3/4 ton build... stock hood vs 2" cowl hood

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Jermaine Smith

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I'm in a heavy personal debate on pulling the trigger on a 2 inch cowl hood for my 97 C2500 tow rig. Mainly pulling my Camaro.

I want your opinion on this...

Have anybody on here ever regretted buying a 2 inch hood and wanted the stock hood back on ?

How is the fitment quality of the aftermarket hoods ?

Also thinking about cab lights as well

Here's a pic of my truck and the car.
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RawbDidIt

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I'm in a heavy personal debate on pulling the trigger on a 2 inch cowl hood for my 97 C2500 tow rig. Mainly pulling my Camaro.

I want your opinion on this...

Have anybody on here ever regretted buying a 2 inch hood and wanted the stock hood back on ?

How is the fitment quality of the aftermarket hoods ?

Also thinking about cab lights as well

Here's a pic of my truck and the car.
You must be registered for see images attach
Unless you're unable to see over the hood with the extra height, shouldn't present a problem. Fitment is like any other after market part, there's good and bad, not able to give a good recommendation unfortunately. The main thing is that it's purely cosmetic on the vortec unless you reroute the air intake, but it's not a bad cosmetic look in my opinion. I'm looking to do the same on mine if my intake plenum spacer cuts the clearance too close on my new engine build.

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Jermaine Smith

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Unless you're unable to see over the hood with the extra height, shouldn't present a problem. Fitment is like any other after market part, there's good and bad, not able to give a good recommendation unfortunately. The main thing is that it's purely cosmetic on the vortec unless you reroute the air intake, but it's not a bad cosmetic look in my opinion. I'm looking to do the same on mine if my intake plenum spacer cuts the clearance too close on my new engine build.

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What mods would you do to a 454 vortec truck like mine ?

So far I've only bought a trans temp gauge but its not installed yet. Still undecided on where I want to mount it.
 

RawbDidIt

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What mods would you do to a 454 vortec truck like mine ?

So far I've only bought a trans temp gauge but its not installed yet. Still undecided on where I want to mount it.
Depends on what you're going for. If you're looking for power, cam and valvetrain upgrades are a good place to spend money. If it's got enough power for what you do and you're just trying to get some cosmetic upgrades, a new hood isn't bad, and there's a ton of lighting upgrades, I've got a set of Anzo halos on mine that I'm partial to, and some LED tails that I get compliments on as well. By the time I'm finished with mine, I'd like to have a bull bar, led light bars on the front and rhino line the bed and the rocker panels up to the trim line, remove trim and a fresh coat of paint. I've already got the sound system where it needs to be, so power and exterior is next.

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Jermaine Smith

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Depends on what you're going for. If you're looking for power, cam and valvetrain upgrades are a good place to spend money. If it's got enough power for what you do and you're just trying to get some cosmetic upgrades, a new hood isn't bad, and there's a ton of lighting upgrades, I've got a set of Anzo halos on mine that I'm partial to, and some LED tails that I get compliments on as well. By the time I'm finished with mine, I'd like to have a bull bar, led light bars on the front and rhino line the bed and the rocker panels up to the trim line, remove trim and a fresh coat of paint. I've already got the sound system where it needs to be, so power and exterior is next.

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I've installed a single din CD player from pioneer with bluetooth etc and some polk DB series door speakers. I replaced the taillights with some off amazon as well but not L.E.D just factory style replacements. The headlights I installed I ordered from Jegs by Spyder. I also installed a new grill by Sherman. I eventually want to paint the truck another color but that's down the road. Also I'm looking into changing up my wheels as well.

Power wise I'll hate to install a cam etc and hurt the towing performance of the truck. Its honestly what I bought the truck for.
 

RawbDidIt

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I've installed a single din CD player from pioneer with bluetooth etc and some polk DB series door speakers. I replaced the taillights with some off amazon as well but not L.E.D just factory style replacements. The headlights I installed I ordered from Jegs by Spyder. I also installed a new grill by Sherman. I eventually want to paint the truck another color but that's down the road. Also I'm looking into changing up my wheels as well.

Power wise I'll hate to install a cam etc and hurt the towing performance of the truck. Its honestly what I bought the truck for.
Yeah, I'm building a new engine for mine, going with a 383 stroker, found a good can that should keep the torque curve nice and flat, I'll be using mine for light towing and some off road use so it did work out well. These vortec heads for really well at low lift, so increasing duration should help to an extent, just gotta do some research, comb through dyno charts of people who have a similar setup and see what worked for them.

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1989GMCSIERRA

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Personally I rather spend the money on stuff that makes a difference in the engine exhaust axle or transmission. Cowl hoods look cool but imo are sort of pointless. The air intake system stock or aftermarket doesn’t function from a cowl hood and the required mods to make a true cowl induction air intake work are really better spent elsewhere. The slight benefit of cooler underhood temps isn’t worth the cost. Plenty of cars run hundreds of thousands of miles with stock hoods

if you want the look of a cowl hood...that’s fine but it’s $3/400 for a hood before paint. Probably $7/900 after paint.
I rather put a set of headers, gears, shift kit, heads etc when you’re going to those prices
 
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HawkDsl

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I bought mine from LMC truck years ago (I believe it was Goodmark brand, but don't hold me to that).. The fit was actually spot on. I have my original hood still, but I never regretted the switch. There is some functionality, in that it allows engine compartment heat to evacuate.. Heat being one of the clear coat killers for the hood without the factory insulation (some models (89 k2500) like mine didn't have anything from the factory). It does create a funky loop in the middle of the windshield during rain/ice/snow events, but not a big deal. They are still rare enough that it gives a nice custom touch without being belligerent.

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