78 TA - Hood Bird Placement

[TonysTA]

Hi,

I am getting ready to install my screaming chicken and have a question on placement. I know this was covered many times before, but since the crash those posts are gone. How far from the hood should the feathers be? I looked online and based on photos, it looks like its 5 inches (#1 in the picture below). I watched an install video, but that was for a 79 and the guy said 1.5 inches.

Should the tips of the wings be even to the sides of the hood? If I do that, the eye of the bird doesn't line up down the middle peak, and maybe it shouldn't. (#2 in the attached)

https://1drv.ms/b/s!ArwKVRvkdHS6g6UvF1hOndOaam9Mog

Thanks

[JJ 109]

I’m not sure what it is “supposed “ to be, but I think it looks best and balanced if the distance from the head to the shaker opening and the tail to the edge of the hood are the same.   The side to side should be the same also.

[roadking77]

I have the dimensions from the fisher body manual, will post them later tonight or tomorrow if you can wait

[TonysTA]

Awesome, thanks! Yes, please post the specs.

[b_hill_86]

When I did mine, I did center the eye on that line on the hood centerline and split the tail 50/50 and that kept the wings fairly even on either side of the shaker hole but it did leave one of the wings a little closer to the edge. It’s not very noticeable to me and I’m usually pretty picky about things like that. If I kept the wings equally distance from the edge of the hood the other stuff looked off to me. Just my $.02

[TonysTA]

Thanks Brian, that is my dilemma as well. I prefer the birds eye be split 50/50 on the hood peak. I can evenly space vertically between the hood bottom and shaker opening. Interested in what Kerry posts as far as factory specs.

When I placed it the way I liked it, I did notice one side of the wings was a litter further from the edge, it wasn't too noticeable.

[81Blackbird]

I only have done two hood birds so I'm not an expert.  Mine was the 79 bird.  I placed a pencil line on the decal from the center of the tail feathers up.  You need two points of reference to do this which I can see that you have on your decal.  This is the center of the decal and should rest on the ridge line of the hood.  The eye may be just left of right of the centerline.  Place the bottom of the decal to the recommended distance from the edge of the hood.  Measure the distance of the top wing feather to the edge of the hood.  This distance should be the same.  The eye is kind of almond shaped so center would need some interpretation.  I would bother me more if the wings were not centered but everyone has their obsessions.

[b_hill_86]

I can’t post the picture so maybe Kerry will still  but my 77 service manual calls for 4.10 in between the bottom of the tail and edge of the hood. Should be the same for you since it’s not the Y88/79-80 bird.

81blackbird, it’s possible the later birds are more symmetrical than the earlier ones. With mine, it didn’t seem possible to split the wings equally on either side of the shaker hole and keep the wing tips equal distance from the hood edges. Almost as if one wing is slightly bigger than the other. Maybe I’ll measure mine when I get home out of curiosity.

[81Blackbird]

Well, that is possible too.  Fold the decal in half, with out creasing the center, and see if the dimensions are the same as far to the center as you can.
Foot Note: I printed a copy of your style bird and folded it in half.  The wings were symmetrical.  The left side of the eye was on the center line.

[b_hill_86]

That was a good idea, the printed bird. I just measured mine and it is equal on both side from shaker opening to the decal but the wing tips are definitely about a half inch off. I’d post a pic but haven’t had luck with the new way on the forum yet.

[aussieta]

i taped my bird to the hood with all the paper and premask still on
i moved it around until i was happy
and then taped an outline around it leaving a 1/4 inch gap
then when i installed i just lined up the 1/4 inch gap all round
the crease in the hood touches left side of eye
my center of tail is probably 1/32 off
i still dont know how that happened
if you look from one of the car side it looks perfect, other side you can tell it's not perfectly centered

[roadking77]

Sorry a bit late to the party.

According to the service manuals:

1977 - 4.10 inches from the front edge of the hood to the edge of the bird, obviously centred.

1979 - 2.25 inches from the front edge of the hood to the edge of the bird.

[roadking77]

2021-03-22_09-33-01 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

NOTE: 1979

[roadking77]

2021-03-22_09-44-41 by Kerry Grubb, on Flickr

1977

[roadking77]

I do not have a 78 manual.

[b_hill_86]

78 manual calls for the same measurement for the hood bird