Peterbilt makes a variety of different truck models, as well as different-sized trucks and buses. For example, the company makes a line of medium-duty trucks with model names like the 377, 379, and 383. These medium-duty models are all “379s” within the Peterbilt lineup. The company’s medium-duty models also have their own unique hoods.
The Peterbilt 379 hood is 127 inches or 10.5 feet long and made of aluminum, providing protection from the elements for your engine.
Your hood helps keep your engine bay and all the engine parts safe whilst in motion. The size may seem irrelevant, however, it has an important job to do. What makes the size of the hood so critical? In this article, we will go over several points regarding the Peterbilt 379’s hood.
Why Is a Peterbilt 379 Hood Important?
The loading and unloading of heavy or oversized cargo is the main purpose of a Peterbilt medium-duty truck. Therefore, the shape and size of a Peterbilt 379’s hood is crucial to the truck’s function.
The design covers many other parts, including fuel tank guards, which protect against theft and damage to these areas while you are driving down a busy freeway at high speeds in heavy traffic during rush hour.
A heavy-duty truck’s hood is typically much taller and thinner than a typical passenger car’s hood. This height and thickness are necessary in order to fit over the oversized tires and be able to hold up to the vibrations and heavy lifting that are necessary for moving large or heavy cargo.
In addition, large panels on the hood can be raised or lowered to ventilate, shield, or cool the engine.
What Does a Peterbilt 379 Hood Look Like?
The shape of a Peterbilt 379 hood is highly dependent on the model of truck, but most 379s have a squared-off, box-like shape. The front of the truck is generally where the hood meets the cab, and this is the part that protrudes out of the truck.
To identify a Peterbilt 379, check for these identifiers:
- A long hood that extends from the cab
- Twin headlights near the front of the hood
- A large, rectangular grille situated below the headlights
Most 379s have a single, large, sloping hood that extends from front to back, but some models have two smaller, angled hoods. The angle of these smaller hoods depends on the manufacturer and/or model of 379.
How to Adjust the Hood on 379 Peterbilt
If a truck’s hood is obstructing your view while you’re driving, or you just want it to open a little bit more, there are a few steps you can take to adjust the hood.
They are:
- The first thing you’ll want to do is find out if the truck’s hood is self-adjusting.
- If this is the case, then all you’ll need to do is press a button on the truck’s key fob and let go.
- The hood will close on its own.
- If the hood is not self-adjusting, then you’ll need to do some manual adjustment. This is easiest if the truck is parked on a level surface.
- Find the highest point on the hood and lift up until you can see over it.
- Then, lower the high point until you can see over the hood.
- Repeat this process until the hood is at the desired angle.
Now, let’s see if a Peterbilt 379 hood will fit a 377.
Will a Peterbilt 379 Hood Fit a 377
Obviously the Peterbilt 379 and 377 have different numbers for a reason. But will one’s hood fit on the other?
A Peterbilt 379 hood can fit a 377 truck, but there are a few qualifications that need to be addressed.
The first thing to note is that a Peterbilt 379 hood is slightly wider than a Peterbilt 377. The 379’s extra width is necessary to accommodate the larger engine and differential.
Next, the height of the 379 hood is lower than that of a 377. The reason for this is the same reason that the front of a 379 is lower than the back of a 377 — to allow for the extra height of the engine and larger tires. As a result, a 379 hood will sit a little lower than the 377 on the truck.
Conclusion
The hood of the Peterbilt 379 is important to the function and safety of this truck, which makes it 127 inches or 10.5 feet long.
It also protects other parts on the vehicle like fuel tank guards while you are driving down a busy freeway during rush hour at high speeds in heavy traffic and ensures your vehicle is always ready for the road.
