Hood clearance blues

Robliepse · Jan 7, 2019

I've read many threads and a lot of web searching and I'm having a hard time finding a direct answer. I have a 72 Roadrunner with a 440, Eldebrock Performed RPM intake and a Holley 750 carb and as you can imagine I have very little hood clearance. I'm ready to buy a low profile air cleaner but I want to make sure I get something that will provide enough air and still fit under the stock hood. I was thinking I might have to get an air grabber hood but I'd like to find something that will work with my original non air grabber Road Runner hood. My car has a full vinyl top and I'd miss my fender stripes if I move to the grabber.

Any input on air filters will be greatly appreciated

Tim Chavez · Jan 7, 2019

Robliepse said:
I've read many threads and a lot of web searching and I'm having a hard time finding a direct answer. I have a 72 Roadrunner with a 440, Eldebrock Performed RPM intake and a Holley 750 carb and as you can imagine I have very little hood clearance. I'm ready to buy a low profile air cleaner but I want to make sure I get something that will provide enough air and still fit under the stock hood. I was thinking I might have to get an air grabber hood but I'd like to find something that will work with my original non air grabber Road Runner hood. My car has a full vinyl top and I'd miss my fender stripes if I move to the grabber.

Any input on air filters will be greatly appreciated

I think the power bulge hoods give the best clearance. I’ve got a grabber hood on my 71 charger and I’m EXTREMELY limited in my air cleaner options. ( the internals and the scoop skirting limit you to about 12 inches wide and 2-3 inches high) I’m currently running a 9” round cleaner just for clearance.

mmissile · Jan 7, 2019

Dropped-base air cleaner. Take as much height off of the parts you wanna use, as you can. Quarters and eighths, equal inches. Same principle as weight. Ounces equal pounds.

jdakrt · Jan 7, 2019

I was able to cut the carb side if a mancini racing low pro base to get my setup to clear. Still a good gap for air, topside is the mopar performance cast plate, and std paper filter that came with it. stock rb block (512") with indy dual plane mani.

mmissile · Jan 7, 2019

This car, was an exercise of "space-management". Hemi, Indy single-plane, Dominator, and 16" air-cleaner. Less than an 1/8" of clearance, once finished. We milled a 1/4" off the intake, cut the base-lip of the air cleaner in 1/2, and I had to put major dents/dimples in the base to clear the float adjustments. I also spaced the k-frame down an inch or so.

Moparjack 489 · Jan 7, 2019

I had similar problems after intake change . The drop base aircleaner fix the problem to 100 %

Moparjack 489 · Jan 7, 2019

PurpleBeeper · Jan 7, 2019

As mentioned, your hood clearance will be TERRIBLE with an air grabber hood, so forget about that unless you are willing to swap to a stock-height intake manifold. I believe a drop-base air cleaner base is your only option & be aware that you may have to put some dents in it to clear the float adjustment screws & bowls on a Holley (as also mentioned).

beanhead · Jan 7, 2019

Using the filter-style lids, as shown in Moparjack's above post, will ensure you still get plenty of air into the engine. I agree that a drop-base is better than using a low-profile element...you can get lots of different heights too. Heck I needed one and I have a 6-barrel hood. With the 440, the 850 demon on the RPM intake, and a 7/8" drop with 3" element the short-as-possible carb stud is 1.5 inches from the top of the scoop. It's a k&n base and doesn't hit any carb components.

Robliepse · Jan 8, 2019

thanks for everyone's input and advice. Going to find a drop base with the top filter.

rrTor-Red · Jan 9, 2019

mmissile said:
Dropped-base air cleaner. Take as much height off of the parts you wanna use, as you can. Quarters and eighths, equal inches. Same principle as weight. Ounces equal pounds.

Drop base for my '71 and gave me a little bit over 1" clearance. Second photo is the lid

Chad Witham · Jan 9, 2019

Summit sells an aluminum one, I think it’s Atco brand and it clears my quick fuel carb with no clearancing required if I ran a 2” air cleaner I think it would fit under the flat hood of my Demon. It is a 400 block though.

Hood clearance blues

Robliepse

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Tim Chavez

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mmissile

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jdakrt

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mmissile

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Moparjack 489

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Moparjack 489

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PurpleBeeper

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beanhead

May I Land My Kinky Machine

Robliepse

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rrTor-Red

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Chad Witham

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