Hot Rods OPINIONS ON USING A HOOD

Get a ‘40-50 Buick that way you can unlatch the hood on both sides and just lift it off whenever you’d like!

 

With and without. I like it with a hood top'

 

Have you ever picked up one, it's a two or three amn job if you don't want to scratch anything. HRP

 

I prefer a hood on most cars, but with the right engine I could leave the hood off. HRP

 

When I had my shop, a neighbor construction guy brought me his freshly painted (20 coats Nitro black lacquer) '32 panel truck to do the brakes on, and get the 289 engine running. We set the hood on my tall horses, and covered it with a moving blanket.
I finished the work, drove it to the gas station for gas and a 'customer' walked up and looked down at the SBF engine.
"Where the hell did you find that??? Is that a V8 60??? Does it actually pull this big van???"
I had to chuckle, to a set of fresh eyes that SBF did look...smallish...
(That's when I went for the hood...) LOL

 

I prefer a hood, it ties everything together visually and adds space for my "lettering"

 

This song comes to mind.


I think that it depends on the car and how well dressed the motor is. For example I probably not run a '60 caddy minus the hood. But I would run a Model 40 ford hoodless. Granted those are both ends of the spectrum. But I think you get it. Right?

Then of course there is the idea of not telling what you got under there. "Hey what's that got in it?" My go to phrase is, "I dunno whatever they came with."

 

I messed and messed trying to align the hood on my '31 A with a Deuce grill while trying to figure out how to securely hold it down. The best answer was to leave it off.

 

What I like about hot rods and customs are that they are as different as the owners and builders that dreamed them up. I was in line this morning for a Dutch Bros coffee and the three cars in-front of me were the same make, model and color (white). No individuality, just transportation. Which is fine...for them.

Hood on, hood off, patina, no patina, flat paint, glossy paint, who the hell cares? Be different, be bold and be original.

"I want to be a lemming", said no hot rodder ever.

 

You know me, some work with hoods others don't.
The tub would never get a hood.


The roadster gets a hood top.

 

Above all things hot rod is Engine!!!! then the rest!! So let it be seen is my feel!!.
In the real world ,weather dose control a lot! So hood no hood,part hood.
I've never had a hood,I do turn scoops around back side with my 4x2s,if I know it's going to rain,plus I do have a waterproof rod cover for when stopped,if not under a cover. Like parked at a show.
Point being,I really like to see hot rod engines.

 

I have to challenge you on a '40 Coupe. My old friend Bob Lick, leaves the hood off his 40 Standard occasionally, showing the 324 Olds. Reminds me of 1960 ! Can't dig up a hoodless picture right now.

 

Like this one ?

 

I prefer a hood on most cars. Early cars with nice motors can look good, better if a highboy.

However…

Whenever doing something major on a Hot Rod or Custom under the hood and I have removed the hood for easier access,
I love to drive it around with the hood off to show off the new work and I kinda like the edgy out for business looking for a race look for a day or two.

 

@Marty Strode - no disrespect to your friend's car. Here's some support for hoodless '40s. Although I'm gonna say most look best with it on.

 

always have the hood top on mine, no one wants to see a SBC

 

Mine with and without.

 

Top only, just showing a little cleavage

 

Speak for yourself.

 

No Marty, like this one.

 

I have a full hood for my car but don't use it. That said I use dielectric greese on everything electrical on the engine so rain won't bother it. So far it has worked...............

 

No Marty, like this.

 

When I feel like showing my engine off!

 

Depends on the car to me. I left the hood off my '34 one summer and it seemed like it rained every time I got the car out. As long as you are moving it's not much of a problem. Kinda sucks when you are sitting or parked. I run a hood top now.

 

I’ve got a hood off a mid 50’s Ford bus . I’m thinking about using it as a awning above the walk in door on my garage. Should I or should I not ?

 

And that's something to show off Doug!

 

Hood on for the sbc haters and hood on for those of us that like the sbc in our hot rods.

 

Custom - on's Ok, Rod Off's Ok. However, it's your car.