Hoods
C4 Corvette Hood Informational Guide
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Hood Differences
If you ever find yourself needing a replacement hood for your C4 corvette you may also find yourself wondering, are all C4 corvette hoods the same? The answer to this is no as there were four different hoods applied to C4 Corvettes throughout the production run. However, it is important to note that all of the hoods were identical on the outside (with the exception of mounting holes for side emblems on some models, ex. 40th annv., collectors edition, etc..). For some cases you can mix and match the hood year that you apply to your car, while for others you will need to find a replacement hood from a specific year, or range of years. The different hoods vary on their underside construction with changes being made to adapt the hood to engine and radiator design changes throughout C4 production years. Therefore the four versions are:
1984 Crossfire Injection Hood
These hoods were designed to allow air to flow through the inside construction of the hood where it would reach the side air inlets of crossfire intake. Due to this unique design the 1984 hood is only applicable to 1984 Crossfire injection engine corvettes.
1985-1987 & 1988-1991 TPI Hood
The Tuned port injection hoods are easily identified by the matching indents on both the driver and passenger sides in the main support channels on the hoods underside.
The left side indent matches the size of the right side indent for all 85-91 hoods.
In 1988 another change occured to the underside of these hoods which was a modification to indentations, just inward of both headlights, that allow for proper hood to radiator clearance. The design of the radiator and cooling system changed from that of a straight vertical orientation with a radiator mounted cap (1984-1989) to an angle mounted radiator without a cap that used a firewall mounted coolant surge tank (1990-1996). The later style cooling system requires different hood clearances notches than the earlier cooling system design. Even though the later style cooling system was not introduced until 1990, the hoods were updated in 1988 to work with both the existing cooling system and the later style that was to come. It is assumed that this early change is because of ongoing prototype ZR1 designs which were taking place about this time.
1985-1987 Hoods
Radiator Clearance Indentations (RH side shown), allows for clearance of 85-89 radiator designs
1988-1996 Hoods
Radiator Clearance Indentations (RH side shown), Allows for clearance of 85-96 radiator designs
Note* There are also minor differences in these hoods with regards to hood prop mounting locations and the inner fender wheel liners of various years. See further details.
** We have experienced a number of 1991 cars with either the 1985-91 style hoods or the 1992-96 hoods. It is suspected that the 1992-96 style hoods may have also been applied to later production 1991 models.
1992-1996 LT1 / LT4 Hoods
The LT1 or LT4 hoods of the 1992-96 cars are identified by the different sized indents from side to side on the main underside support channels.
The indent on the driver’s side is increased in size to allow for proper clearance of the alternator and A/C compressor on the LT1 and LT4 engines.
For this reason an LT1 or LT4 equipped C4 must use the 1992-96 hood. The 1988-91 hood can be applied only if the underside of the hood is cut at the driver’s side to allow for proper clearance. The 1985-1987 hoods require modifications for radiator, alternator, and AC compressor clearance if they are applied to a 1992-96. However, the 1992-96 hood can be applied to 1985-91 Tuned Port Injection equipped cars without modifications (except for hood prop modifications on 1985-early 1986). LT5 ZR-1 Corvettes can also use the 1992-96 hood style.
Hood Fitment Table
- Can only be applied if Cross-Fire intake is not installed.
- Hood Prop modification needed.
- Modification for radiator clearance needed.
- Modification needed for a/c and alternator clearance.
- Hood Prop modification may be needed. Prop location changed from early to late 86.
NOTE* There is a minor difference in headlight mounting stud locations on the 1984 hood as compared to those on later hoods. For details please click here.
Hood Hinges
Hood Hinges are interchangeable between all 1984-1996 corvettes but there were some minor variations in the hinges over the years.
The 1984-1986 and the 1987 hood props did not offer hood lifting support in their design. The hinges of these years had a small gas filled lift strut attached to each hinge that was to aid with the raising and lowering of the hood. In 1988 the hood prop was redesigned to a gas filled design that aided in raising and lowering the hood. The 1988 and later hinges then removed the smaller lift strut that was attached to them in previous years. You can notice though in the 1988 and up hinges that the holes for the mounting pins of the earlier lift struts are still present and allow for adding the smaller lift struts to hinges of all years.
The 1995-1996 hood hinges had a very minor change. For 1984-1994 hinges, the bottom of the hinge was a piece of angle iron that allowed for three mounting bolts at the base of the hinge to the vehicle frame. Two bolts from the top and one bolt with a larger washer held the hinge from the inboard frame side. In 1995 the base of the hinge was changed to just a flat bar and only used the two top bolts to mount the hinge to the frame. The rest of the 1995 and 1996 hinges remained the same.
1984-1987 Hood hinge with Lift Strut
1988-1994 Hood hinge
1995-1996 Hood hinge
Hood Props
1984-Early 1986, Hood props were mounted on the passenger side of the hood and consisted of a metal scissor assembly.
