Hood clearance with crate engine
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: New Lenox IL
Hood clearance with crate engine
I'm looking at the FastBurn 385 (turn-key on ZZ4 short block). Can anyone tell me about hood clearance in a '69?
My front end was recently trashed and is being fixed, so I can replace the hood with whatever it takes. The shop doing the body work isn't sure if even the big block hood will provide enough clearance.
From GM's pictures, it appears that the high-rise, Holley and air cleaner on the FB385 is a whole lot higher than the existing Performer, QJ and stock air cleaner, but I know appearances can be deceiving.
I've checked with GMPP and their nearest local dealer, and can't get any information about height, either overall or heads up.
Anyone know for sure what it will take?
My front end was recently trashed and is being fixed, so I can replace the hood with whatever it takes. The shop doing the body work isn't sure if even the big block hood will provide enough clearance.
From GM's pictures, it appears that the high-rise, Holley and air cleaner on the FB385 is a whole lot higher than the existing Performer, QJ and stock air cleaner, but I know appearances can be deceiving.
I've checked with GMPP and their nearest local dealer, and can't get any information about height, either overall or heads up.
Anyone know for sure what it will take?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,707
Likes: 2,573
Your best bet would be an L88 hood. You may have to cut into the air box under the hood. I have a 69 with a 70 LT-1 running a Edelbrock RPM Air Gap, Holley 780, factory drop base air cleaner with a 4" tall air filter.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
68-72 standard hoods have limited clearance so that's why the Performer. There needs to be at least about 3/4" clearance over the Holley vent tubes. The LT-1/BB hood is really the minimum for the SB high rise intakes.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...er-intake.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...er-intake.html
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: New Lenox IL
To MelWff
This link shows the FB385. How does the picture compare to your mainfold, carb, AC?
http://www.gmperformanceparts.com/En...9710&engCat=sb
http://www.gmperformanceparts.com/En...9710&engCat=sb
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
The FastBurn 385 will fit under a LT-1/BB hood, I have one in my '68.
If you'd like I can put a straight edge across the fender channels where the hood sits and measure how high above them the top of my air cleaner is.
If you'd like I can put a straight edge across the fender channels where the hood sits and measure how high above them the top of my air cleaner is.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: New Lenox IL
Thanks
Thanks to all for input and help.
My entire front clip is trash, so there's no measurement. I just remember putting a Holley Projection on top of my Performer manifold with the smallest air cleaner I could find, and putting cracks in the hood's paint because of interference.
I think another part of the solution will be to get the Holley SHP / LT1 air cleaner base, so it's sitting down a bit rather than right on top of the air horn.
Thanks, again, and I'll keep watching in case there's some later input.
My entire front clip is trash, so there's no measurement. I just remember putting a Holley Projection on top of my Performer manifold with the smallest air cleaner I could find, and putting cracks in the hood's paint because of interference.
I think another part of the solution will be to get the Holley SHP / LT1 air cleaner base, so it's sitting down a bit rather than right on top of the air horn.
Thanks, again, and I'll keep watching in case there's some later input.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
Thanks to all for input and help.
My entire front clip is trash, so there's no measurement. I just remember putting a Holley Projection on top of my Performer manifold with the smallest air cleaner I could find, and putting cracks in the hood's paint because of interference.
I think another part of the solution will be to get the Holley SHP / LT1 air cleaner base, so it's sitting down a bit rather than right on top of the air horn.
Thanks, again, and I'll keep watching in case there's some later input.
My entire front clip is trash, so there's no measurement. I just remember putting a Holley Projection on top of my Performer manifold with the smallest air cleaner I could find, and putting cracks in the hood's paint because of interference.
I think another part of the solution will be to get the Holley SHP / LT1 air cleaner base, so it's sitting down a bit rather than right on top of the air horn.
Thanks, again, and I'll keep watching in case there's some later input.
If you don't have a hood I can check my brothers '69 hood against my 385 equipped '68. Otherwise as I said I know for a fact the 385FB fits under the LT-1/BB hood.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 1
From: Winston-Salem NC
The tech guy at Ecklers told me that the L-88 hood has more clearance than the LT-1 hood. I measured from inside the fender of the engine bay, over the top of the air cleaner, to the other side, and found out what I needed. Worked for me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
LT2300 said "The shop doing the body work isn't sure if even the big block hood will provide enough clearance."
I'm telling you the LT-1/ big block hood does provide enough clearance for the engine in question. That's all. Now he knows he can use either the L88 or the LT-1/ BB hood but he doesn't "have" to use the L88 hood because of clearance issues.
That's the exact engine I have and the front clip/hoods of a '68 are exactly the same as the '69.
What intake is on your ZZ4 eagle? It can't be the one that comes on the ZZ4 from GM if you "needed" the L88 hood.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 1
From: Winston-Salem NC
The Edelbrock ZZ4
PERFORMER RPM E-TEC 9.5:1
435 HP & 435 FT/LBS TQ
http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...etec_435.shtml
Didn't mean to sound like I had an attitude. I was just telling what I had to do to figure out what hood I needed. The LT-1 hood would not work for me either.
BTW, I wonder what I could do to get even more HP out of this engine? It's a great motor, but I wish I had gotten a BB.
435 HP & 435 FT/LBS TQ
http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...etec_435.shtml
Didn't mean to sound like I had an attitude. I was just telling what I had to do to figure out what hood I needed. The LT-1 hood would not work for me either.
BTW, I wonder what I could do to get even more HP out of this engine? It's a great motor, but I wish I had gotten a BB.
Nobody is disputing that the L88 hood has more clearance than the LT-1 hood.
LT2300 said "The shop doing the body work isn't sure if even the big block hood will provide enough clearance."
I'm telling you the LT-1/ big block hood does provide enough clearance for the engine in question. That's all. Now he knows he can use either the L88 or the LT-1/ BB hood but he doesn't "have" to use the L88 hood because of clearance issues.
That's the exact engine I have and the front clip/hoods of a '68 are exactly the same as the '69.
What intake is on your ZZ4 eagle? It can't be the one that comes on the ZZ4 from GM if you "needed" the L88 hood.
LT2300 said "The shop doing the body work isn't sure if even the big block hood will provide enough clearance."
I'm telling you the LT-1/ big block hood does provide enough clearance for the engine in question. That's all. Now he knows he can use either the L88 or the LT-1/ BB hood but he doesn't "have" to use the L88 hood because of clearance issues.
That's the exact engine I have and the front clip/hoods of a '68 are exactly the same as the '69.
What intake is on your ZZ4 eagle? It can't be the one that comes on the ZZ4 from GM if you "needed" the L88 hood.
Last edited by eagle275; Oct 31, 2009 at 01:27 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
PERFORMER RPM E-TEC 9.5:1
435 HP & 435 FT/LBS TQ
http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...etec_435.shtml
Didn't mean to sound like I had an attitude. I was just telling what I had to do to figure out what hood I needed. The LT-1 hood would not work for me either.
435 HP & 435 FT/LBS TQ
http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...etec_435.shtml
Didn't mean to sound like I had an attitude. I was just telling what I had to do to figure out what hood I needed. The LT-1 hood would not work for me either.
Your engine looks nice and damn that thing is shiny!
That air-gap I'm sure is a bit taller than the GM factory intake that is on mine.
