I used the search but i came up dry, i need to know if there are any hood clearance issues with a stock(flat) hood and using a edelbrock performer rpm(NOT the air gap) and edelbrock carb. i have a 14x3 drop base air filter from an old car of mine that i plan on using. Im not sure how much taller than my original intake it is but i mocked up a one inch spacer and a Holley 750dp i had in my garage and it had clearance issues(about 1/4 inch too tall). If it wont fit are there any options are far as using maybe a shorter motor mount or do i have to use one of those crappy air filters?

Well seeing as its one of the best sbc street intakes on the market im sure someone here has one on their car and knows if it will fit. I will get a 3inch cowl if i have too but i can only spend $100 a month on my new toy, i mean car, and its set me back a few weeks.

On my 79Z - RPM Air Gap, Holley 750, NOS Plate all under the stock hood. I also use a 3 x 14 drop base cleaner. There's about a RCH of clearance between the cleaner and the hood.

I had an RPM with a drop base too, you just might not be able to run a 3" filter. BTW the cowl I have now is to cover the BB.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c392/imtheflash/My%20Camaro/engine.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c392/imtheflash/My%20Camaro/Pict0027.jpg

Yup, need a drop base aircleaner and it will fit.

pulled the intake since i first posted, and mocked up the intake and carb,air filter and it seems really close, wont know for sure till it bolts up but it looks like it will clear.

BTW nice paint scheme flash, never seen one like that before.

If I can fit a BBC, RPM Air Gap under a stock '78Z hood, a SBC should fit under the flat hood....

I had Vortec heads, Performer RPM, Holley 3310 and drop-base 14x3 air cleaner. With poly engine mounts it would not fit under the flat steel hood of my '77 Z. With stock motor mounts it might be okay.

I had Vortec heads, Performer RPM, Holley 3310 and drop-base 14x3 air cleaner. With poly engine mounts it would not fit under the flat steel hood of my '77 Z. With stock motor mounts it might be okay.

correct me if im wrong here but isnt the vortec versions of the performer rpm and rpm air gap slightly taller because of the taller intake runners? you got me scared now cause i have the intake installed already along with the dist, too late to go back now.

now only distributor mounting hardware and valve cover gaskets and a throttle bracket are the only thing holding me up, and my parts store is already closed today :(

Performer RPM heads and intake here, with a Barry Grant Demon carb and a drop filter housing from a 69 Z28 and it all fits just nice under a stock hood.:cool:

i dont believe you can fit any intake on vortec heads under a stock hood. i know i couldnt find an intake low enough. but that was on vortec heads.

Some of the Vortec intakes are taller, but I also mentioned I run poly engine mounts as well. The poly mounts will have the engine sitting up slightly higher than the factory mounts. So with all of that, it might explain why some guys are okay and some like mine are not.

so, the poly mounts, what brand are they? i have a set of energy suspension ones new in box that i thought i might use someday, however if its that close i dont want to even mess with it, the motor mounts look brand new.

also the engine is the CLEANEST i have ever seen ever, this "unknown engine" looks to be brand new. The heads are Hech En Mexico LOL! i wrote downt he casting numbers to figure out what they are but i left the paper in the car, im going to have to decode them tomorrow.

If you can mock this up, after putting it all together, try putting some putty (say a 1" cube) on the highest point of the air filter and slowly close the hood to, say, almost fully closed, then check to see how much the putty has squished down to.

meatwad... Use a 1/2" spacer and a 2" filter element and you should have enough headroom to close the hood without gaining a dimple.

Make sure the carb stud is down as far as it will go too.

If you can mock this up, after putting it all together, try putting some putty (say a 1" cube) on the highest point of the air filter and slowly close the hood to, say, almost fully closed, then check to see how much the putty has squished down to.

im gonna have to "borrow" the kid next doors play dough.:confused:


meatwad... Use a 1/2" spacer and a 2" filter element and you should have enough headroom to close the hood without gaining a dimple.


I was under the impression that its better to have the 3 inch filter rather that the taller intake plenum from the spacer? I may need the space later on for a little n20 but thats way down the line, i wanna hear this thing run first.

oh and I trimmed the carb sud to a 3 thread engagement at zero torque, so it shouldn't be too long.