Cowl Induction Hoods
Form meets function: Rear-facing scoops draw cool air while adding aggressive style
09/24/2018
In This Article
Category:
Muscle Cars
Several months ago we featured shaker-type hoods in Swap Meet, so as a sort of follow-up, this month we'll cover cowl-induction-style hoods. Though these types of hoods were originally offered on certain performance models, today many are reproduced, and many others are available from the aftermarket for applications never considered in factory form.
The first instance of sourcing cool air to feed the induction system from the cowl area of a muscle car actually didn't involve hood scoops. Instead, ducting from the air cleaner housings to the firewall, usually above the heater box area, brought cool air in from the cowl plenum. This source was favorable because the air was isolated from the heat of the engine compartment and also from the wind passing over the vehicle. The famed Z11 Impalas used a version of this arrangement, as did some 1967 Z/28 Camaros. Corvettes with the Stinger-style hood actually pulled in air from the low-pressure area found at the base of the windshield, even though the scoop appeared to face forward (it was actually blocked off at the front). Then, during the 1969 model run, the ZL2 cold-air induction hood was introduced as an option on the Camaro. The following year, the Chevelle SS offered a similar design.
There were others as well, usually with ducts built into the underside of the hood that connected to the air cleaner housing. Several of these original cowl induction hoods also used a flapper door and actuating mechanism that opened when the carburetors were at wide-open throttle. Although they were optional equipment in performance engine packages, most can be fitted directly in place of a standard production hood, making an upgrade to a cowl induction hood system from a standard factory hood a fairly straightforward operation.
Both sheetmetal and fiberglass aftermarket cowl induction hoods are offered by numerous companies, some of which we will feature here. If you are merely going for looks, bolting on a replacement is relatively easy, but, to get the true effect of cowl induction, some additional work will be required. Rear-facing air cleaner pans and open air cleaners are also available to channel the maximum air towards the intake and carburetor.
Goodmark Industries manufactures many sheetmetal replacement hoods for classic and newer muscle cars. Applications for cowl induction hoods include the 1967-'69 2-inch factory-appearing cowl hood. An optional 4-inch-rise cowl hood is also offered for first-generation Camaros. Both 1-inch-rise functional cowl induction hoods with the flapper door hole added and standard 1-inch cowl induction hoods without the flapper door are offered for 1970-'72 Chevelles. Over 30 different Chevrolet passenger-car listings in all are available, from 1962 Chevy II up to 1992 Camaros. Ford enthusiasts will find 2-inch-rise cowl hoods for 1987-'93 Mustangs from Goodmark as well, and GM pickup and SUV owners will find 14 available cowl hood options available for S-10, Denali, Yukon, Caballero and full-size pickups from 1973 and up. Both 2-inch and 4-inch rise are available for many of the applications.
All of these hoods feature a fully detailed inner frame for extra strength and are shipped in black primer, ready to paint. They are designed to work with all factory hardware at both the hinges and front latch assembly.
Pro EFX steel cowl induction hoods are also available for late model pickups. These aftermarket hoods are supplied EDP coated and are ready for paint. Three Pro EFX hoods are offered for late-model Ford trucks, including standard single cowl, dual cowl and teardrop single cowl. Chevy and GMC truck Pro EFX coverage includes four EDP-coated applications. Available are 2-inch cowl models for 1981-'91 and 2004-2011 pickups, tear-drop shaped cowl hoods are listed for 1988-'98 pickups and split dual-cowl design hoods are also available for 1981-'91 trucks.
Pro EFX cowl hoods do not provide any additional clearance in the engine compartment because of the inner frame substructure; however, this does not affect the function of the cowl scoop when channeling outside air to the air cleaner. You can purchase Goodmark Industries hoods and many of its other quality sheetmetal body parts from most major aftermarket performance retailers.
Original Equipment Reproduction offers OEM-authorized hoods for Chevrolets, including 21 different cowl induction applications for models from the Sixties through the Nineties. You can select from 2- or 4-inch-rise cowl designs on many applications, and the company also offers a 2.75-inch-rise hood for third-generation Camaros. GM truck cowl hoods are also listed.
OER hoods are made from the finest materials and match or exceed the steel gauge thickness and quality of the original units. Each hood is treated with black EDP coating before shipment and is paint-ready when received. All critical fitment areas of the hood, where it mates to hood hinges and front latch, are correctly spaced and pre-drilled for easy installation. The under-hood brace framework also duplicates the original equipment sheetmetal.
OER also offers stock steel hoods for many models as well as the 1967-'69 Camaro SS hood. Original Equipment reproduction hoods can be purchased from retailers such as Summit Racing or JEGS Performance. Both of these retailers also sell Spectre Performance cowl induction air cleaner assemblies that open to the cowl area for additional access.
Auto Metal Direct is an authorized Mopar and GM restoration parts manufacturer that produces body parts and many other muscle car restoration items. It offers dozens of cowl hoods for GM passenger car and truck applications, manufactured from thick-gauge steel, and several options are also available in aluminum.
