HOME | FORUMS | REGISTER |

This is the MCRParts.com archive. To get back to our main site, please follow this link: Ford Mustang

Pages: 1

Hoods Up
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: chinky

Just wondering what you guys think. When you go to Car Shows and trophies are involved, do you think in order for a car to take 1st place that the hood must be open? Because I do. For example ,in yesterday's Stoneham Ford show a Police Edition Fox took 1st place in the class and had the hood shut all day long ,while other people had been cleaning the engine compartment just as nice as the interior and paint. I cant understand why people vote for a car that has its hood shut. And this isnt the first time Ive seen this.
What do you guys think?

Chinky

Posted by: Dark_Cobra

I'm now one of those Hood Down type of guys.. My Engine is spotless and all the polished pieces are in place but I want to show off the hood/nose of the car now with the custom paint.

Yesterday at the Corvette show, I had the hood in various positions all day from opened fully to closed and in between (it's got hood lifts).. I couldn''t make up mind

Posted by: jmac72187

I am not completely sure on that one. If it has an after market hood, then maybe it should be closed to show off that hood but if it is just a stocker than you should have it open. That would be a tough rule though.

Posted by: Mustang5L5

I'm a stickler for a clean engine bay...so it's important to me.

But then again, i like the backsides of the wheels clean too...so when i see a nice open-spoked wheel with brake dust on the inside, i get turned off

Posted by: chachee52

Now by no means is my engine compartment clean, but I know that when I go to the shows, I want to see the engines because that's where I get my ideas from. As for showing the car with Trophies, I think that it's the WHOLE car or nothing at all. If you are hanging around your car and have a custom hood that the paint matches and stuff like Dark Cobra than I think that it's fine with what he did and changing the position.

Posted by: gilmar4

Hoods open period, in my book. If it is not open, I walk by. I can see that car on the hiway or a parking lot, if it is at a show, show it.

Just my opinion....

Posted by: TorchRedSVT

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilmar4

Hoods open period, in my book. If it is not open, I walk by. I can see that car on the hiway or a parking lot, if it is at a show, show it.

Just my opinion....

+ 10000000 Agreed 100%....if your hood is closed it means to me you have something to hide or it's a mess and not show worthy. I'd rather judge a car that I can completely see so I know its worth of my vote.

Posted by: EastCoast5.0

If their isn't much done motor wise or it's dirty as sin then I'd go hood down but otherwise hood up.

Posted by: langod

I'm torn.

Some have hoods that just add a ton of interest to the car and having them up actually takes a way from the car. Others, with more mundane hoods, look great with the hood up to show all the go-fast goodies.

However, there is no way a hood down car should take 1st place against other similarly-clean hood up cars.

For the record -- I have a different outlook since I got the Cobra. The cobra engine looks great. The heads are finished, the engine compartment paint is good, everything is finished nicely. But my GTs engine compartment -- even though it was clean -- looked like crap. Unfinished aluminum everywhere. Crappy paint, etc. It was not show quality and never would be without putting in hundreds of hours of polishing.

Perhaps hood up/hood down should be a choice in the Stock classes, while hood up is a requirement in the specialty, mild-mod and higher classes?

Posted by: ToplessPony94

Quote:

Originally Posted by langod

I'm torn.

Some have hoods that just add a ton of interest to the car and having them up actually takes a way from the car. Others, with more mundane hoods, look great with the hood up to show all the go-fast goodies.

However, there is no way a hood down car should take 1st place against other similarly-clean hood up cars.

For the record -- I have a different outlook since I got the Cobra. The cobra engine looks great. The heads are finished, the engine compartment paint is good, everything is finished nicely. But my GTs engine compartment -- even though it was clean -- looked like crap. Unfinished aluminum everywhere. Crappy paint, etc. It was not show quality and never would be without putting in hundreds of hours of polishing.

Perhaps hood up/hood down should be a choice in the Stock classes, while hood up is a requirement in the specialty, mild-mod and higher classes?

I would mostly agree here, but it's still a dilemma. I have lots of mods, but the stock alternator, PS pump, etc. still look like crap. Should I have to have everything under the hood chromed or polished to be a contender? I don't know. It would be nice if there was a way to show a modded car based on the modding, not completely on the bling. I wish I knew the answer here, but I don't.

Posted by: 390gtconv

As has been said, HOODS OPEN or I walk by. That a said if you're a person who likes it closed to show off the hood/car and people like myself feel "just walk by" then what did YOU accomplish? If engine area is not spotless then open the hood a little way and let us be the judge. But a least we're now looking at your car. It all comes down to who puts the extra effort into their presentation (car). If someone wants to really see and admire the car with hood closed, they ask. I've been asked several times if I'd mine closing the hood so they could take a pic., and I'll close it for them. A car with outstanding appearance (style, color wheels, etc) will draw people anyway. But most guys & some gals like to "ohhh ahhh" over the engine area. Then perhaps once they've stopped to look, now they'll give the car an extra minute to look over the rest.
That's my experience.

