[Vid]

Trying to decide if I would like a pair of louvers on my otherwise plain LeMans hood to assist with cooling and dress it up a little. I’m on the fence. The few people I’ve bounced it off of were all very hot - or cold - about them. So… “Rad” or “Bad”?!



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[Scott Roberts]

What year is the car? Looks to be 68-70 maybe?

[Vid]

Originally Posted by Scott Roberts

What year is the car? Looks to be 68-70 maybe?

‘69.

To be fair I’ll post a pic without the louvers mocked up.



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[1965gp]

I don’t hate it- would you leave them black to match the top?

My thoughts are:

1) I don’t think I could cut into a hood that matched the car (although I have done it on newer cars that are easier to match)

2) if you are going to do this I would update a few things on the car to make it match. It has a rather stock look and the vents are a very restomod look. To pull it off I would want bigger wheels, lowered, maybe a chin spoiler to complete the look.

[b-man]

It’s perfect.

Leave it be.

Just an entry for water and debris into your engine compartment.

Plus they’re just not really nice looking louvers in my opinion.

[68WarDog]

Leave it. Those look like office air duct vents.

[dataway]

Yep, beautiful car, no louvers please.

[Verdoro 68]

Let it be. IMO those would look out of place on an otherwise stock - and great looking - car.

[dataway]

And a post car too, cool, don't see many of those. Or at least I haven't seen many.

[Elarson]

Don't cut up your pristine hood.
Find a beater hood, reproduction(?) or fiberglass, put the louvers in that one and then swap it on. I think they'd look good but if you use a different hood, you can always put it back to stock if you change your mind.

JMHO,
Eric

[OCMDGTO]

X10 leave it as is, it looks fantastic

[chuckies76ta]

JMO, If you really want to dress it up, put the GTO hood on it with the scoops. if anything. Paint them black. If looks pretty nice the way it is. I looked at it again and again, and I would leave it alone. That big chrome bumper is what makes these cars. I think I'd leave it alone.

[mzbk2l]

Somebody cut open the hood inner liner under the louvers on the '67 442 hood I have on my '67 Cutlass, and I hate it. Air cleaner always covered in water spots when I wash the car, hot air leaving the engine compartment sucked into the cowls and heating the interior, etc.

[Vid]

Thanks for all the responses. Amazingly I think this is the first thread where the comments are basically a unanimous decision! Has that even happened before? LOL

I have considered the scooped GTO style hood, but that doesn’t really look “right” unless I go with the Endura nose. Then I’d need the correct grills and lower valance. Suddenly it’s a big conversion project. I thought maybe the louver vents might give it the “scooped” look without totally changing the look of the car, much easier project and avoiding all that conversion bother. Not to mention all of the “Fake GTO” comments I’d have to endure.

While my gearhead neighbor really liked the look and function of the vents, my brother about had a fit saying “You’re going to cut two holes in that original 53 year old hood to put those things in?! Don’t do it!” Haha.

Okay so the vents are being returned to Summit today. Thanks again for setting me straight.


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[PunchT37]

Leave it.

[ZeGermanHam]

I'd leave it alone, too. They might look more appropriate on a car that had a pro-touring vibe with different suspension, wheels, brakes, interior, etc., but on an otherwise stock'ish looking car, the aftermarket louvers would appear out of place.

[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by b-man

Just an entry for water and debris into your engine compartment.

Proud of you. Most folks never consider the problems that rain/sleet will cause by wetting the engine.

When the OEMs cut a hole in the hood, they make a big point of sealing the opening, directing water away from sensitive equipment. They ensure that the air coming in or going out doesn't screw-up anything else.

Look at the engineering involved in a stock Shaker hood. (And then you see some bonehead pop-rivet a shaker scoop onto a Formula hood with no thought for air/water management; or for the fact that it's not going to shake with the engine when it's secured to the hood.)

[4dblnkldude]

No louvres... no way. Anywhere... ever. I would drive to your home and try to cut your hands off. LOL.

[surfsama]

What B-man said and it would be just a pain every time you wash the car.
I have a '68 GTO but I really like the clean lines of the Lemans and you have a very clean example there.

[Vid]

So

Since my hood louver idea got shot down (thank goodness), I was still searching for a way to give the front end a more aggressive look. Decided to add a color matching front air dam, amber high beams (actually somehow more orange than amber) and a subtle 455 badge (455 after I get the new motor in, ha). Most of the comments so far have been positive, but naturally not everybody is wild about it. Just thought I’d share a few pics for you guys that might be considering the same. Note the three color refinish on the grill, a real PITA from a masking tape standpoint but so much better than the faded one color rattle bomb job that was on it. Whew, finished just in time for Hot August Nights!


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