blockoff plate

[gbhrps]

I noticed in a Bird parts catalogue that there is a blockoff plate available to install behind the hood scoop opening. What are the various pros and cons with this application? My boss's 57 always had bugs on the inside of the hood behind the scoop opening that we had to clean off with every run. My 55 should be on the road within a month or two and I'm wondering if I should spring for one.

[nomadbird]

Guess I'm surprised that an Ontario car would run around without the plate. The probability of carburetor icing would seem likely between October and April. I keep my plates on all the time. Reason being: why introduce all the dust, dirt, water, and all the other contaminants directly at the air cleaner?

If you really want to stretch a point, one could argue the benefits of cold air induction etc by leaving the plate off. If you do put on the plate, be sure to put on the appropriate decal that says: "Remove Cover For Summer Operation". That way when your hood is open at a cruise night or whatever during the summer, Joe Six Pak can show his girl friend how savvy he is because you didn't remove the cover in the summer. He just became an instant automotive expert!

Trivia: Were you aware that Ford built a prototype hood for the '57 without the hood scoop? The lower profile carb and aircleaner precluded the necessity for the hood hump.
It really looked nice. Apparently they felt saving the tooling costs by using the '55-'56 hood was the deciding factor.

Tom D.

[gbhrps]

Yikes! A small bird without the hood scoop! That's one of the most identifiable trademaks of these cars. I've seen a dozen small birds go through our shop in the last year, here in Southern Ontario, and I've yet to see one with the block off plate. Then again, I don't think anyone is that crazy to subject one of these old, very expensive gals to the salt that they throw on our roads up here during the winter. Thanks! You've answered my question. I think I'll put one on my car. I really didn't like having to clean the underside of the hood after every run in the boss's car, and was concerned that there might be a down side to putting the blockoff plate on.