1976 Formula Hood
 

Does anyone know if fiberglass reproductions of these hoods are made?? Or does anyone have a nice factory one for sale? Should also ask...will this hood fit a 1971 Firebird?

Yes the '76 steel formula hoods will fit on a '71 bird,as a matter of fact I have one that's going to go on my '72 bird.

I bought it cause it gives just a little bit more room under the hood than the OE flat hood did,and it looks a hell of a lot better than the flat hood too.

Another thing is the one I found perfectly matched my "well aged" white bird in terms of "patina" and such,it looks like it had been on the car for all those years.

The steel formula hood also seems to be a little lighter than the OE flat hood was too.

But I did'nt weigh them to confirm that,so that's mostly just based on my perception of that deal.

I dont know of anyone making them in glass though...

As for finding an OE one,I can ask my friend here if he has another or knows where to find one,or if you PM me I can get you his number,he has tons & tons of second gen Fbody stuff.

HTH

Bret P.

That would be awesome Bret. I really like the looks of the '76 Formula hood. The earlier hoods are nice, but not crazy about it at certain angles. 281-389-6150 David

I have a pair of 76 formula hoods that need some repair if your interested
one has hood pin holes to be welded up, the other had surface
rust that turned to holes on top of back corners,
if your handy with welding you might be able to make 1 good one out of the 2 rough ones.

One has good uncut inserts and the other had one scoop 1/2 opened up.

Worst case the scoops might be able to be grafted on to a good flat hood.
I'm in eastern PA, If your interested let me know. Shipping is the only problem
for me I dont have a truck anymore. I'd take $50 for both. or trade for a flat 75 hood

-Jason
P.S. I'm looking for a good flat 75 hood for my 75 base bird if any one has one they dont want.

This may wet your whistle.

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/z.../P1010005a.jpg

Very Nice Car! is it a 76 with a 70 nose? What rear bumper does it have?

I saw in a book, along time ago that the 76 style steel formula hood was originally intended to be the 70-76 "Firebird 400" hood and the glass long scoop hood was for the T/A,
But once the shaker hood was decided to be the standard hood for the T/A, the glass T/A hood was then used as standard on the "firebird 400 or formula"

There is even a factory GM design photo of the 76 style hood on the 70 bird.
I belive it was in Michael Lamms "Fabulous Firebird" I cant find a photo on line,
I might have to scan the book.

My 75 bird had a 76 formula hood on it when I bought it...and I can definately say
the 76 hood has about 3/4" more clearance than the 70-75 factory glass hood I put on.
The steel hood is also much lighter, I could not belive the glass hood weighs as much as it does!

Yes, the back half was from my old 76 as is the hood. She suffered a "trauma" many years ago and I rebuilt her with much help from a 70 & 72. I always liked the look of the 76 hood as it had nice proportions to the car.

I agree with torqjunki's comment about the 70-75 F/G hood at certain angles. I like it from the front but not the side. From the side, the scoops look way too far forward and out of proportion with the 2nd gens sleek lines.

BTW, the repro 70-75 fiberglass Formula hood weighs only @ 17 lbs. I wish they made one for the 76 but there just isn't the market.

73 w/ 76 hood
 

Here's a 73 with a 76 hood in Phoenix, Arizona at a local show

OMG Phil....That car rocks!! If I had any doubt on the '76 hood, it is erased. I have not had time to contact some local Pontiac dudes about a hood close to home. If I cannot find anything around here, I will contact you Jason about the hoods you have. I am in no hurry to do any body or paint work now, as the car is very nice as is. But I will start to gather parts like this hood. I don't see how this hood could be any taller than a stock flat hood as it appears to be the same design down the middle.

NOS hood
 

I have a nos hood that is in need of work at the corners, bent over from poor storage & has some surface rust in the grill area and spots here & there. I'll take pics if interested. Thanks Dave K.

torqjunki, thanks for the kind words. The most common remark I've heard when driving it is that it looks "intimidating". Even after 31 years, I still love climbing into the cockpit and looking out the windshield across those two hood bulges. :cool:

I REALLY like it!

Neat.

Heres a couple of my last 72 bird with a 76 formula hood. Always liked the look......

I have a 76 formula firebird and don't like the front, so going by these pics what is involved in fitting an earlier nose cone. The added reduction in weight by losing the heavy as f..k rubber bumper would not go astray also. Would I need the corresponding radiator support as well, and what years would match up to 76 bonnet?
Cheers Steve

The earlier nose bolts right up and the radiator support is the same so you don't have to change it either. The radiator supports changed in 77 where they bolt to the frame but it's a moot point since the hoods we are discussing interchange from 70-76.

Just get the frame brackets for the style nose you are using. The 70-72's are the lightest. I'd stay away from the 73 as they are unique, heavy and complicated (1st year for Federally mandated 5 mph front bumpers) despite the fact that they "look" similiar to the earlier ones.

I've always loved the look of the '76 Formula hood on the '70 - '73 Formulas. Enjoyed the pics in this thread.