Does a 1953 Chevy hood Swap onto a 1953 Pontiac

I was wondering if I could put a 53 Chevy Hood on my 53 Pontiac. My factory pontiac hood has a 6" wide by 1/4 inch deep groove running the length of it. I know I could fill it but dont have the time right now. Plus, I don't know if I want to mangle the stock hood. Has anybody done this swap or know of someone who has?

Thanks,
Mike

 

Most pontiac hoods are longer than chevy hoods.That being said i think it can be done, I mean you are asking a group of guys that turn rusted out buckets into classic works of art. All sarcasm aside I think someone on here filled that gap before. Chaco

 

you mean the groove down the center for the trim? you're gonna have alot more work making a chevy hood fitting a car designed to have 2 more cylinders in a row than you would filling that groove. how's your trim? i found 51 pontiac trim, stainless, ie. no freakin rust and pitting as the 1950 trim does, to use on mine, though the groove width changed for th 53-54 cars. if i could find one, i'd put this little chrome doodad on it that seals over the hood ornament holes and in effect "shaves" the nose. saw one ONCE on ebay and missed it...

 

nope, sorry too long.

sorry Iam a dumb ass, its too short!

 

ChromedRAT,

If I'm reading into your post right, I'm assuming you have a 53 Pontiac as well and are in need of the stainless trim that goes down the center of the hood? If so, I have a really nice extra one I believe. Yours for the price of shipping if you want it.

Mike

 

nah, got a 50 myself. the bit about the 53-53 trim is just that it is a different width than 49-52.

 

Yes and no. Your car is probably a US model Pontiac, and runs a longer wheelbase than the Chevy. The difference is ahead of the cowl, so as some guys have posted, the Chevy hood would be too short. You could probably cut up a Chevy hood and make a filler panel out of it, though. The difference is around 4 to 6 inches in length, enough to change the side taper a bunch.

What may fit the car, however, is an Oldsmobile 88 hood. They're the same wheelbase and also used the small-series body shell on the 88's. If you can find one, unbolt the hinges at the cowl - they may be slightly different at the hood. Can't promise the grille lip will match exactly, though. You could probably make a jig out of some firring strips or other cheap wood to take and fit to an Olds and see if it matches up close enough (could try the Buick Special also, but seems like those are different still).


Now if you happen to have a Canadian model Pontiac, the hood should swap - they were built with Chevy motors, chassis and running gear, and were the same wheelbase.

For what it's worth, it is possible to swap the entire front clip over - I did it with a '51 Chevy shell I put on a '79 Buick frame way way back. The Buick was a 119" wheelbase, so I got a Pontiac front clip for it (119.5" WB) and the cowl attachment points were all the same. It's still rotting away in a garage with the hood and fenders all hung on it. This is why I think the Oldsmobile hood will work.

 

Rustynewyorker is right ,a canadian pontiac hood interchenges with a chevy one ,seen it done.

 

Rustnewyorker Is Right the Canadian 53 Didn't only run the same Mill and trans it ran the whole front end if it wasn't for the word Pontiac on the hood you wouldn't be abel to tell the difference from the front ,from a 53 chevy teeth and all. That being said I think you would have less time in filling the center then trying to stretch a chevy hood 6''...... Louver Dude