It appears that a previous owner of my 71 ss welded the cowl induction flapper box shut and filled it. I would like to make it functional again. is this worth it??? is it easily done??? does anyone know a bodyshop in the LA, CA area who is up to the task? Thanks

It would be cheaper to buy a Goodmark hood.They are about $299.By the time you pay the labor to fix yours you would be over that.I personally would buy a new one and sell yours to someone who doesn't want the flapper hole.

Why would someone do such a thing??

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1972 Chevelle Malibu custom 4dr (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/chaosmalibu1.jpg)
Restoration started: February 10th 2001
Pic 1 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/chaosmalibu2.jpg) , Pic 2 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/chaosmalibu3.jpg) , Pic 3 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/chaosmalibu4.jpg) and Pic 4 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/chaosmalibu5.jpg)
TC member #1278

Are you sure it isn't just a regular SS hood? They didn't all have a functioning cowl induction hood, the majority were just for looks.

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Chris Dagenais
'71 Malibu with a home built 454! 12.7@107
"Our balls are bigger :)"
CDE Power! (http://www.71malibu.com)

Thanks for all the advice. I think the goodmark hood is the way to go. I am a new member at Team Chevelle and I am very impressed with the website and the camaraderie of the members. See ya'll soon.

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If you can see from the underside that its a true cowl induction hood you have nothing to lose by trying to restore it. I would take a coarse grit sander and carefully remove the paint to bare metal and see if watever was used to fill the hole can be removed without doing any irrepairable damage to the surronding areas. Chances are it may be nothing more than a piece of sheetmetal tackwelded and bondoed in place. The welds cold be carefully ground away and the bondo removed by grinding, cutting, etc. then repairing as needed.

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Elcaminos are special!
I'd rather walk around with a Chevrolet hubcap in my hand than drive a Ford


work in progress
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James... you are correct it looks like a piece of sheet metal spot welded from the inside. I have no idea why someone would do this, however I am going to price out the cowl induction parts to see if it is in my budget to do. thanks

there is a very good reason why this was done. it allows you to get full time cool high pressure air straight into your carb if the air cleaner seal is used. a non functioning hood does not do that for you. there is a metal blocking panel. plus the non functioning hood does not have the sealing surface for the air cleaner seal. so the person obviously wanted the benefits of full time cool high pressure air straight into your carb with a NON functioning look and/or without the expense of getting a functioning hood functional. just wiring opening the flapper of a cowl induction hood is not as beneficial as what this guy did. if he used the seal. unless you make sure that the inner flapper door is also kept open all the time or gone. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

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1970 CHEVELLE 454 WAGONS HAUL A$$ IN STYLE! "THE CHOPPED SUBURBAN".

[This message has been edited by FO_FDYFO (edited 11-09-2001).]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by FO_FDYFO:
there is a very good reason why this was done. it allows you to get full time cool high pressure air straight into your carb if the air cleaner seal is used. a non functioning hood does not do that for you. there is a metal blocking panel. plus the non functioning hood does not have the sealing surface for the air cleaner seal. so the person obviously wanted the benefits of full time cool high pressure air straight into your carb with a non functioning look and/or without the expense of getting a functioning hood functional. just wiring opening the flapper of a cowl induction hood is not as beneficial as what this guy did. if he used the seal. unless you make sure that the inner flapper door is also kept open all the time or gone. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think that he meant that the cowl hood is welded with the flapper CLOSED...
That is what i understood...


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1972 Chevelle Malibu custom 4dr (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/chaosmalibu1.jpg)
Restoration started: February 10th 2001
Pic 1 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/chaosmalibu2.jpg) , Pic 2 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/chaosmalibu3.jpg) , Pic 3 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/chaosmalibu4.jpg) and Pic 4 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/chaosmalibu5.jpg)
TC member #1278

I found the perfect solution today.... I bought another Chevelle ( 72 350 4BBl ) that needed a hood. I am going to put the bastardized hood on it and look around for a nice working cowl induction system for my 71 SS. This is the last time I go looking for a nice parts car and end up with another project!. Pictures will be posted soon. Thanks everyone for the advice.

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<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ChaosMalibu:
I think that he meant that the cowl hood is welded with the flapper CLOSED...
That is what I understood...


<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That was my understanding too. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/rolleyes.gif I must not have made my self clear. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/redface.gif Read it again with the understanding that I intended you to know that I know the flapper is welded in the closed position. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif to clarify I did not think he meant it was welded up. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif with the flapper welded down you still reap the benefits of a cowl induction hood as long as the inner flap is open too. which it normally is not. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/cool.gif

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1970 Chevelle 454 Wagons haul A$$ in style! "The Chopped Suburban". to see some goto www.EINSTYN.com (http://www.EINSTYN.com)