Would like to buy a repro OAI hood for my 1972 Cutlass project. Looks like prices are all over the board on these. I am sure the quality is as well. Any of you have any experiences with these that you would like to share. The steel frame fiberglass one from
The Parts Place seems like the best value but sometimes you get what you pay for.
Thx Steve

 

THORNTON is the best by far!
http://thorntonmusclecars.com/products/hood

 

There are only 2 choices. Original OEM hood or Thornton.

Be prepared to pay big money for one. The others are crap.

 

I think the steel framed hood from the parts place is only available for 1970. They have not released the 71/72 design when I checked with them several months ago.

 

I just finished the body work on a Parts Place hood, and I would say they are the next best behind Thornton.

It took a total of 3 hoods before received one that wasn't damaged. The first two had busted corners, so if you order one, you need to inspect it before you sign for it. Each time it took 3 weeks to get a new one. I really wish they would pack them better!

I would consider the Parts Place hood above average, compared to the other glass hoods I've dealt with, like chevy cowl hoods etc. It is some type of injection molded and it weighs about the same as a factory hood.

Depending on the level you want your paint job to be at, the body work/finish work on the hood wasn't too bad. The overall shape is good, and it did "fit" the car without any issues. I've heard the stories of guys needing to trim the rear of some of the super cheap glass OAI hoods.

The hood I was doing is going on a 95% show quality paint job, and on both sides of the hood, it was too flat and didn't match the fenders very well, so it required quite a bit of filler, then a lot of finesse to make it match the factory contours. Outside of that it wasn't too bad, less than an average amount of filler to make it straight compared to the other brand hoods.

For me personally, if I need another OAI hood, I would buy another one from the parts place, only because of how expensive the Thornton's are.

Also if you plan on having your car painted, make sure you account for the extra cost in body work for the glass hood, regardless of what brand you buy. I would say a good shop would charge an additional $500-700 (depending on level of paint job) for the body work on the parts place hood.

Once I get the car painted, I'll post lots of pics of the hood.

 

You'd be right. I have sent them 4 emails and each time they say it's 'still in production'. Figure 4 emails in 3 years with the same answer. That's why they say 'call' for the price on the 71/72 OAI hood c/w steel subframe.

 

My neighbor has a 70 Cutlass with a cheap OAI hood - from 10 feet away it looks fine. From 20 feet and 20 mph it looks great. So depends on what you are trying to do with your car

 

You guys were right. I misread the catalog. Thanks for the info

 

Thanks for the input. Not in a position to spring for the Thorton's unit and do not want a fiberglass only hood. Money going to engine work right now. Guess I'll be using the original steel hood w/loovers.

 

Have you looked at Fiberconcepts? Several guys here have bought and liked them. They have reinforced metal inserts at the critical points for springs and hood latch. Not as pricey as Thornton's, but not bad from what some of the guys who bought have said. 800.00 + palleting and shipping IIRC.

Fiberconcepts Hoods