Posted by: LILBLKSNAKE

If the car has a custom hood or subtle graphics on the hood, then closed is OK.
But if the hood is closed because the engine has never been touched, then that's just laziness in my book. Anyone can wax their car, it's 10X harder to make the engine and accessories shine.
Just ask Ian who's engine you could eat off (that's not a bad idea, I might eat on it next time

)

Posted by: ToplessPony94

Quote:

Originally Posted by LILBLKSNAKE

But if the hood is closed because the engine has never been touched, then that's just laziness in my book.

A grubby engine is one thing, but an engine with stock parts is another. Not everyone can afford to spend the money for polished and chromed "everything" under the hood. But the stock parts definitely are not "pretty". for most cars. I know I wish I could, and maybe someday I'll make it that far, but it's not gonna happen in the next couple of years.

Posted by: Ozz

Uh...OPEN!! lol

If I could just drive my engine to shows, I would.

Posted by: LILBLKSNAKE

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToplessPony94

I've voted for spotless stock engines plenty of times. If someone takes the time to dust, armor-all, and wipe down a stock engine and all the painted areas are clean and grime-free, that shows how much effort was put into it.
I was one of the concours judges at the Corvette show yesterday, and the guidelines are really geared towards cleanliness more than bling and aging of components.

Posted by: 03redfiregt

Open!!!!!!!!!!!! doesnt matter if the engine is bone stock or not!!! if the engine compartment is'nt as clean as the rest of the car, it should never win first place at a car show!!!

Posted by: chinky

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03redfiregt

Open!!!!!!!!!!!! doesnt matter if the engine is bone stock or not!!! if the engine compartment is'nt as clean as the rest of the car, it should never win first place at a car show!!!

AMEN to that . My 88 vert is 100% original. And I take alot of pride keeping that way which includes spending countless hrs on the STOCK motor. You dont have to spend any money on bling if you cant afford it. Thats not the issue, taking pride in your ride is.
Thats why I got a little pissed yesterday when that police edition won !st place. If he had his hood open and if it was just clean I would have been fine with it. But because he had all the bells and whistles on the outside he won.
I truely felt bad for the other owners who cleaned all day in the heat, and came from pretty far away who had nice Stangs and walked away with nothing.

Chinky

Posted by: ToplessPony94

Quote:

Originally Posted by LILBLKSNAKE

Thanks. This is good to know. I have to admit I'm fairly new to car shows, but not to cars. I'm not necessarily looking to walk away with trophies, just not looking to make a fool of myself, either. I fully admit my car needs a top, new leather on the driver seat and the factory paint has a lot of minor dings. I don't expect to win. I just don't want to feel that everyone wonders why I showed up at all.

Posted by: fredfordguy

Hands down open...if the hood is a special one, perhaps half open, but give us the chance to look at the mill. It may not be full of mirrors, but I like to check out all compartments, don't know what you might find that you can use...Good thread.....

Posted by: LILBLKSNAKE

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToplessPony94

I just don't want to feel that everyone wonders why I showed up at all.

You showed up to hang out with your friends and share our mutual admiration for the money pits we call Mustangs!!!

If you really want, you can always do what I do at car shows and spend 1/2 the day walking around saying "Vote for ED, Vote for ED". Unless of course your name isn't ED, then it wouldn't help you, but I'd appreciate the additional support!!!

Posted by: ToplessPony94

Quote:

Originally Posted by LILBLKSNAKE

If you really want, you can always do what I do at car shows and spend 1/2 the day walking around saying "Vote for ED, Vote for ED". Unless of course your name isn't ED, then it wouldn't help you, but I'd appreciate the additional support!!!

I'd be walking around saying "Vote for the guy with the cracks in his white leather seat."

Actually, I agree with Mike, too. I spend most of my time looking at what others did to get ideas for my own projects. I've yet to meet a medium to heavily modded Stang that didn't have something to teach me. Not always a lot, but at least something.

Posted by: slowpony

I have always liked to see under the hood, stock or not. To me it doesn't matter if its mirror polished or showing its age, I like to see the what makes it go. Some of you here have seen my car, its NOT a show car by any means, but I open the hood at the cruise nights. So my vote goes to open.

Posted by: 1BADSNK

I think an open hood is a must at any car show. I myself dont care about bling under the hood. I like the look of a clean stock engine as much if not more than one with alot of bling. I like to see all the hard work done cleaning under the hood. As far as a custom hood, I've seen some guys have it so they are able to take off their hood & display it with the car.

Posted by: badass98svt

Hood open!
I have 132k on my car/motor, and I feel it's pretty damn clean under there, for all those miles!

Cruise nights are 1 thing, butat a show, it belongs up.

Posted by: Ozz

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1BADSNK

I think an open hood is a must at any car show. I myself dont care about bling under the hood. I like the look of a clean stock engine as much if not more than one with alot of bling. I like to see all the hard work done cleaning under the hood. As far as a custom hood, I've seen some guys have it so they are able to take off their hood & display it with the car.

