Contemplating leaving the hood off my 51 after the new engine is done. I want to see some pics of 50s rigs running without the hood....it may help in the decision process. Thanks in advance
Agreed. This is something for much earlier cars when hot-rodded but not for this era. This is popular with ricers now I've noticed. Maybe that's who you're trying to impress, I dunno..... Hey, no one can really see it anyway until you stop, then you can raise the hood.
If the mill is worth showing off..then I don't see a problem running w/o a hood. A nicely detailed engine bay helps to.
I think Fords built after '35 look better with a hood on them. It has to do with how and where the hood stops and the grill starts, and whether the hood is a visual continuation of the fenders or not. The Shoebox and similar design cars just look like something's missing with the hood off. The windshield stays cleaner with a hood too.
He probably is, but his car looks like crap. Just can't warm up to rust..... Patina is patina but rust is rust.
One cool thing about running without a hood is the hood won't fly up and take out your windshield if not secured!!! Back in the early 60's we'd run them on and off just depended on what mood we had. I replaced the from clip (sheet metal for you non bodymen) on my '50 Chevy and ran without a hood for a week or two just for fun.
That coming from a guy who wanted to put a mid 80's vette irs in a fenderless Model A.... I'm sure my buddy will be crushed you don't like his car..
there was a late 50's chevy truck.. may have had a hemi? in it.. I saw it on the hamb but now I can't find it, but it had no hood. If I ever get around to it I want to build one just like it. I think it can be done well if there's something to show.
In my opinion, part of the cool of the forties and fifties cars and trucks is the massive sheet metal. I'd keep it.
I've reformed and will be using my '58 9" instead. I still haven't decided whether or not to use one of my modern, electronically injected LT1s though..... If I do, long range plans would be to build a vintage-looking Hilborn stack looking set-up for it though. Please forgive me Father, for I have sinned. I do like his car overall, very much. Simply removing that rusty-ass front bumper would help a ton. I could overlook the hood if he'd do that!
haha No harm, no foul He is changing the bumpers this winter... He is planning on putting it in one color too..someday. Back to that hoodless truck....me likey
It depends on the look you're going for...Sellers' old shoe pulls it off,,,more of a HOT ROD look than a custom, although it has elements of both.... I took mine off for my engine swap...just haven't got around to finishing the seam on the hood and smoothing it out. Since it'll be a custom, it's definitely going back on. Bryan
I've said it before and I'll say it again...... It's your car, if you run it with out a hood, trunk lid or doors, so be it. People that get all worked up over others car need to get a life.
i left mine off all summer so it was easy to tweak the new tri power. but i fell in love with it off!
As far as i'm concerned, the motor has to be cool looking to run without a hood. On a late 40s & newer ride, a little chrome with a single 4bbl and a chrome air cleaner just doesn't work, put on the hood. However, if you have a blower or milti carbs and the motor looks bad ass, or you have some bitchin' striping under the hood, you can get by without the hood, most of the time. You have to have something worth showing off or they look like your missing something. 'Corse, I don't claim to know what is cool and what is not, just know what looks right to me. Gene