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Hot Rods Hood Clearance Issues - '56 Chevy, SBC, 4-71, Holley

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by GearheadsQCE, Jul 16, 2020.

  1. GearheadsQCE
    Joined: Mar 23, 2011
    Posts: 3,375

    GearheadsQCE
    Alliance Vendor

    After collecting the pieces for 50+ years, I set about to mock up this combination. Can't close the hood! If I use a Holley with the choke horn milled off (including the vent tubes), it would be close, but no room for any type air cleaner of even a hose to a remote AC.

    The way I see it there are 2 choices:
    1) Lower the engine (probably 3" or more)
    2) Add a hood scoop or bubble.

    Lowering the engine would require going to an electric fuel pump and probably notching the front crossmember, and likely other mods that aren't readily apparent. It still uses the front and bell housing mounts, which I would be willing to change if it would get the engine enough lower.

    The scoop would be easy but I haven't seen one I like, with the possible exception of the Ford T-Bolt one. I'm sure I've seen this sometime in the past but can't find a picture of one now.

    So, has anyone got experience with this or any other possibilities? I'm not into just cutting a hole for an air cleaner to poke through. I do have a spare hood but don't want to cut it up unless I'm sure it will have the look I want.

    I know @squirrel had a BBC/Blower combination in his '55, but don't remember if it had a scoop.

    Thanx,

    Bruce
     
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  2. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,942

    squirrel
    Member

    You have three choices: cut a hole in the hood and run an air cleaner, or leave the hood off, or leave the blower off.

    I played with scoop ideas for years, I even half way made one from aluminum, but never finished it, because it looked goofy when I put it on the car. It just had to be too big, to cover everything.

    Lots of guys are content to run the cast aluminum injector type scoops, often with tiny air cleaners inside them. I've always been more concerned with performance than looks. so I had no trouble leaving air cleaners and carbs hanging out in the breeze. And it works fine, lots and lots of street miles, and a good number of dragstrip passes.

    Good luck in your decision, it's not easy.

    55finished.jpg
     
  3. GearheadsQCE
    Joined: Mar 23, 2011
    Posts: 3,375

    GearheadsQCE
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    :D I really just wanted you to post a picture of that 55 :D
     
  4. badvolvo
    Joined: Jul 25, 2011
    Posts: 471

    badvolvo
    Member

    If I choose to run a blower, it's sticking out cause I want to see and hear it.
     
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  5. ididntdoit1960
    Joined: Dec 13, 2011
    Posts: 1,030

    ididntdoit1960
    Member
    from Western MA

    mill down the intake and carb adapter - cut the airhorns like you said - set the motor down and back just a bit so it doesn't require major surgery - I bet it can be done with a little here and a little there approach - I did it with a tunnel ram in my '55 - with the air horns milled off, i just sat the small air cleaner element right on the carb to pick up 3/4 of an inch or so.....Go for it - keeping it under the hood will be cool!
     
  6. GearheadsQCE
    Joined: Mar 23, 2011
    Posts: 3,375

    GearheadsQCE
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    The carb adapter is 1/16" thick. To keep the stock hood, the motor has to go 'DOWN'!
     
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  7. I put a teardrop scoop on a 55 that I helped a buddy with 25 years ago for this same reason.

    231ACCBD-7D47-4C04-BEA4-D165EA7CE574.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Jul 16, 2020
  8. GearheadsQCE
    Joined: Mar 23, 2011
    Posts: 3,375

    GearheadsQCE
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    That looks good to me!
     
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  9. GearheadsQCE
    Joined: Mar 23, 2011
    Posts: 3,375

    GearheadsQCE
    Alliance Vendor

    I've decided not to pursue lowering the engine.

    Anybody got any other scoops or bubbles they think looks good?

    Post 'em up!!!
     
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  10. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 8,719

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

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  11. olscrounger
    Joined: Feb 23, 2008
    Posts: 4,770

    olscrounger
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Squirrel's has the look to me. We did the same on a black 57 BelAir several years ago.
     
