not original? I turn to you, friends. Compare the pics and vote (the pic on the left is the original hood; the pic on the right is a manip I threw together using the actual product image found at VFN's website.) Now, before I'm burned at the stake for even mentioning this, just let me say that I'm NOT really considering it. There's plenty of other work I want to get done before I go dropping a grand on a hood. Like I said before, I just enjoy debating it. This kept me awake back in 11th grade biology, it might as well keep me awake today...

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/9004/hoodbeforejt8.jpghttp://img403.imageshack.us/img403/2475/hoodafterzn3.jpg

[psquare75]

Dooo eettt

:D

[brad442]

Chris,

Ram Air hoods air definitely cool and help to give the car a bit more attitude. I had another '77 at one time and was considering one of those hoods. Although they look cool, the lines of the stock front end don't really work well with the lines of the new hood. The way the original ram air hoods were designed, they fit the 70-72 models as they were intended. To me, it looks a bit too forced on one of our cars and like I said, it throughs the lines of the front end off. I guess that is how I think after 5 years of design school.

With that being said, the lower openings in the front bumper look like a much better option to "retro-fit" a 68-69 type of Ram Air setup. Just my thoughts. I LOVE your car how it is now! Glad you joined the group!

Brad

[PSU442]

Although they look cool, the lines of the stock front end don't really work well with the lines of the new hood.

That is a concern of mine. Looking over pictures I've found of other 76-77's Cutlass's with the hood, I've also began thinking that whoever did design this aftermarket hood designed it with the standard Cutlass front-end in mind as opposed to our slant nose because of what you were saying about the grill lines not matching up. If you look at the pic I posted, you can see that the scoop overlaps the lines coming up from the grill and onto the hood. Not very clean.

With that being said, the lower openings in the front bumper look like a much better option to "retro-fit" a 68-69 type of Ram Air setup.

This is another idea I had often considered. Not neccessarily fixing them to those openings, but underneath on the sides of the car's front air dam in the vain of the '68-'69 scoops. I'll try posting a pic to show what I mean....

[PSU442]

here's what I'm talking about....


the '68-'69 style scoops...
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/8152/68006gk8.jpghttp://img106.imageshack.us/img106/3388/small68scoops1pairjz5.jpg


mounted in a similar fashion on the sides of our front air dams...
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7073/side2xj9.jpghttp://img59.imageshack.us/img59/3334/side1gv4.jpg


Now, since you mentioned the grill openings on our bumpers, I know what you're going to say: "Isn't that a little redundant?" Yeah, I guess. It probably wouldn't look very clean with the openings on the bumper and scoops right underneath them. Eh, it's a pipe dream. To tell you the truth, I rarely like seeing 'customization' on cars. At the very least, it needs to look factory stock.

[psquare75]

FWIW, On my H/O I had ram air ducts piped into those bumper openings.

[PSU442]

you didn't happen to take any pictures of the rigging before ripping the nose off, did you? that'd be neat to see how you did it.

[brad442]

Ken Pilidis of Alberta, Canada owns one of the coolest '76 442's I have ever seen. He installed a "Ram Air" set up on his car based on the 68-69 models. You can see his car at: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2057807

Very rare car, '76 442, 455, Dual Gate, non-air, Factory W-30 Aluminum intake, Factory Dual exhaust. Love that car.

[ragz442]

I think the r/a hood looks good on the 'S' body, but out of place on a Supreme......IMO.
That ram air idea through the bumper openings sounds good, may have to look into that, thanks.

p.s. Ken Pilidis's car is definatly one of the sharpest out there for sure, would love to see it in person.

[PSU442]

wow.... i can't believe i missed that ram-air setup on Ken's car.

[psquare75]

you didn't happen to take any pictures of the rigging before ripping the nose off, did you? that'd be neat to see how you did it.

No... I might have some pics I can scan in though..

I notched the plastic filler under the rad support, and used two cut up air cleaner plastic ducts that mount to the fender well as funnels.

[PSU442]

a few months ago, while "researching" the ram-air hood sledhead2 has gotten, i scoured cardomain and found the following pics. It's some good looks at the hood. Out of sheer boredom, I post them for you to enjoy...

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5820/49225527fullnu8.jpg
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/1046/59100513fullmp5.jpg
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/3688/59100517fullrv5.jpg
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/5476/59100519fullhn0.jpg

[ragz442]

Still say it looks out of place on a Supreme.......at least lose the hood ornament anyway.

