68 GTO hood question
 

Back in the day (late 80's) I used to comb Pick-A-Part yards in CA and I found this hood in the yard and I've had it ever since. What's different about it are the holes right in front of the hood hinges. On every other one I've seen, the holes are rectangular, but on this hood they're round. These holes are put there to collapse the hood (make it buckle) in a head-on collision, but this is where they buckle over time just from being raised and lowered.

Does anyone know if it makes this hood an early 68 GTO? Is the round hole common?

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...psfd304cac.jpg
http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3aaab3e0.jpg

What is the date code read?

I thought 68 hoods had the brace behind the scoops?

I didn't know they were dated. Where do I find the date code?

I do believe that the collapsible hoods were later...So, you may be right about it being an early hood.

Usually on the flat surface at the back drivers side corner of the hood behind the hinge

That's a he!! of a hole the hacked in for the hood tach. Looks like it could be bent back and welded up tho. I just looked at my 68 and it has round holes.

I think they used a can opener to make that hole. Thanks for checking your hood. I suspect these hoods hold up much better than the rectangular holes.

The way the underhood bracing look's in the fan shroud area, it's a 1968 hood.

Sorry, I mistyped. 69 hood.
There is a photo of a hood I sold on the Detroit Craigslist I pulled off a 1970 RA GTO.

Marshallbeach, unless my eyes are going bad..I'm pretty sure that's a '68 hood.
I don't see the 'fan shroud dimple' of the '69/'70 hoods.
Found a good pic of the '69/'70 hood bracing dimple-

Thanks Greg, you mean my typo was correct? I should not have proof read my post.

By the way, I have had the photo of your 66 as the backdrop on my desktop for a long time. Hope you don't mind.

Thanks again,
Jim

MY '66?...lol....that's hard to believe. It's a yard ornament.
Maybe you mean the one in my avatar going down the assembly line?

Nope, the yard ornament. I discovered at an early age, the most pretty isn't always the most beautiful.

Jim

That's an early 68 hood,rectangular cutouts came later,also the front bracing is straight,not contoured like 69 70 to accomadate fan shroud on the 69 70

code
 

thews,

Were you able to locate the date code?


north,

Concerning the code, is it correct that the letter is the month and digit or digits = the day of the month or is the code interpreted differently?


Both of these 68 hoods have the oblong cutouts

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...psd1b26262.jpg

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...psfb6a799b.jpg

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...ps87967ddd.jpg

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8393eddd.jpg



Dave

Of course you are welcome to the photo. I'm in agreement. I'm kinda liking the patina on my '66 and may keep it that way whenever I get around to doing anything with it.

There are three dfferent 68 hoods. The one without the crumple slots is the earliest. I have not been able to pinpoint a changeover date for this... I have seen Oct hoods without them and Nov hoods with the holes...

did the 68 hood style run on early 69 cars? I just bought a 68 hood that has the braces in the scoop area and has a 9 under the back side the side date is 12-B 5

Side date https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0b2e4a6208.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2936444984.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...1a61f41e8f.jpg

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Square crash holehttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f9814066fa.jpg

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

No, from what I understand there is a fan shroud dimple, "read above in Greg's post, there are also pictures" for the shroud on 69-70 hoods.

Also from what I understand the 12-B 5 date code would be read as (12=December and 5=5th), so 12/5/68. Not sure what the 9 is on your hood.

Not sure about the braces in the scoop area, I don't see them on the other hoods either, I can check mine tomorrow.

Edit - Check this thread on bumper date codes for a better idea how the date code is read. https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...d.php?t=814888


Frank

Just looked & couldn't find the date on my hood. It has the squares in it though.

AS Paul stated, there are 3 different hoods. Not just different in crumple slots but also in hood scoop bracing. I have pictures of all three. I will venture to my close storage, perhaps this weekend, to look for date codes to help validate change over. Those without crumple cutouts are EARLY hoods.

Pics:
1) Center section of 68 hood - straight, no dimple (indent) as in 69-70
2) 68 hood with no front scoop brace
3) 68 hood with front coop brace

I think I'm down to 10 or 11 hoods now.