Functional cowl induction units for 1970-'72 Chevelles with flapper door hole and hood pin holes pre-drilled are listed. Both steel and aluminum cowl induction hoods are listed for first generation Camaro, 1968-'72 Nova and 1982-'04 S-10 pickups and Blazers. Standard 2-inch-rise cowl hoods are listed for 1962-'74 Novas, 1967-'92 Camaros, 1981-'88 Monte Carlos, 1966-'72 and 1978-'87 Chevelles, 1967-'02 pickups, 1999-'06 GMC Sierras and Yukons, 2003-'05 Silverados and 2002-'06 Avalanches. Larger 4-inch-rise cowl hoods are listed for 1968-'72 Nova, 1982-'92 Camaro and 1982-'04 S-10 and Blazers. Auto Metal Direct's early Chevelle, Nova and Camaro hoods are officially licensed and manufactured to meet the rigid standards of the General Motors Restoration Parts Program.
Its hoods and all other parts are made from the same gauge steel as the factory items and include all correct-as-original clips, tabs, flanges, bends and seams. All newly-designed body panels are test fit on the actual year, make and model of car before going into production and being released for sale. This insures a quality part that can easily be installed and looks like the original.
Dynacorn International also offers steel cowl induction hoods for GM muscle cars, with a 2-inch-rise design available for 1967-'81 Camaros, 1966-'72 Chevelles, 1962-'72 Novas and 1978-'87 Malibus and El Caminos; an application for 1987-'93 Mustang is also offered.
Dynacorn uses only 1006 universal grade automotive steel for all of its sheetmetal stampings. This 1006 grade steel is made of entirely new components that require fewer additives. The reduced additives mean less emission of gasses during manufacture, making the steel easier to paint with better adhesion, plus the steel can be formed using cleaner and tighter welds.
Year One has all the necessary parts available to restore the flapper door on the 1970-'72 Chevelle cowl induction hoods. Complete installation kits are also offered, though the relay, cowl-induction spacer, solenoid, flapper-door valve, air-cleaner assembly and flapper-door area are all available as single repair items. The complete kits are offered with or without a hood assembly. Flapper door parts are also listed for the Camaro ZL-2 option as are aftermarket Dynacorn and Glasstek fiberglass hoods for 1967-'81 Camaros.
Although the lighter weight of a fiberglass hood will often require changing to lighter hood-hinge springs, or possibly different hinges altogether, there are dozens of suppliers that offer aftermarket fiberglass cowl induction hoods for muscle cars.
VFN Fiberglass exercises the time-honored practice of producing performance-car body panels in fiberglass. Among VFN's offerings is a large array of replacement cowl induction hoods for most makes and models, including some AMC and B-O-P applications you don't find from other suppliers. Pin-on and bolt-on cowl induction hoods for 1971-'74 AMX and 1978-'80 G-Body Regal, Cutlass and Grand Prix are available. Fiberglass cowl induction hoods are also available for 1964-'87 Chevelle, 1967-'13 Camaro, 1962-'79 Nova, 1973-'82 Corvette, 1997-'04 Corvette and 1967-'90 full-size cars. Ford model cowl induction hoods are available for 1983 and newer Mustangs, 1984-'88 Thunderbirds, 1992-'96 trucks and 1996-'97 Thunderbirds and Cougars. VFN Fiberglass also sells the Cobra R-style hoods for late model Mustangs, with the screens already molded into the rear of the hood. Many of the offerings are listed in 2-inch or 4-inch rise (Cobra R hoods are 31⁄2-inch); however, some 5- and 6-inch-rise hoods are also listed, depending on application.
Steeda Autosports manufactures its Street Cowl and Ultralite Full Cowl fiberglass hoods for 2005-'09 Mustangs. These gel-coat hoods feature a working cowl vent and reinforced latch area with aluminum plates. Both units can be bolted directly to existing factory hinges. The Ultralite Full Cowl hood is a lighter-weight unit that performs the same way as the Street Cowl hood, but is preferred for racing applications because it weighs 9 pounds less. Both hoods have been tested and found to reduce under-hood temperatures by 5 degrees over the stock hood. Steeda Mustang hoods along with its other restoration products are available direct from the manufacturer or from retailers like Late Model Restoration.
Cervini's manufactures fiberglass replacement hoods for Eighties and newer muscle cars and trucks. Cowl induction hoods are offered for 1982-'92 Camaro, 2008-'13 Dodge Challenger, 1997-'06 Jeep Wrangler and 1987-'12 Mustangs. Additional Mustang listings include Cobra R-style hoods for 1999-'04 and 2010-'14 Mustangs, as well as the C-series cowl hood found on 2010-'12 Mustangs. Cervini's hoods and quality fiberglass replacement parts are available from many aftermarket suppliers including CJ Pony Parts.
There are many factors to consider when it comes to deciding on a cowl induction hood solution, among them are material (metal versus fiberglass), rise height, flapper door functionality, and whether or not you wish to retain hinges or convert to a pin-on arrangement. These hoods are designed to install with relative ease; however, making a cowl induction hood a true cold-air channeling unit will often require some more effort and cost. Shop around to find the right application for your car.
