deck height problem (351 into 67 Mustang)

[Sweeet Ride]

We have just dropped a 351 stroker (408) into my '67.....finally....and now can't close the hood because the 351 deck height is a little higher than the 289 plus we have used an Edelbrock Air Gap intake with a Holley carb. We didn't use a carb. spacer and still too high.....I don't want to cut the hood.
Any ideas?

 

[Rusty67]

Can't close the hood eh ? Have you tried a drop top air filter yet ?

 

[D.Hearne]

That's funny, my 390 and 427 fit fine with a high rise dual plane intake and Holley carb in my 67.

 

[dennis112]

Can't close the hood eh ? Have you tried a drop top air filter yet ?

Very good point. I suggest going to Advance Auto and getting the Holley dropped base air cleaner. You will gain way over an 1 1/4" clearance over a normal, non-dropped unit.

How much clearance do you need???

An air gap is tall, so you you have your work ahead of you if you do not put a hood scoop on. I don't know how much different height-wise an air gap is over a Vic Jr, but with a few mods I installed the that intake under my 65'. I angle milled my intake's carb pad .300" to get a better hood angle.

Other things to try:

Invest in some lowering motor mounts.

If this doesn't get you all the clearance you need, I modded my drop base even further. I simply cut the base's carb mounting lip down and gained about 3/8-7/16" more clearance. I also needed to make little closed off tunnels for the Holley external float adjusters to fit in. This mod on the drop base Holley air cleaner gets you nearly 1 7/8":

 

[180 Out]

The Weiand Stealth intake is good and it's shorter than the Air Gap.

 

[bnickel]

the stock 67 289 motor mounts place the motor a little higher up than the 68-70 motor mounts so swapping to the later mounts might solve your problem. at any rate it certainly won't hurt to have the engine sitting a little lower even if it's not enough for the intake to totally clear the hood.

i'm sure with a combination of the later mounts and some air cleaner mods you'll be fine. if you are using a stock air cleaner check out the mod

http://429mustangcougarinfo.50megs.com/new_page_7.htm

and this one

http://429mustangcougarinfo.50megs.com/stealth_aluminum_intake.htm

 

[Sweeet Ride]

We are going to move ahead with a combination of the single plane Torquer II Edelbrock manifold....a little later coming on (2500-6500rpm) but with the stroker set up and a 2000 stall speed convertor it might even be useful....a drop base K&N with a 2" filter and then go to a 650 Edelbrock rather than the Holley for another 1" or so if needed.
I don't have a tie down on this engine so the torque will cause the air cleaner to come up on one side an inch or so as well.
Here's hoping it works....our season is already 1/2 over up here!

 

[Rusty67]

Skip changing the carb and swap the motor mounts out.