Topic: Non-Ram Air Hood With Pie Shaped Cutouts?

[88s69Mach1]

Howdy! First time poster... I'm working on a San Jose 1969 M code Mach 1 and the hood has a weird hole cut into it. It would seem to me that if some one wanted to open up the hood for fresh air induction, you would just cut a large round hole in it. But my hood has 4 weird shaped holes in it that makes a circle. Has anyone seen this kind of thing before?  Thanks for any help!!

[jwc66k]

Welcome. What does the other side look like?
Jim

[88s69Mach1]

Howdy and thanks for the  reply. I haven?t taken the hood scoop off yet so not really sure. 

[RoyceP]

That was a pattern cut in hoods by aftermarket folks who wanted to make the hood scoop effective on non - factory ram air cars. It is pretty typical.

[J_Speegle]

Howdy! First time poster... I'm working on a San Jose 1969 M code Mach 1 and the hood has a weird hole cut into it. It would seem to me that if some one wanted to open up the hood for fresh air induction, you would just cut a large round hole in it. But my hood has 4 weird shaped holes in it that makes a circle. Has anyone seen this kind of thing before?  Thanks for any help!!

There was a period in the fall of 69 where we find a number of hoods cut just like this on unrestored cars. If I recall at least two of the three and possibly all three plants installed them. Time periods of the cars build dates are in a similar range. When was your car completed? From your Marti report. And if possible when the hood was stamped. From the inner fram

Typically any hot rodder worth their salt would not cut four pie cuts but rather one big hole like what was done for Boss 429s. Allot easier to cut and would flow more air


Will follow up with other examples tomorrow

There is an old post on the subject but the discussion took place before we looked into it and identified a pattern rather than believing it was an all or nothing detail

https://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=3224.msg17247#msg17247

[specialed]

Have seen these hoods before as well as the ones with the side cutouts on early cars.

[88s69Mach1]

Wow!!  Thanks for all the info. The Marti report has the build date 11/08/68. The holes were definitely not just "hacked out"!  They're clean and precise, but seemingly without purpose!!  At least I know I won't have to "repair" the hood!! The Marti report also has it as "one of one" due to the options on the car. It's a one owner and unrestored as far I can tell...

[67gta289]

I've seen this exact pattern on several Torino hoods that use the same style hood scoop.

[JohnB]

https://anghelrestorations.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/69_70_hoods_v1.0.pdf

[88s69Mach1]

Thanks JohnB!!   Great info! Here's some pics that confirm it's an early hood and original. 😀👍

[RoyceP]

Does the Marti Report say Ram Air? I am guessing not.

[88s69Mach1]

No. Ram Air wasn?t ordered on it. Just the hood scoop. 👍😀

[J_Speegle]

Thanks JohnB!!   Great info! Here's some pics that confirm it's an early hood and original. 😀👍

Thanks for posting additional pictures. Don't be mislead by Marcus' labeling of the versions as being related to the order they were installed on Mustangs. Especially at San Jose. Think of them more as just identifiers at this point for his article.

Looking at what I have it appears that this version with the "pie shaped" cutouts without the cutouts in the  oval stampings on either or both sides was originally installed on cars San Jose planned on building in the month of November 1968 (projected build date from the door tags) and assigned VINs between approx 9R120xxx and 9R126xxx. This would nicely IMHO match with 10 17 W2 stamping date on the hood you posted. Mind sharing the cars VIN or all but the last two digits here or in a PM so I can add it to the list and chart it with the others?


A few examples from San Jose cars. Will start threads for both other plans then link to running changes main threads as is our practice here. 





As a side note all the examples in the pictures are M code cars but the cutouts have been found on Q codes also at other plants

[RoyceP]

No Ram Air means the hood was cut other than at the factory.

[88s69Mach1]

Thanks J Speegle!  Great info!  The VIN is 9R02M118570.  Thanks again for the info!