[ragz442]

Here's a couple more off the yahoo list:

http://f9g.yahoofs.com/groups/g_322928/c4e4/__sr_/1506.jpg?gr4MCGGBtuAysQdR

http://f9g.yahoofs.com/groups/g_322928/c4e4/__sr_/8bc1.jpg?gr4MCGGBp0BqS0wN

[psquare75]

That Supreme would look a million times better without those Bumper Guards.

[442MUCH]

Hi guys. Here's an idea if you don't want to go with the 70 style hood. Pick up a 73-75 H/O or 442 hood. Cut the loovers out and weld them in the same spot of your 76-77 hood. If a 442, paint the loovers the same colour as the lower half of the car. A stripe from the loovers to the front of the car is optional.

Before that, cut out the inserts in the loovers to make it a functional forced air piece. Then pick up a 1970 style air breather (or make one) and have it mate up to the functional loovers. You may need a piece that will afix to the underside of the hood so the air breather and hood mate up properly.

This is something I've been looking at. I have an extra 76 hood and the 1973-75 hood with loovers. Just haven't got around to it yet (if ever). Not only will this set up keep the car looking somewhat stock in its body style, it may even be cheaper. Just my $0.02

[psquare75]

I've got a louvered center section from an H/O hood that I already cut out I'd be happy to sell you.

;)

[ragz442]

I thought the 73-75 H/O-442 hood louver was a bolt on piece? Or are you talking about a different louver[s] than what I'm thinking?

[keith455]

73 is a bolt on piece the 74 and 75 are built into the hood.

[PSU442]

are we talking about these louvers and stripes?

http://www.freewebs.com/jeffman1975/442%20pics%202-3-06%20013.jpg
http://www.freewebs.com/jeffman1975/442%20ext%207.JPG

the pics comes from a cool site with a great looking car...

http://www.freewebs.com/jeffman1975/

[ragz442]

Ok, that makes a little more sense. I was thinking the big single louver in the center of the hood. I've only had 1 73-75, a '74 salon, many moons ago. I'm alot more familiar with the 76-77's. That is a real sharp '75, don't see many 442's that year.

[ragz442]

Speaking of louvers.........I'm sure you all have seen the quarter window louvers on the mid year Pontiacs, how do you think they'd look on a Cutlass? I've often thought of trying it.

http://www.abodysite.com/gregcorbitt2.jpg

[442MUCH]

are we talking about these louvers and stripes?

the pics comes from a cool site with a great looking car...

http://www.freewebs.com/jeffman1975/

No, I'm talking louvers like on this car (and stripe).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/vttedrm/photo_01.jpg

[PSU442]

the Pontiac louvers might be too much. Overall, I think our cars are 'cleaner' looking. But that's not to say it wouldnt work. it'd be interesting, that's for sure. You know, I never thought of 'borrowing' design elements our cousins but after seeing Brad's and Sled's spoiler, I'm really digging it.

[PSU442]

No, I'm talking louvers like on this car (and stripe).

Hmm. It'd be subtle... which would be nice.

[ragz442]

Alright, I got the Buick spoiler, installing the hood louver and Pontiac quarter window louvers and hood tach...........shoot me now :o . Seriously though, the hood louver would look sweet on the 76-77's. It seems that center body line is a little more pronounced than the 73-75's though.

[PSU442]

shoot me now :o .

I'm not going to shoot you.. more likely i'll just envy you.

[442MUCH]

Here's a better picture of the louvers I mean.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/vttedrm/2256801_9_full.jpg

[PSU442]

i was just going to post that exact pic..... why are pics so hard to find?! don't fail me, google image!!!

[PSU442]

these look to be the bold on louvers...


http://www.usaraud.ee/ajuvant/oldsmobile/1973_HurstOlds_5.jpg


and then there's this...

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/5679/cutfullst2.jpg

[keith455]

Maybe these pic's of my '75 hood will help you out.

[psquare75]

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a72/psquare75/Oldsmobile/100_1004.jpg

[PSU442]

pre-wreck? what happened exactly?


edit: I mean POST-wreck, PRE-tear down.

[ragz442]

I guess the easiest way to retrofit on a 76-77 would be to get the '73 bolt on style, looks a little different then the 74-75 though. Just saw one go on ebay for pretty cheap too.

