CERVINI'S COWL INDUCTION HOOD
First off, since we've already tossed away that boring-looking gray bumper and grille with some nice 2005 model chrome pieces, it was time to do something about that boring stock hood and that OEM plain jane white paint job. After doing some research on aftermarket hoods for this truck, we came across Cervini's Auto Design in Vineland, NJ. Cervini's has been in the aftermarket cosmetics industry for years and it has a whole list of cosmetic upgrades for just about any car or truck out there. The company recently branched out into the 3/4- and one-ton truck market and is now producing three different hood designs for the 1999-2008 Ford Super Dutys.
We spoke with Jim Frie at Cervini's, kind of introduced him to our truck and told him what our plans and goals for the truck were. He suggested we look at their 3-inch Cowl hood. It's got nice smooth lines and a sleek cowl design up the center. Cervini's also has a really aggressive-looking dual scoop hood, but it would probably look better on a big lifted truck, so we went with the Cowl design. It suited the look we were going for a little better, plus it'll help the truck stand out in that parking lot at the office where there's 10 different Super Dutys parked in it.
Cervini's builds the hoods out of fiberglass, so it doesn't just look good, it's quite a bit lighter than stock. For a truck like this that will see quite a bit of drag strip time, that's a definite bonus. Cervini's also finishes off the bottom of the hood to add some strength and can also be painted for the ultimate show quality appearance. After the hood arrived we dropped the truck off at the body shop, where they were going to prep the new hood, install it and repaint the entire truck.
Apparently eight years of hauling tires around Montana can be sort of tough on a paint job. The truck was riddled with little dents and dings, so some bodywork was in order as well. Our body shop guy, Riley Hallam of Spanish Fork, UT, was amazed at how well the new fiberglass Cervini's hood fit. He mentioned to us that he'd never installed an aftermarket hood that fit so well. There was no sanding or tweaking needed, basically just remove the stock hood and bolt the Cowl hood right on. It followed the fender lines perfectly. A quick going over with a Scotch Brite pad and it was ready for paint.