Hey now, don't forget that some blinged out people also have crazy clean and detailed bays. Just because most people add the common chrome add-on parts to an otherwise common-looking engine doesn't mean that anything shiny isn't worth admiration.

Posted by: fredfordguy

Once again a very interesting thread...Now its time to walk the walk, show us 'dem engines......This ol' cleveland has 165,000

Posted by: MY-S281

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredfordguy

Once again a very interesting thread...Now its time to walk the walk, show us 'dem engines......This ol' cleveland has 165,000

Very Nice, extremely clean for 165K...

Here is my trusty 4.6 , Pre K.B and with K.B.
I just passed 115K....

Posted by: Mr03mach1

me..........

Posted by: TorchRedSVT

look at meeeeeeee
Edit: Props to Jmac for this picture!!!

Posted by: jmac72187

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorchRedSVT

look at meeeeeeee

I like that pic... who took that one?

Posted by: Ozz

New wires & braided vac lines (unfortunately not as planned for a solid photograph as the above picture was):

I have lots of new chrome/additions still going on so I'll have some nice new pics soon!

Posted by: jmac72187

Your car is ridiculous Ozz

Posted by: Ozz

As long as that's a good sort of ridiculous

Posted by: LILBLKSNAKE

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozz

Looks incredible!! You make me wanna throw my car in a dumpster!!

Posted by: jmac72187

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozz

As long as that's a good sort of ridiculous

Definitely good.

Posted by: Dark_Cobra

From WOW 2007.. Not my pic, but All I could find (it was on the web)

Posted by: Ozz

Quote:

Originally Posted by LILBLKSNAKE

Looks incredible!! You make me wanna throw my car in a dumpster!!

that is one of the best compliments ever - LOL

thanks, but don't go doing that unless you leave the keys and tell me where it is

Posted by: ToplessPony94

Quote:

Originally Posted by LILBLKSNAKE

Looks incredible!! You make me wanna throw my car in a dumpster!!

That pic makes me feel like my car IS a dumpster!

Posted by: 390gtconv

Only reason NOT to open that hood is because he's out of sunglasses to hand out. LOL. Looks good

Posted by: Dark_Cobra

If I ever start turning into a bling-pire like OZZ .. drive a stake through my Heart ASAP..

Damn OZZ I bet the reflective heat bouncing around in that engine compartment could be harnessed into a powerful laser !! <insert Dr Evil laugh here>

J/K man... You are my Hero !!

Posted by: Ozz

" lllaserrrrrrr "

hahaha

Posted by: Dark_Cobra

Hey that's the Allan Parsons Project !

Ok I'm done hijackin

Posted by: EastCoast5.0

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmac72187

Your car is ridiculous Ozz

+1 Very nice!

Posted by: LILBLKSNAKE

That car is nice, but it still doesn't have an ED DAY award

FYI- ED DAY 2009 is only 9 1/2 months away!!

Posted by: Ozz

I don't think i'll be living in the NE by then

Your eyes will then be safe from thy bling :lol:

Posted by: fredfordguy

That pic really lets the reds pop, look at the center of the wheel on the pontiac next door.

Posted by: TorchRedSVT

fredfordguy...i can only hope my motor looks that good at 165k...nice work bud thats impressive.

Posted by: bullitt5177

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorchRedSVT

fredfordguy...i can only hope my motor looks that good at 165k...nice work bud thats impressive.

No worries Ian, your motor will never reach 30k!!

Posted by: fredfordguy

Looks like the weather is gonna be nice, hoping to make Skip's and the old grey hair guy at the strip. Nostalgia racing....safe travels to all....

Posted by: HABU

With rare exceptions the hood has to be up or the car won't get my vote. If it's down, then I can only assume the engine compartment is dirty.

Posted by: chinky

Quote:

Originally Posted by HABU

With rare exceptions the hood has to be up or the car won't get my vote. If it's down, then I can only assume the engine compartment is dirty.

Posted by: slammed06

Well the days of super bling for me are most likely over because I blew my load on this vert that I used to own and sold last year. I not only fluffed the engine bay but the undercarriage was also done and so the 06' is gonna get crinkle black valve covers and lots of go power and call it good

ozz your ride is looking great and mike the old girl is looking good for 165k

Posted by: only90s

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinky

Just wondering what you guys think. When you go to Car Shows and trophies are involved, do you think in order for a car to take 1st place that the hood must be open? Because I do. For example ,in yesterday's Stoneham Ford show a Police Edition Fox took 1st place in the class and had the hood shut all day long ,while other people had been cleaning the engine compartment just as nice as the interior and paint. I cant understand why people vote for a car that has its hood shut. And this isnt the first time Ive seen this.
What do you guys think?

Chinky

That is a JOKE and further confirmation why I dont like shows

Posted by: chinky

Quote:

Originally Posted by only90s

That is a JOKE and further confirmation why I dont like shows

Mark,
I was waiting to see your reaction. You are 100% correct.

Chinky