I need to find a ram air hood for my 70 cutlass. not sure if i should find a decent original and pay lots or try to get an aftermarket. does anyone know a good company that makes nice aftermarket one???
ones that fit

 

Thortons was recognized as the best repro, but I've heard that they stopped production. Can anyone confirm this?

 

That's what I've heard Joe.
I also heard he made almost zero profit on them, they were quite labor intensive to make. If he DOES start back up again, the $1300.00 he sold
them for will look like a bargain.
-Pete

 

I just talked to them at Thortons and they said they are starting to make the hoods again in about a month or two.
-Bob

 

im sorry, but who or what is thortons? i've looked online but no results.

 

It's Thorntons and they are in Pa.
-Bob

 

try this link,I have not used them but I am thinking about it.http://www.carhoods.com/
also Tamraz on ebay has the hood

 

I have one of the cheaper hoods...USBody.
I think the hoods ranging around $499 are all made by the same
company. They are passable...with work.
They all seem to come a bit warped, a bit rough, and they all can
quite easily be dicerned from the real deal, or a Thorntons unit.
http://http://gawain.membrane.com/~thornton/hood.html

If you're looking for perfection, find an original or pay for the Thornton unit.

I wound up going with a 4" cowl from glasstek for clearance!

 

also try www.thepartsplaceinc.com from Elborn,IL Thay have thee different hoods. pin on $299.00, glass frame $489.00 and a steel frame $729.00. and just about any thing alse.

 

Greetings !

I was wondering if there is a significant difference from the W25 hoods (steel frame) that The Parts Place and Tamraz are selling ? I need to replace mine on my 70 Cutlass and am looking to buy the best I can afford (unfortunately I can't afford the $2295 being asked my Thorton!).

I would be very grateful for any feedback or insight that you could give me!

thanks

 

I would bet there is NO DIFFERENCE...since Tamraz is probably just selling Parts Place hoods. The Parts Place wholesales a massive number of parts to other vendors like Tamraz, etc.

Early on their were legitimate reports of problems with Parts Place's steel/glass hoods. One problem apparently was they didn't make the glass and/or metal portion that the '70 hood "tooth" bolts onto long enough. So...the hood tooth, once installed would be sitting too far above the bumper.

Still.....for the $$ these things still seem like a pretty good deal to me. Consider that they are probably THE ONLY PEOPLE MAKING a steel/glass hood other than Thornton (if they ever do....they've been saying they are going to restart production for month after month). Also...possibly they remedied the nose problem, maybe not...who knows. BUT...that is something a decent body repair person should be able to fix and make right.

The underside steel structure isn't stamped exactly like the factory hoods on Parts Place's hood...but again, for the price they still look tempting if you aren't concerned about it looking EXACTLY like the factory hood underside.

I'm just glad they have offered an affordable alternative to the all glass hoods and the higher priced (BUT VERY NICE) Thornton hoods.

 

Excellent ! Thanks for the feedback !

 

I own a 1972 cutlass and I just ordered a w-25 ram air hood with steel frame from the parts place off ebay, but is a 1970 hood.

will the 70 fit my 72, or am I screwed for not paying attention before I clicked?

 

A 70 OAI hood will only fit a 69-70. You need a 71-72 hood for your car. Give them a call or email them. They might sell a 70 and can switch it for you.