Thread: Bird Catcher Learning Curve

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Okay, newbie question.

I traced out and measured thrice. I cut the hole in my hood to allow the Hilborn to clear. I measured from the edges of the center of the scoop to the edges of the hood so the hole would have a very slight taper that followed the contour of the car. I cut it figuring I'd have 3" on each side of the scoop and then I'd run an expanded metal grating for 2" on each side.

No one ever told me that engines are off-center. Mine is off-center almost exactly 1" to the passenger side.

I have 4" of clearance on the driver side of my scoop and 2" on the passenger side.

When you're done laughing, read on.

I can't be the first one who's run into this problem; what's the protocol, here? (I have the gut feeling that there's a "right" and a "wrong" way to proceed.)

Do you / did you / should I:

A.) leave the hole centered and fill in 1" of expanded metal on the PS and 3" on the DS?

or B.) Enlarge the hole another 2" on the PS and use 3" of expanded metal on both sides, and leave it symmetrical but an inch off-center in the car?

Dunno, Minez' dead on center. It must be moved over to make room for steering or some other obstruction? Maybe use some tape and mark off the area you plan to make the correction cut. Just to see if it will help or make it worse. Maybe cut some cardboard and install it where you plan to use the expanded metal. Then stand back and look at it from a few different angles to see if it looks right or ...... . If you mock it up BEFORE you get out the saw you'll save yourself some headaches.

Originally posted by DennyW
Most of the time, on the drivers side, theres where all the linkage is shown off. So the offset there is ok. If you move the hole from the center of the hood, people will think you were drunk when you cut the hole. I would put some fancy chrome do-dad there for people to look at. jmo.

ya.... a peice of braided SS hose ,looped over going nowhere but , " it needed room " ............

How badly would it show if you made an adapter plate about 3/8" thick between the riser sracks and the manifold, to offset the blower scoop and risers 1" back to center of your car? This would be a simple visual fix if the riser stacks are seperate from the manifold itself. Your performance might suffer a bit, but you wouldn't look all off center when cruising.

Thats the way all of them are is it not ? j/k I wouldnt worry too much chances are no one will ever say anythang!!!!The builder looks at things most will never pick up on!!

Originally posted by shawnlee28:
I wouldnt worry too much chances are no one will ever say anythang!!!!

True enough; the idea is to have most people only see the taillights, anyway. . ..

Put some nifty chrome return springs and brackets in the added space...

Originally posted by pro70z28
Dunno, Minez' dead on center. It must be moved over to make room for steering or some other obstruction? Maybe use some tape and mark off the area you plan to make the correction cut. Just to see if it will help or make it worse. Maybe cut some cardboard and install it where you plan to use the expanded metal. Then stand back and look at it from a few different angles to see if it looks right or ...... . If you mock it up BEFORE you get out the saw you'll save yourself some headaches.

ive cut a lot of hoods for blowers and they was always in the middle

I have no doubt that it is off-center to clear the steering rack. That is just about as much engine as will fit in that tiny little engine bay, which is why I cut the hole and why the next step will be stroking it. The plus side is, at her size she goes like a gazelle with its @ss on fire with just that hopped-up 302; I'm figuring a dual-quad 347 oughta launch her right off the planet. (For my next trick: a Hemi Gremlin.)

I'll knock up some shineage to put in the extra space; build a Flux Capacitor or somesuch.

Originally posted by Was_II
I have no doubt that it is off-center to clear the steering rack. That is just about as much engine as will fit in that tiny little engine bay, which is why I cut the hole and why the next step will be stroking it. The plus side is, at her size she goes like a gazelle with its @ss on fire with just that hopped-up 302; I'm figuring a dual-quad 347 oughta launch her right off the planet. (For my next trick: a Hemi Gremlin.)

I'll knock up some shineage to put in the extra space; build a Flux Capacitor or somesuch.

ya ,im glade, looks like youve got it going you way now.

hemi gremlin, now that would be a trick. id like to see that.