[keith455]

73 bolt on style louvers

[PSU442]

that's a good pic.... so those bolt onto the hood? all this 'scoop' talk has me thinking of shaker hoods. Has anybody ever thought of hooking a trans am shaker onto their engine? wonder what all would go into making it work (spacing, etc.)

[ragz442]

The '77 Pontiac CanAms have a shaker hood. They're on the same platform as our cars.

http://www.abodysite.com/canam6.jpg

[PSU442]

ohhh man, I never even thought of that. the pontiac that Smokey (the cop) drove in smokey & the bandit had a shaker too.... might be something to think about...

http://www.phoenixgraphix.com/gm/1977ca.jpg

[ragz442]

Chris, do you know how to photoshop? [I guess that's what you call it], again I'm not great with computers. But I see the pics of your car w/ and w/o the r/a hood and figured that's what you did. Anyway I was wondering if you could do a side view of a 76-77 442 with the Pontiac quarter window louvers, maybe a hood view with the H/O louvers and or the shaker scoop? If so, that would be cool just to see how it would look.

[PSU442]

sure. i was playing around with the '75 scoop and stripe on a '77 the other day but wasn't happy with with my work. When i get more free time I'll try it all again (as well as the pontiac pieces.)

[442MUCH]

For those that are interested...they are nice cars IMO

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Pontiac-Le-Mans-CAN-AM-1977-Pontiac-CAN-AM-LEMANS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6424QQihZ004QQit emZ140105120417QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW#lg

[keith455]

Already posted that auction here http://www.73-77olds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65

[PSU442]

here's a look at the shaker scoop -- it was the easiest to throw together -- i'll get more up when i get the chance...

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/5963/shaker442mq9.jpg

[PSU442]

a better look at the shaker scoop (the angle above can be hard to look at)...

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/5521/shaker4422dg7.jpg

[ragz442]

Wow, that's pretty cool. Isn't technology wonderful! I guess I'm going to have to join the 21st century and figure out how to work these pc's. I don't think that looks too bad at all, definatly would be 1 of a kind. When you get a chance see if you can hook up those other views. Nice job! Thanks.

[PSU442]

louvers:

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/639/louver442so6.jpg

[ragz442]

Hey Chris, thanks. Not bad, but I guess I'm not digging it as much as I thought I would. Back in the late 70's early 80's I had aftermarket louvers in my rear glass [backlight] on my 76-442, havn't seen them around in a long time.

[brad442]

You know, a shaker hood and rear side window louvers sound good in theory, but once you see it on the car, it just screams Pontiac to me. In my honest opinion, the lines of the '76-'77 442 models were some of the pretty, cleanest, sharpest designs to ever come out of Detroit. I say leave the Poncho stuff for the Poncho guys. I am a huge fan of the Can Am, but I like the 442's as they were designed.

Brad

[sledhead2]

That looks different, shaker looks kinda cool. Hey Todd thanks for the help today.

[ragz442]

I have to agree with Brad, I always have loved the lines of the 76-77's. I guess that's why i still have them some 27 years later. Thanks for your effort Chris, it was cool to see what it would have looked like anyway.

No problem Dave, thanks for the parts. They were the missing link for my project for sure. I think I have everything now except the 2 sheetmetal pieces. Now I just have to get some ambition and get to work. Your car should look great, caint wait to see it with the new paint.

[442MUCH]

Here are some modified mid-seventies Cutlasses...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/vttedrm/Nascarmodel.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/vttedrm/baker1-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/vttedrm/Nascar.jpg

[PSU442]

that is sweet! i found this a week or so ago...

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/5074/43oldsqn7.jpg

back in high school, i thought it would be awesome to buy another 76/'77 and make a nascar clone.


EDIT:

I can't post again without somebody seeing this.... click on my name, click on my public profile, and check out my posts per day average.... hopefully this edit doesn't screw it up!

EDIT::::

You're right, Todd -- i can't post again... at least for tonight. That's just too darn cool!! haha

EDIT::::::::::
Ohh no!!! My average is going down as the minutes tick by!!! Do I post or not???

[psquare75]

AHahhahhha.. 4.42 Posts per day.. Nicely done!

[ragz442]

Ok, so now you can never post again.........nice knowing ya :D.

No, all you gotta do is make 376 more posts. lol