soultron

iTrader: (2)

I've been searching for anyone that makes a fiberglass hood with the powerbulge (pin on or othewise). I got a metal one in a trade and now I really like the look of it with my notchback. Does anyone know who makes one, and maybe any feedback on the quality?

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Not sure about aftermarket fiberglass, but early T/A's got aluminum bulge hoods

22lbs

Might be cheaper

grove

iTrader: (3)

i wish someone would make a bouble power bulge fiberglass hood.

soultron

iTrader: (2)

If I can find one it might not be that cheap. There's a good chance those are all but gone.

creepingdeath

I was going to buy a 82 trans am a couple years ago it definatly didnt have an aluminum power bulge. those things are really heavy But beautiful hoods they flow with the car better then any other hood out there. DO you know witch cars actually came with the aluminum PB?

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

82-84 T/A's

creepingdeath

All of them or just specific ones? my uncles 83 t/a is steel also..

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Some

Pop the hood and on the left side you will see a raised "A"
Steel hoods have no raised letter

Id look in JYs for them
If someone KNOWS its aluminum then they will charge you more than a fiberglass one

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

I am considering this aluminum power bulge hood thing a myth until I see a picture of one! I've heard it before but never saw any evidence that they exist.

92RS(real slow)

here you go theres the proof good luck ever finding one though

LAFireboyd

iTrader: (3)

Nobody reproduces the power bulge hood at all, not in any material, and brand new ones from GM don't exist anymore. So if that's the hood you want, then you'll have to settle for another used one, either from a private seller or from a junkyard.

I've never seen an aluminum one in person, but someone(okfoz, I think) has posted a pic of the underside of one showing the "A." But it would be almost impossible to find anyway. So that leaves you only with the steel hoods.

And if weight is your issue, then try to find one from a Formula. Those later bulge hoods are lighter than the ones used on '82-'84 TAs.

IMO, the power bulge hood is the best-looking hood ever offered. It "defined" the original thirdgen TA. No other cosmetic part is as unique, making it the single, most important Firebird body panel of the generation.

And since it isn't being reproduced, and it's not likely that it ever will be(at least, not in the near future), it's time to begin stockpiling the good ones when they're found.

soultron

iTrader: (2)

I agree with all of that, and I already have a formula hood. I just thought I'd see if anyone knew something I didn't . I doubt the alluminum one will fall in my lap, so I guess I'll either make due with the weight or cut this one up. Too bad I don't know a fiberglass maker. Seems like you might at least break even making a fiberglass version...maybe.

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

a gray painted bulge hood with "not steel" written on it DOES NOT equal proof it's aluminum! I'd have to see the underside and actual exposed aluminum. I'm not saying you have to provide this evidence, I'm just saying it's hard to believe they exist without the evidence. Anyway, why would GM even produce an identical hood in aluminum? Also, I have an 84 TA and I swapped the original hood for a later formula hood due to rust and a dent. They were perfectly identical from everything I can tell. I don't see how the formula one would weigh any less than the earlier T/A version.

LAFireboyd

iTrader: (3)

I can't confirm that there's a difference in weight because I haven't actually weighed them. But I pulled two from '84s last year, and they each SEEMED to weigh a lot more than the hood on my Formula. They each seem a lot more "solid" than my Formula's hood, too. And other people have posted similar reports.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

http://www.vfnfiberglass.com/site.htm

They make pin on and bolt on bulge hoods, no pic but they have them
Its VFN so youll have to spend a good bit of time fitting it to the car

A magnet would

GM had many factory racecars. This was their way to "cheat" a little

Do a search about alum hoods on the history board

Not all early T/As got them
Also, if youre dead set on which factory cars got em, ALL firehawks did

Difference should be minimal
Bracing was slightly changed and the vent was made into a fixed piece for later hoods
Thats all

KrisW

iTrader: (5)

That's great to know; I don't mind re-doing a little VFN fiberglass if the majority of the work has been done!

Awesome!

soultron

iTrader: (2)

I forgot about VFN, that's a good deal on the pin on, might have to check it out.