[PurelyGTO68]

From time to time someone inquires about trimming the hood on a 68 GTO for the ram air pan so I thought I'd post some photos showing how I did it on my car. I decided to replace my original hood so the new one would need to be cut for the ram air stuff.

I figured the best way to trim the hood is to make a template. A portion of the hood pan is stamped and a portion of that interferes with some of the hood bracing so that needs to be cut out.

• Cover the engine side of the pan with pattern paper
• trim the edges and trim away the center round area
• feel for the edge of the stamping and trim away that portion
• position the pan on the hood
• center the air cleaner opening...not the pan. Note the alignment hole at the front.

[PurelyGTO68]

There are hooks on the hood side of the pan...those hook onto some flat metal at the rear of the hood. Use some sort of alignment took to locate the front. When you are happy with the position, apply some tape directly onto the hood around the perimeter of the hood pan. This will help you locate the pattern. Remove the pattern from the hood pan and tape it to the hood.

[PurelyGTO68]

Mark the hood where it needs to be trimmed. The white line is the trim line.
Once trimmed, test fit the hood pan. Remember, never cut up to the tape line (green tape in my photo...that would be trimming too much. When the pan fits good, mark and drill the 5 mount holes. Use some sort of guide on your drill so you don't dent the exterior skin of the hood.

Done.

Hope this helps someone someday.

[4zpeed]

for sharing that with us Pure, that's a great way to get the proper center and position.


....
Frank

[Greg Reid]

Good instructional post. I did mine with the hood in place. Not crazy hard but not the easiest way to do it for sure.

[The Boss]

Far easier when off the car - install the pan while off too.

Here is the picture of my original hood, cut at the dealer.

[PurelyGTO68]

Originally Posted by The Boss

Far easier when off the car - install the pan while off too.

Here is the picture of my original hood, cut at the dealer.

Looks like three studs per scoop just like my set. Are those original to that hood?

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[The Boss]

That I don't know - which reminds me, I owe you some part numbers don't I?

[PurelyGTO68]

Originally Posted by The Boss

That I don't know - which reminds me, I owe you some part numbers don't I?

No rush.
I think the part numbers will be 9791143 and 9791144. When you get around to removing the scoops from your hood, it would be interesting to see how they were cut. I have a suspicion that your scoops are original and cut by the factory. Would like to see a few more examples of known original pieces though...

[The Boss]

That car is gone - no longer a reference point. It was my RA I/Auto. No hood on my RA II at the moment.

[RA1John]

As with the RA Firebird, were there not part numbers unique to RA scoops? Meaning, which scoops we're in the trunk and which were installed at the factory?

[PurelyGTO68]

Originally Posted by RA1John

As with the RA Firebird, were there not part numbers unique to RA scoops? Meaning, which scoops we're in the trunk and which were installed at the factory?

.
For 1968 GTO, it doesn't appear so.
The MPC book shows just one set of part numbers for 1968 GTO scoops. This leads me to believe the RA scoops started as standard scoops and the closed end was cut off at the factory. Which makes complete sense since that is where the casting numbers would be so RA scoops would not have a number once that piece was cut off. The factory likely used a jig to cut out the end plate and some original 68 RA scoops show evidence of the blade cut marks. I have compared my set of factory cut scoops to others that were owner cut and the differences are apparent.

The 1968 part numbers carried over for 69-70 for non ram air GTOs. RA III and IV GTOs had different part numbers 546327 and 546328. This means there would no longer be any reason for the factory to cut open the 9791143 and 9791144 scoops after production ended for 1968 model year UNLESS they were destined for sale over the counter at the dealership parts department.....which I suppose is possible.

There also is the matter of 2 stud vs 3 stud scoops. I have seen examples of both styles but with the same part numbers. I think some plants drilled and tapped the third hole and others did not. The scoops from my car are the 3 stud type and they appear to be original to the car. The photo that Boss posted from his RA I car also has 3 studs.

When time allows, there is another forum member with many sets of scoops (most closed and some opened) and access to a RAI GTO still with the original owner so he plans on inspecting them closely to verify what factory cut scoops should look like. If our suspicion is correct, it would be fairly difficult to replicate the factory cut without some sort of jig. Might post photos of what to look for after we inspect the scoops from the 1 owner car and verify they match my set.

[The Boss]

Here's a puzzle for you - the scoops on my shelf downstairs are cut, have three studs and NO part numbers on them.!

I have more sets of open scoops but need to look for them.

[PurelyGTO68]

Originally Posted by The Boss

Here's a puzzle for you - the scoops on my shelf downstairs are cut, have three studs and NO part numbers on them.!

I have more sets of open scoops but need to look for them.

That sounds correct. The part number is located on the end plate so it is cut off when the scoops are opened up. If you hold a straight edge across the opening....is the cut slightly arched?

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[RA1John]

How were the '68 Ram Air cars shipped?
What configuration were they in at the end of the final line?

Standard air cleaner installed?
Ram air baffle, tub, seals, extra scoops in trunk?

Question is, did they come off the line with open or closed scoops?

What instructions were in the trunk for dealer prep & modifications?

[PurelyGTO68]

Originally Posted by RA1John

How were the '68 Ram Air cars shipped?
What configuration were they in at the end of the final line?

Standard air cleaner installed?
Ram air baffle, tub, seals, extra scoops in trunk?

Question is, did they come off the line with open or closed scoops?

What instructions were in the trunk for dealer prep & modifications?

Not sure about the Firebirds....
For GTOs, the information I have read & heard is the cars arrived at the dealers with closed scoops and standard air cleaners (including manifold shroud and heat tube). The ram air pan, baffle, seals and open scoops were in the trunk. I think someone posted the instruction sheet in one of the roll call threads. I believe the open scoops were red oxide primed but not painted.....the dealer needed to paint the scoops themselves.

[roger1]

Originally Posted by PurelyGTO68

...Hope this helps someone someday.

Thanks for your photo documentation. It helped me a lot. I did this job yesterday exactly like you showed here.

I decided to put a '68 ram air setup on my '69. Since my car didn't come with ram air and I'm not trying to portray that it did, it wasn't important to me to go correct. And the '68 setup looks better under the hood and is a more simple install.

[Verdoro 68]

Followed the great instructions in this thread.

A couple tips that I didn't see mentioned mentioned: There's actually two locating holes in the pan, one up top and one on the bottom left side (when the hood is facing up). That really helped place the pan where it needed to be.

I used my 4-1/2" grinder with a cut off wheel to do a bulk of the dirty work and a smaller worn down cut off wheel for the corners, and pair of tin snips for the tail end that sits next to the outer sheet metal. I followed up with a flap disc to smooth all my cuts. I had a little bit of an overcut on one of the corners. I could tack weld it closed, but it will be covered by the pan anyway.

I used a stepped bit to drill the mounting holes which worked great to prevent the bit from hitting the hood skin. The holes on the repro pan had to be enlarged a step to fit the bolts (Ames N174NR). Step bit worked great for that too.

[Greg Reid]

Looks great!

[will slow gto]

Dang Ken, that looks better than fact tree.