I wouldn't go any bigger than you absolutely NEED in an aftermarket hood. If you have plans on going with any kind of an intake that will need a lot of clearance, especially if you want/need to run some kind of a fat spacer under it, then you might want to plan ahead and go just a hair bigger. It doesn't always look it, but a 3" rise in a hood is HUGE, especially from the driver's perspective.
Just sit in an SN95 with the stock hood and give it a comparison. Its big center bulge is roughly equal to a 1.5" cowl on a Fox, and that thing borders on being a visual obstruction (for me, at least). My buddy's Stormin' Norman/Mach 1 style cowl hood on his '93 notch is a 1.5" rise, and it's the same way - just about as high as I'd want to venture going on a hood. I've plopped my butt into a few show cars at the WFC with 3" and larger hood cowls, and they're just friggin' ridiculous. I mean, if you want the Mad Max feeling with your motor's balls hanging out the front and/or you just like to have a clear view straight to your motor from the driver's seat, then go for it, but it's pretty much overkill unless you absolutely NEED the clearance.
Cervini's is a pretty safe bet. I've heard a few other odd brands mentioned here and there that are worthwhile, including Kanean, but some to steer clear of would be ghetto-cheap places like ABC Exclusive. You do kind of get what you pay for with hoods (as a rule, not a law), unless you just happen to get a smokin' deal from someone else on a good name-brand hood like a Cervini (eBay or Craigslist). If I ever come to a point of financial ability and mechanical necessity to warrant getting a cowl hood of any sort, I'll probably be looking to Cervini's for one.