  12. 427 sleeper
    Joined: Mar 8, 2017
    Posts: 2,872

    427 sleeper
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Performance wise, I think the open element air cleaner sticking out of the hood is the best bet. But if you have your heart set on a scoop, there's always the Pontiac Super Duty style of scoop. I think VFN makes them in an assortment of sizes.
     
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  13. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,214

    sunbeam
    Member

    I remember a magazine A few years ago that had a 57 chevy with a blower under the hood. The engine was lowered to where the pan was about 4 inches off the road.
     
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  14. As much as I liked the car I hated the tacky hood scoop. HRP

    [​IMG]
     
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  15. Fordors
    Joined: Sep 22, 2016
    Posts: 5,373

    Fordors
    Member

    I agree, tacky for sure but that style was on plenty of early Pro Stocks and Modified Production cars. It was a tested and proven design.
     
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  16. brigrat
    Joined: Nov 9, 2007
    Posts: 5,615

    brigrat
    Member
    from Wa.St.

    I would raise the motor just enough to see half of the top blower drive & belt! Buy a good quality glass hood, cut the shit out of it, save the steel one for posterity reasons..................
     
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2020
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  17. 1934coupe
    Joined: Feb 22, 2007
    Posts: 5,051

    1934coupe
    Member

     
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  18. GearheadsQCE
    Joined: Mar 23, 2011
    Posts: 3,375

    GearheadsQCE
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    The Unlimited is a tad high for my liking.

    Definitely no Two Lane Blacktop!

    I'd like to see the article on the '57 with the blower under the hood. Probably not practical but might be interesting to see how it was done.
     
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  19. [​IMG]
    How about a clear scoop? '56 Chevy sheet metal isn't scarce or anything. Plus you have a spare hood. Cut the one you have to let a velocity stack hang out, then decide if you really want to hide it!
     
  20. blowby
    Joined: Dec 27, 2012
    Posts: 8,661

    blowby
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    from Nicasio Ca

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  21. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 30,778

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    I remember a 57 chev in the magazines probably back in the early 70's with a 4-71 blown small block. It had an adapter mounted to the top of the blower that swooped down and mounted a single holley next to the blower. this car ran a stock hood.....
     
  22. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 17,097

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    @Moriarity i think offenhauser made/makes those
     
  23. 1934coupe
    Joined: Feb 22, 2007
    Posts: 5,051

    1934coupe
    Member

     
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  24. GearheadsQCE
    Joined: Mar 23, 2011
    Posts: 3,375

    GearheadsQCE
    Alliance Vendor

    I have thought about the elephant trunk. The engine might still have to be lowered but not much.

    The clear scoop is something I hadn't considered.

    Appreciate everyone's input.
     
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  25. I like the colored lexan blog_blasph1.jpg
     
  26. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,942

    squirrel
    Member

    it's ok...I guess...

    (and yeah, he's faster than me)

    rk17.jpg
     
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  27. Not by much big boy ;) everytime I watch that episode of roadkill i scream "there's squirrel from the hamb!" I know it's off topic on this thread, but what was your average when it was all done?
     
  28. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,942

    squirrel
    Member

    averaged 10.15 at 132. Car is only legal to run 10.00
     
  29. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,144

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    Bruce, some time back on another related thread I posted about this and when I found the photo someone had nicknamed the carb adapter(s) a "water buffalo" style adapter.
    I looked yesterday with no results but like @Moriarity said it was a 57, pretty sure it was a Nomad, not positive though, it may have been a modified GMC piece, I also seem to recall it being a 6-71 blower on the car, pretty ingenious solution.
    I'll look for it some more today.




     
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  30. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,942

    squirrel
    Member

    I had thought about doing something like that years ago, never got anywhere with it.

    also a 57 has a lower hood line than the 55-56....and big blocks are taller than small blocks...so a small block in a 55-6 is the most likely combo to be able to make it work
     
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