Guys, I'm thinking about an OAI hood for my Vista Cruiser.

Can I just buy the bolt on hood with the scoops and leave the factory air cleaner in place just as it is? Or do I HAVE to get the special air cleaner going into the carb from the hood?

What I'm hoping is that I can just buy the ram air hood, paint it, and bolt it right on and look awesome. I'm not looking for air induction.

Would too much air get in the engine compartment and would that be a problem? What would rain do if it gets up under the hood? Would I need to try to block the passages of the scoops if I get the hood?

Thanks in advance!

Buz

 

You can run just the regular air cleaner, lots of guys do it because of the price of the OAI air cleaner assembly

 

I ran the stock air cleaner on my Rallye for the longest time and didnt have a problem with that stuff. Just remember if you buy a ram air hood to also get lightweight springs or you have a chance of wasting all that money on the hood.

 

Unless you buy an original hood then you don't need light weight springs

 

Why would I need lightweight springs? Why wouldn't I be able to use the stock hood hinges and springs?

So I wouldn't need to worry about air pressure/water/dirt getting all up in the engine compartment? =}

 

Cause you are going from a steel hood to a fiberglass hood. And mine was fine for debris and such.

 

you can use original style hinges and springs if you run a hood with a steel frame

 

Hm. So I can't just bolt the OEM hinges onto the fiberglass hood?

Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations for a hood?

 

I have no experience in aftermarket hoods, but i have heard people talk of this company http://fiberpartsconcepts.com/1285404.html

There's also this one http://www.vfnfiberglass.com/site.htm

That's just 2 of them, but there's quite a few companies that makes these hoods i believe.

 

If you're not using the OAI air cleaner with the drain hose, I would block the scoops.

 

There is 3 different types of aftermarket hoods. Pin-on - no hinges, bolt on fiberglass - bolts on must use lighter springs, fiberglass with steel frame - bolts on to the original springs.

I don't know if anybody has fiberglass with steel frame for a 72.

I ordered one from tamraz for my 70 on ebay last week. Called them directly, fiberglass with steel frame and hood pin kit was $1019 with shipping. These are not from vfn, they are made in Thailand so hopefully they are better than VFN.....hopefully.

 

my take on this is

thailand an asian country not entirely known for its quality made OAI hoods.

VFN a guy w a US based business and a passion for fibreglass products mostly for the somewhat demanding muscle car market

 

I recently worked on a customers car that had a cheap repro all fiberglass hood. The nuts for the hood hinges were simply set into the fiberglass & had a little adhesive holding them in. The very first time I BARELY tightened the bolts into the nuts, they popped right out of the fiberglass. A totally POS design & I would never recommend that hood. The customer sent the car/hood back to the body shop for them to fabricate a better method of installing the bolts to the hood. I literally would not touch or even open the hood after that, I didn't want any liability for another mishap.

 

VFN doesn't make a steel frame hood and they are really not known for a quality product whatever their passion may be.

It was either Thornton or Tamraz and since I can buy 3 hoods from Tamraz for the price of Thornton, the choice was obvious. For a cruiser it will be good enough, even if I have to massage it a little.

 

Well thanks for the info. I have seen a couple hoods on ebay, but they're not cheap. I believe I'll go for one with a steel frame if I can find it.

Also, I've seen a couple places that sell them with the scoops closed in. Lol. I'm wondering if I could just paint the surface of the closed in part black!

Maybe not...

 

A steel frame hood is going to cost $2500, an all fiberglass hood is around $800. now which one was you going to buy?

 

I think the $2,500 hood is cheaper than the $800 hood.
Because most stories I have seen on this forum seem to indicate
you will need to sped $2,000 to get the $800 hood to fit and have a smooth paintable surface.

 

Where did you read 2K in prep work. Most fiberglass hoods if anything are much easier to install prep or paint. Your already dealing with a smooth surface, no rust or rust proofing, no dings or dents, sanding if needed is way easier on fiberglass. Plus you won't need two men & a small boy to hump it on and off during install. Fiber hoods weigh next to nothing. Any kind of ram or OAI either for horsepower or looks will take the same amout of time effort, or money. The hood itselfs involvement in the air is the same. 72 Cutlass fiber hoods, pins, pin sets, light springs, installed by me an electrician on a Saturday $1000 primed & ready for paint.

 

I agree. $2k to prep the hood??
For a driver, they are good with minor prep, if you want show quality it might need a little more, but still $2k is a bit much.

@Arrowstorm I don't think they make a steel frame hood for a 72. Only Thornton $$$$$.

 

Mine should be here in 7 days, I can take pictures when installed.

 

Ok, after reading more and more about these hoods, I discovered an older thread on this site where a user bought a hood from this company: http://www.fiberpartsconcepts.com/1285404.html

I sent the OP a message and he said it worked out well for him, so I believe I'll go with these guys. Thanks for the input!

70cutty, I would still like to see some pics of yours when you get it!