I Failed the intake manifold class
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,270
Likes: 375
From: Randolph nj
70 ,, this afternoon i cut the top of a old junk holley i had for parts I put it on the manifold and used modeling clay on the top and had a 1 in ,, i figured If i milled the manifold i would only gain 1/4 of a inch and i really don't think its enough
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 27
I had a similar issue with my 81 after buying the rpm intake, so I bought a dropped air cleaner, it was actually dropped way more than it should but then I bought spacers and played around with the heights until it fit perfectly. You probably couldn't squeeze a nats *** between the air cleaner and the hood but it fit and without contact. Just thought I would throw my experience out there...
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,736
Likes: 56
From: anchorage ak
At least this didn't happen. Years ago I was walking through one of the base shops where you could work on your cars. A fellow was changing his intake on his 74 from stock to a high rise edelbrock. I asked him if he had checked his hood clearance before doing it and he replied that "the guy at the parts store said it would fit". I said he might want to just set everything on the motor and check before he bolted it all down. He said there was no need to as the guy told him it would fit. I walked away hoping he would check it out but he didn't. Bolted everything down got it ready to go and to prove a point got me to watch him close his hood. Without the air cleaner on it and of course the stud sticking up out of the Q Jet he let the hood drop, more to the point, let it slam down and put a nice hole in it where the air cleaner hold down bolt was.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,229
Likes: 656
From: Thunder Bay
Years ago I put an L88 hood on my '79. I love the way it looks and allowed me to install exactly the carb and manifold package I wanted without having to compromise anything. I solved a bunch of problems, the car runs great, and looks good too. It really is worth considering.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,270
Likes: 375
From: Randolph nj
Im not changing the hood … Im gonna be looking for a performer rpm ,,I could spend another 150.00 on a no choke center section for my carb but for the same money i could find a good used manifold and solve my problems all together ,, problem solved
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,738
Likes: 644
From: Lincoln, CA
?? Choke removal is so you can run a thinner filter correct?
I thought about trying the RPM but when I looked into it I was worried it would be too tall.
Right now with the standard 3" filter, 3/8 spacer needed to clear the linkage and the 1/4 spacer for the heat shield I have just a little more then 1/2".
I tried a 1/2 air cleaner spacer and everything still fit but after a drive you could see the wing nut made contact a few times. I'm using the Repro LS6 intake.
If you click on the last picture you can zoom in and see the spacer and how close the linkage comes to making contact.
I thought about trying the RPM but when I looked into it I was worried it would be too tall.
Right now with the standard 3" filter, 3/8 spacer needed to clear the linkage and the 1/4 spacer for the heat shield I have just a little more then 1/2".
I tried a 1/2 air cleaner spacer and everything still fit but after a drive you could see the wing nut made contact a few times. I'm using the Repro LS6 intake.
If you click on the last picture you can zoom in and see the spacer and how close the linkage comes to making contact.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 27
I had a similar issue with my 81 after buying the rpm intake, so I bought a dropped air cleaner, it was actually dropped way more than it should but then I bought spacers and played around with the heights until it fit perfectly. You probably couldn't squeeze a nats *** between the air cleaner and the hood but it fit and without contact. Just thought I would throw my experience out there...
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 27
Yeah I used just a regular nut instead of the wing nut, it was that close. Also you can saw down the stud to the correct height and use silly puddy to figure out of you have enough clearance. It's that tight but it should fit, might take ALOT of tweaking.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 27
I'm also for keeping the stock hood (mostly for sleeper purposes). I like the aftermarket hoods but don't want to tip anyone off if you know what I mean....cause they might actually think it's fast....and I don't want to get beat 
Last edited by htown81vette; Mar 25, 2016 at 02:30 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 27
I would have stopped him right there, most (like 80%) of part store guys are lucky to even make it to the store with matching shoes and socks. Half the time I don't even get the right parts. But some do know what they are doing just depends..., I'm not knocking them in general...but I would be always weary...
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 261
Likes: 1
From: frederick maryland
sorry forgot u wanted a couple more pix, thought id postem up here in case anyone else wanted to see what i had to do to get my airgap to fit, once again, my cars a 73 w a stock hood. If anyone shoehorns a tall manifold in id recomend u check and replace your motor mounts first if needed - new ones raised my engine a bit.
hth
lear
hth
lear
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 1,213
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
I see some of you guys are not running stock intake setups, me also. I to was faced with the same clearance issues under the hood and fitting a filter large enough so the engine would have an adequate volume of air. I rejected the ever popular RPM air gap because it was too tall. There are other options out there that may slightly hinder performance or may actually perform better than the air gap/dual plane intakes. I went with a Team G single plane intake. I have a 4" tall air filter on a 1-3/4" drop base. Air flow is not an issue. Loss of low end torque? Not enough loss to alter my decision with a high rise DP intake and its headaches.
Last edited by resdoggie; Mar 31, 2016 at 10:54 AM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 302
Likes: 2
From: Sayville New york
I see some of you guys are not running stock intake setups, me also. I to was faced with the same clearance issues under the hood and fitting a filter large enough air cleaner so the engine would have an adequate volume of air. I rejected the ever popular RPM air gap because it was too tall. There are other options out there that may slightly hinder performance or may actually perform better than the air gap/dual plane intakes. I went with a Team G single plane intake. I have a 4" tall air filter on a 1-3/4" drop base. Air flow is not an issue. Loss of low end torque? Not enough loss to alter my decision with a high rise DP intake and its headaches.
Last edited by Captain bob; Mar 31, 2016 at 10:45 AM. Reason: spelling
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 5,738
Likes: 644
From: Lincoln, CA
I see some of you guys are not running stock intake setups, me also. I to was faced with the same clearance issues under the hood and fitting a filter large enough so the engine would have an adequate volume of air. I rejected the ever popular RPM air gap because it was too tall. There are other options out there that may slightly hinder performance or may actually perform better than the air gap/dual plane intakes. I went with a Team G single plane intake. I have a 4" tall air filter on a 1-3/4" drop base. Air flow is not an issue. Loss of low end torque? Not enough loss to alter my decision with a high rise DP intake and its headaches.