Late 1986-1987, Hood Props were relocated to the drivers side and changed to a telescoping strut design. This prop was not gas filled and did not offer lifting support for raising the hood. Also due to the design of the 1984-1987 inner fenders and the brace mounted just in front that ties from the back edge of the front bumper to the frame, the lower bracket for mounting the hood prop is unique to late 1986-87 only. The hood mounted bracket for the prop was a unique design for these years as well.
1988-1996, The 1987 Hood props were redesigned in 1988 to be a gas filled lift support strut. Many owners prefer this design due to easier lifting and that the driver side location eliminates the need for the driver to walk to the passenger side of the car to lower the hood back down.
1984-Early 86 Scissor Prop
Late 86-1987 Non gas assist prop
1988-1996 Gas assisted prop
Wheel Housing / Inner Fenders
The front inner fenders are made up of 4 pieces per side on C4 Corvettes. Each side has a front, center, rear, and under hood section. There were several different designs of each section which are as follows:
Front Sections (1984-1987, 1988-1990, 1991-1996)
1984-1987 Front inner fender, front section, RH side shown
Note* There is a minor difference for 84 models compared to 85-87 for the area where the front bumper support bracket attaches to the inner fender panel at the top outside edge.
1988-1990 Front inner fender, front section, LH side shown
1991-1996 Front inner fender, front section, RH side shown
Note* The 1988-90 front sections have the same upper half design as the 1991-96 front sections. However the lower front edge of the 1988-90 front sections is shorter in order to work with the 1984-90 style front bumpers, whereas the 1991-96 front sections are a bit longer on the lower front edge in order to work with the 1991-96 style front bumpers.
Rear Sections (1984-1987, 1988-1996)
1984-1987 Front inner fender, Rear section, RH side, Front View shown
1984-1987 Front inner fender, Rear section, RH side, Rear View shown
1988-1996 Front inner fender, Rear section, RH side, Front View shown
1988-1996 Front inner fender, Rear section, RH side, Front View shown
1990-1995 ZR-1 Front Inner Fender Rear Section, LH side shown
The front inner fender rear sections of ZR-1 models were different than base model versions. ZR-1 versions are made with a bump out on the bottom outside edge to align with the different contour of ZR-1 rocker panel covers.
Center Sections (1984-1987, 1988-1996)
1984-1987 Front inner fender, Center section, RH side, Outside View shown
1984-1987 Front inner fender, Center section, RH side, Inside View shown
1988-1996 Front inner fender, Center section, RH side, Outside View shown (w/ FX3 cutout)
1988-1996 Front inner fender, Center section, RH side, Inside View shown (w/ FX3 cutout)
Note* The 1988-96 center sections need to have a section cut out on the inside when applied to cars with the FX3 ride control suspension. This cutout allows for clearance of the shock servo motor. Center sections of non FX3 car have a note and line marking on them for where they are to be trimmed for application to FX3 equipped C4’s
Under Hood Sections (1984, 1985-1987, 1988-1996)
1984 Under Hood Wheel liner
1985-1987 Under Hood Wheel liner
Note* 1986 & 1987 Convertibles have mounting points attached to the Right side under hood wheel liner for holding the spare tire lug nut wrench. In 1988, convertibles had the lug nut wrench relocated to under the drivers seat as where they are located on the coupes.
1988-1996 Under Hood Wheel liner
Inner Fender / Wheel Housing Weatherstripping
Due to the differences in designs of the front inner fender sections, the rubber weatherstripping which seals between the lower 3 sections of the inner fenders and the under hood wheel liner also had two different styles 1984-87 and 1988-96. The 1984-87 ones are molded specifically for the left or right side. The 1988-96 style will fit either left or right hand side.
1984-1987 Weatherstrip
Note* Early production 1984 models had a weatherstrip design that extended rearward along the top of the lower fender panels as well
1988-1996 Weatherstrip
Note* For those undergoing NCRS judging many of the later style original weatherstrip pieces are date marked. However these date marks can wear off easily during cleaning.
Under Hood lights
The lights on the underside of the C4 Corvette hoods had the same housing design for 1984-1996. The lights are also interchangeable from left to right side. However the lens material changed from plastic to glass in 1986.
These lights are activated by internal mercury switches that turn the light on or off depending on the position of the hood. The switches often times fail over the years. While replacement internal switches can be a bit harder to find, complete light assemblies are plentiful and can be quickly changed out.
These lights can be bench tested by connecting power to the light assembly and then rotating the housing 90 degrees to mimic the opening and closing of a hood which will turn the light on and off.
1984-1985 with plastic lens cover
1986-1996 with glass lens cover
For further information on replacement hoods for your C4 corvette or any other items please feel free to contact us with any questions.