LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

solution to ugly trimmed cowls...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 19, 2008 | 10:02 AM
  #1  
OutlawZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 0
From: Cali
Default solution to ugly trimmed cowls...

I had to trim the hell out of my cowl but I didn't do a full trim. More like cut a huge square in the center to fit my induction hat for my accufab throttle body. I hated the way it looked so the guy who did my door panels hand built a fiberglass panel and painted it flat black. This is the first mock up which fit perfect but we still have a few things to do like paint the bolts black and bolt down in two more spots.... It's removable in about 3 minutes using nut plates behind the screws into the panel. And we countersunk the holes to flush mount the screws......









I think it came out pretty good..... it also looks better now that we wiped it down AFTER we took the pictures....
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2008 | 10:09 AM
  #2  
Formula350's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,564
Likes: 4
From: Decatur, TN (N-W of Athens)
Default

Yes, VERY nice, good job
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2008 | 10:19 AM
  #3  
Tireburnin's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
iTrader: (42)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 2
From: San Diego, CA
Default

That is a pretty good idea. I might make something similar out of aluminum for when I cut up my cowl.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2008 | 10:52 AM
  #4  
OutlawZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 0
From: Cali
Default

We were going to do mine out of aluminum the only tough part is to get aluminum to bend to the right shape.... the cowl is kind of a weird transition..... So he worked it ON the car in fiberglass slowly building up the thickness on top of some waxed tape.... We let it dry in place then he took it home and worked it like he was working a body panel.... trimming, shaping, etc....

then he slapped some paint on it and last night we did the nut plates and screwed it to the cowl...... got about another hour or so till it's completely done.....

Also I plan on everyone that helped me build the car including myself take a silver sharpie marker and autograph the panel. You'll only see the panel when the hood is off.... I want to have a record of all the people who helped along the way....
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2008 | 11:16 AM
  #5  
Formula350's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,564
Likes: 4
From: Decatur, TN (N-W of Athens)
Default

OH It's Fiberglass, I missed that part. I thought it was either sheet metal or plastic.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2008 | 11:33 AM
  #6  
95 Formula's Avatar
10 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge
Default

Thats very nice. I also had to trim my cowl. If I was running the stock hood I would have been able to just trim the original plastic. Its looked nice but the problem was the vfn hood that goes to the windshield. After trimming the plastic to make it fit I HATED the look of it where I had to cut and how it stuck up above the hood on the pas side. Right now I just have the original metal(thats cut) painted flat black and I like that look better than with the butchered up plastic. I really like what you did with it though. I may look into something like that myself.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2008 | 11:36 AM
  #7  
OutlawZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 0
From: Cali
Default

Yup fiberglass and a lot of resin..... I watched him build it and it was pretty damn cool..... he layed small 5"x5" sheets of glass and just slapped/painted resin on there..... then it got hot as hell while it dried....

now I know why it takes VFN 10 weeks to make a hood...

Yeah 95, I have the same hood (The VFN Sunoco 6" Cowl Induction) and it goes all the way to the windshield... It requires removal of the entire wiper ducting assy.... So this was one way to eliminate it and not have the thing look all hacked up.....
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2008 | 11:41 AM
  #8  
BizZzatch350's Avatar
Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
iTrader: (33)
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 9,793
Likes: 15
From: T E X A S
Default

Car looks awesome!
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 19, 2008 | 12:17 PM
  #9  
LS1 SPEED's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,957
Likes: 2
From: Schaumburg,IL
Default

looks very good
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2008 | 01:56 PM
  #10  
C_Rules's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,666
Likes: 0
From: NYC
Default

hey where are the wipers for when it rains

j/k it came out nice. i'm sure it'll look cool too when everyone signs it.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2008 | 09:13 PM
  #11  
TAEnvy's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 1
From: DFW
Default

I like the way it has a soft appearance to it. I thought it was rubber.
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2008 | 09:16 PM
  #12  
taner's Avatar
8 Second 6 Speed Director
20 Year Member
Photogenic
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,299
Likes: 2
From: windsor, ont. canada - Home of the fastest LT1 6spd.
Default

what about wipers, whatcha gonna do in the rain....lol!!!! sorry i couldn't resist

looks nice and clean. have you thought about painting it body colour? nah, forget i even typed that, black is better
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2008 | 09:27 PM
  #13  
OutlawZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 0
From: Cali
Default

hahahaha yeah i knew i was gonna hear about no wipers.....

can't race in the rain......

i think the soft appearance is probably cause of the paint we used.... it's a semi gloss black. the same stuff that's on the underhood areas.....

but on the fiberglass it went on a bit duller and gave it a "rubber" like sheen.... i'm happy with it...
Reply
Old Jun 19, 2008 | 10:25 PM
  #14  
Pro_built7's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 883
Likes: 1
Default

so whats that thing gonna run? mid 13's ?

LOL J/K

looks unbelievable man awesome job.. SICK
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2008 | 01:28 AM
  #15  
OutlawZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
9 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,607
Likes: 0
From: Cali
Default

heeheheheheh already ran it....... suboptimized gears and a lazy nitrous cam and it still ran 10.60's@127-128

This THING is gonna AWAKEN on the jug....
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2008 | 02:47 AM
  #16  
Tapout911's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Paragould AR
Default

Looking good.
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2008 | 04:00 PM
  #17  
Beaflag VonRathburg's Avatar
OWN3D BY MY PROF!
iTrader: (176)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 9,146
Likes: 3
From: Jax Beach, Florida
Default

I like that idea. I'm going to show it to my friend that runs a carb setup.
Reply
Old Jun 20, 2008 | 05:12 PM
  #18  
TwoFast4Lv's Avatar
10 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,023
Likes: 6
From: LT1 land...the "409" of the 90s!
Default

looks real nice man!
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2008 | 06:23 PM
  #19  
jrcc2002's Avatar
Teching In
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Shoals
Default

Man thats an awesome idea. And i like the signature idea too. I am getting ready to cut my cowl also. Now I know how to make it look a little cleaner.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:47 PM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE