68 GTO Fan Shroud Top Cover Install Modification for 69 GTO
 

Has anybody who has a 69 GTO modified the fan shroud cutting off the top portion and installed a 68 GTO fan shroud top cover? I am sick and tired of looking at the split in my fan shroud because somebody has leaned on the top of it and it splits. Any help or advice on this would be appreciated.

Carousel72TRed

Sorry to hear about your frustration. This is a common complaint among 69-72 GTO owners. First, are you certain that this is due to a person leaning on the shroud? Have you checked to see if you have the proper hood?

There is a difference between 69-70 hoods and the 1968 GTO hood, even if they appear outwardly identical. That difference is in the under hood structure, which was changed for 69-70 hoods to accommodate the change to a one-piece shroud, which sits up higher and will interfere with the brace on a 1968 hood. With the hood open, look up at the underside, close to the "nose" section. You will see a shorter center brace that runs from near the hood point back toward the windshield. If it is a 1968-designed hood (all reproduction hoods are based on the 1968 mold), that center brace will not have any variation. If 69-70, there will be a section of the brace which has been relieved such that the closing of the hood will not interfere with the fan shroud. Essentially, they create more space there with a "divot". See pictures below.

68 GTO Fan Shroud Top Cover Install Mod for 69 GTO
 

Thank you very much 68gtoMN. I can tell you the split on the fan shroud is from somebody leaning on the fan shroud hump. I have sent a picture to you of the divot on the underside of the hood and if the shroud hump is taller than the fan shroud top cover on a 68 hood then my idea might work. Please verify my ram air hood is a 69 ram air hood. This hood was option with no hood tach which makes this hood pretty rare I believe.

Carousel72TRed

I can validate, from your picture, that your hood is either a 1969 or 1970 hood based on the divot. You can determine month/day of production of this hood from the two date stamps that your hood will have, but determining which year (69 or 70) is not doable, as far as I know.

The two spots for date codes:

1. Driver's side of hood, on the vertical flat surface where the side of the hood meets the fender
2. Driver's underside of the hood, near the windshield, on the support brace. This would be behind where a hood tach hole would be cut. You should find a stamp like 03 29 (March 29).

The point being that hoods are date coded in two spots, if you care to read them.

So a 69 hood is no problem on a 68, but a 68 hood on a 69 is a problem?

Thank you very much 68gtoMN. You have been a wealth of information and help to me in determining production origins and date coding. I just took a picture of the hood date code and from what I can read it looks like it reads 1C16 with a B clearly to the right. I am assuming this means it was produced in February or March. As I stated earlier this is a ram air hood without the hood tach and it is my understanding they made very few of these and I have seen ads in my GTOAA magazine looking for one (not for sale).

Carousel72TRed

The numbers are what is important to you. The letters may signify plant and shift of creation, but 1/16 = January 16th for the date of the hood stamping. You should also look for the stamping on the vertical edge of the hood, driver's side near the Endura bumper. One other bit of information to help you understand all of this is that the hood is comprised of two separate stampings, joined together. The under hood structure and the visible topside metal. That's why there are two date stamps. It is possible to have different dates, but nearly all that I have seen are the same.

Correct. 68 hoods APPEAR to be the same if one is only looking at the top of the hood. 68 hoods will bolt to the 69 and 70 cars, but the center support will interfere with 69 and 70 radiator/fan shrouds. A 69 or 70 hood on a 1968 causes zero issues. AND, if one uses the factory under hood insulation, this can't even been seen.

68 GTO Fan Shroud Top Cover Install Modification for 69 GTO Reply
 

68gtoMN,
I took a closer look and took a pick and the C is probably a 0 which would read 1016 which would put the production date of the hood October 16 which makes the most sense to me.

Carousel 72TRed

I can only go by what I believe I see in the picture. As you have the hood in your possession, you are best suited to make the call. I turned the picture horizontal to better gaze at it. Either way, that's your under hood stamping. You may be well served to search for the side stamping to validate your theory. :)

Thank You 68gtoMN,

I found the side date stamping on my original non Ram Air hood and then I looked for it on my Ram Air hood and it's not visible because probably the paint on the side lip is too thick covering up the stamping. I do appreciate all your responses to my inquires.

Carousel72TRed

easiest way to spot a 70 versus 69 hood is the windshield washer jets; 69 (and 68) jets are attached with two screws, 70 uses one screw and a tab, the hole for the tab is square so noticeable even if no jets are present.

68 GTO Fan Shroud Top Cover Install Modification for 69 GTO
 

Thank You North and 68gtoMN,

I checked the windshield washer jets on my GTO and it has the one screw and tab that clearly sticks out and my non ram air 69 hood has the 2 screws which would make my ram air hood from a 70 GTO. Since my front bumper is not correctly aligned can somebody tell me other than the windshield washer jets are the ram air hoods from a 69 vs. a 70 hood identical contour wise? Also reading my date code on the hood it appears to read 1C16 which would put the production date of the hood January 16.?

Carousel72TRed