The 70-72s seem to have a w-25 hood on every one of them. This has been well known and widely panned for a while. Since a 70 OAI hood will fit with some modifications on a 69, they are now showing up there, even though they were never on the cars to begin with as the W cars got under the bumper scoops and the H/O got the "mailbox" hood inlet.

On the other hand, no one seems to be going after OAI for the 66-67s. I think that's because the chrome cleaner is very hard to reproduce, but also because of the lesser numbers, and lesser popularity, of those years. 66s seem to be left alone, and the blinging of non-442 67s seems to be limited to everyone wanting the louvered 442 hood for lesser Cutli.

So, with 68 being a weird year for GM with it being in the major model 68-72 for most cars, but being "more different" than the other ones in the series, will we see the 70-72 style OAI hood being grafted to 68s? I've seen some people add under-bumper OAI to 68s and 69s, but it seems like those folks are looking for performance, whereas most of the aftermarket 70-72 crowd doesn't even run the OAI cleaner, so it's all for looks.

 

God I hope not. The smooth slope of the 1968 hood just wouldn't look right with 70-72 scoops.

It WOULD look better than a Chevrolet cowl induction scoop, but that ain't saying much.

 

OAI on '66 442's required a special "hand built" air cleaner, "short run" bumper ducts and front bumper modification for the "Tri carb" L-69, W-30. Since NHRA only required 50+ units to be available to the "public", to be eligible for "stock" class. "67 required special ducts between the headlights. People didn't seem to flock to dealer parts departments, so, most of the ducts were used on production cars. There may also have needed modifications to the core support.

The middle 60's began to be more everyday performance oriented. All the auto manufacturers offered some sort of "OAI" on various models. 1968 at Oldsmobile offered a new, innovative and easily visible OAI. The design of the individual components made it easy to install on any car with a V-8.

People love the styling of the '70-72 OAI hood and it can add some power boost from cooler outside air being inducted into the carb. Whatever reason people install an OAI hood is ok with me.
.....Just my two cents worth.

 

Your saying the chevy cold air induction hood does not look good. Are you kidding ? it is the most functional of all hoods out there & best looking in most peoples eyes. Started with the corvette L88. Just saying lol

 

We’ve done it both ways. 68 OAI on a 70 being a road less travelled.

 

The entire design of the '68 hood differs from '69-72 (toothless) and it would be difficult to adapt later OAI scoops without the whole thing looking extremely awkward, to the extent that I've never even seen it attempted.

Seems like one instance where the DIY/restomod guys know when to leave well enough alone.

 

nice!!

 

That's exactly what I'm saying.🙂 And I'm not most people.

I'll grant they're one of the more functional cold air induction designs since they take advantage of aerodynamics and high pressure areas. But the Olds scoops located at the front of the car are also in a high pressure area, as are pre-1975 Firebird Formula hood scoops.

Original design metal cowl induction hoods with the low scoop and flap look good on Chevrolets. When you get into the glass generic pieces with a scoop ten or more inches tall completely open to atmosphere, that are obviously designed only for looks and high-rise intake clearance and not to route high pressure air thru a sealed path to the carb, they look ridiculous on Chevrolets and totally stupid on anything else.

Now, you want the most effective cowl induction there is, here's the cowl hood's predecessor. But it was all underhood, not outwardly visible, and in the early 70s musclecar world wasn't in-your-face enough.

Most 67-70 Chevrolets had the knockout plug's outline on the firewall. Even the big cars.

 

I've been tempted for years to put 68 OAI on my 68. I just cant come to grips with such an original car to cut holes and such. Plus it has A/C.

If I ever get the opportunity to build what I want ...another 68 driver, sleeper, BTR, TKX 6 speed, 9", it will get the ducts & air cleaner.

That 70 with the 68 ducts without the chrome trim is rather stealthy. I like it.