Sources:
Auto Metal Direct
866-591-8309
www.autometaldirect.com
Cervini's
800-488-6057
www.cervinis.com
CJ Pony Parts
800-888-6473
www.cjponyparts.com
Dynacorn International
805-987-8818
www.dynacorn.com
Glasstek
630-978-9897
www.glasstek.com
Goodmark Industries
877-477-3577
www.goodmarkindustries.com
JEGS Performance
800-345-4545
www.jegs.com
Late Model Restoration
866-507-3786
www.latemodelrestoration.com
OER/Original Equipment Reproduction
www.oerparts.com
Spectre Performance
909-673-9800
www.spectreperformance.com
Steeda Autosports
800-950-0774
www.steeda.com
Summit Racing
800-230-3030
www.summitracing.com
VFN Fiberglass
630-543-0232
www.vfnfiberglass.com
Year One
www.yearone.com
Recent
1958 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe
While GM made general announcements and events around its 50th anniversary for 1958, only Pontiac incorporated the occasion into its advertising. It mattered little that the first Pontiac rolled off the assembly line in 1926 as sub-brand of Oakland. Laid out in large letters in its brochure, Pontiac’s advertising theme for 1958 carried the tagline “The boldest advance in fifty years,” also declaring “A new kind of cars is born!” Previously introduced as a well-optioned convertible version of the Star Chief in 1957, the standalone Bonneville arrived for 1958.
Promising “the first true union of sport car action with town car luxury,” the Bonneville was only produced as a pillarless hardtop Sport Coupe or a drop-top Sport Convertible for 1958. As “a modern ultimate for the man who loves cars…this steel-muscled road machine,” the Bonneville featured a 370-cu.in. V8 engine with a four-barrel carburetor and 10:1 compression as standard equipment. An optional Tri-Power setup with triple two-barrel carburetors was given the “Tempest 395” moniker for its 395 lb-ft torque rating.
As the late 1950s was peak Jet Age, aeronautical and rocket themes pervade the details of the Bonneville. The leading edge of the scalloped rear quarter panels featured a very rocket-like piece of chrome trim that extended to a point at the front of the car. On top of each front fender, just before the headlamps, sat additional chrome-plated pieces that resembled delta-wing jets with appendages that lead into creases atop the fenders like contrails from jet engines.
Finished in Burma Green with Calypso Green accents, this 1958 Bonneville Sport Coupe, one of 9,144 produced, appears to have been restored some years ago, with a fit and finish that looks to be holding up. It is equipped with the Tri-Power 370 and a four-speed Super Hydra-Matic transmission. It is additionally fitted with power windows and power brakes, along with the rare Trans-Portable radio unit that can be removed and used as a portable radio with its built-in speaker and ability to run off batteries. The seller notes no problems with the drivetrain and asserts that the transmission shifts well.
1958 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe
Chevrolet didn’t revel in the golden jubilee news that Pontiac touted, but its advertising in 1958 suggested that its redesigned models were “Almost too new to be true!” The ad copy also promised that “You’ll like being looked at in your beautiful ’58 Chevrolet.” Longer, lower and wider than the famous “Tri-Five” models that preceded it, the Chevrolet models somewhat mirrored what was going on at Pontiac, but with a rear-end treatment that seemed to show the previous year’s tall tailfins flopped over somewhat. In magazines ads, the words accompanying the first-year Impala Sport Coupe suggested “This sleek styles-setter promises action, gaiety, glamor—and it keeps its promises beautifully.”
Like the Bonneville nameplate, the first Chevrolet to wear the Impala badge arrived in 1958. Chevy also introduced its first big-block V8, the so-called “W” engine. For 1958, Chevrolet dubbed this 348-cu.in. engine the Turbo-Thrust V8 when equipped with a four-barrel carburetor and Super Turbo-Thrust when fitted with Tri-Power triple carburetion. Though it lacked the aviation/space themes of the Bonneville’s styling, the similarly proportioned Impala was also festooned with plenty of brightwork, from the wide grille to side spears that ran nearly from the taillights to the headlamps. Pound-for-pound, the massive wraparound bumpers probably contained the highest amount of chrome on the car.
Finished in Onyx Black with a bold Rio Red-dominated interior, this 1958 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe now on Hemmings Auctions features a long-term restoration that spanned the 1990s. Completed in 2001, it appears to be holding up well. The photos of the very clean undercarriage that accompany the listing tell a story that the car has been taken care since that redo. This example is fitted with the four-barrel 348 that was rated at 250 horsepower when new. Power reaches the rear axle via a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission.
GM made some distinct design changes for 1958. With plenty of models across five passenger-car divisions, we are fortunate to have options in the collector car hobby when it comes to these chrome-laden machines. Which of these ’58 hardtop coupes would you like to cruise in?
Head on over to Hemmings Auctions to take a look and let us know.
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