Help needed with engine to hood clearance

[Rickster]

Rebuilding a 71 Challenger. Engine is 440 with Eddy Performer RPM intake and Holley 4150. Bought a dual snorkel air cleaner (off a '72) at swap meet and repainted wrinkle black. Have a rallye/R/T hood but am having issue with clearance when hood is closed - there's not enough clearance to be able to even close hood (hood is hitting air cleaner before it even latches).

Anyone else have this same engine/intake/carb setup that has had same issue with hood?

Know I can go with different intake but seems like this combo of intake & carb should be pretty common with the rallye hood.

Different air cleaner could be used (with deeper offset base) but then I'm loosing factory look.

[cudabob496]

playdough balls on air cleaner, then close hood carefully, and see which balls
squish the most. Will give an idea of where you have to modify.  The lower air
cleaner tray does have a lip that can be cut/machined off, I think.  When you go
non stock intake, carb, etc, other mods for clearance are almost a given.  I machined
3/8 inch off top of my intake, and removed bracket in hood above air cleaner.  Maybe
you can just massage the bracket in the hood a little, if its like my Cuda hood.
I also had to modify my carb linkage a little, and put a dent in bottom air cleaner lid
to clear carb linkage.

[brads70]

This web site is handy for ID what you have. I know the base heights were different for the air grabber style air cleaners.
http://www.nicksgarage.com/aircleaner.htm

[jhaag]

I have the same setup. don't want to butcher the crossbrace on the hood  so am using a K&N 7/8" drop base air cleaner with a 3" element. have about 1/4" to 1/2" clearance.

[Rickster]

Thanks for the suggestions thus far. Previous owner used a Moroso drop base stand alone probably very similar to the K&N that was suggested. It worked for him but will have to look at modifying the dual snorkel base to see if I can lower assembly enough to get clearance needed. Don't want to modify hood brace. Too much time and effort getting hood just right 

[tman]

Be better with a photo of this setup also.

[Rickster]

Here are some pics:

[cudabob496]

some say "butcher", some say "modify"

[dodj]

playdough balls on air cleaner, then close hood carefully, and see which balls
squish the most.

I determine air cleaner to hood clearance with loosely balled up tin foil - doesn't stick - holds it's squished shape.

You would have enough room if you use a Performer Intake. The RPM is too tall to fit with that air cleaner. I'll be taking a Performer off my engine this fall if you are interested. It will cost you horsepower though.

[Rickster]

Thanks for the foil suggestion. May have to go with different intake at the expense of loosing a few horses. I'll see what modifications might work before going that route.

[dodj]

I'm replacing my performer with a Holley street dominator. Same height but better hp numbers.

[Rickster]

How does the Holley intake compare with the RPM as far as performance?

[brads70]

I have the Holley SD intake too, can't say about HP it's the only one I've used. Hood clearance is not an issue though.

[dodj]

How does the Holley intake compare with the RPM as far as performance?

Here's some numbers for ya. 
http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/techarticles/engine/mopp_0207_intake_manifold_engine_and_rpm_range_test/viewall.html

[Rickster]

Thanks guys for the info and the link to the intake comparison. Wasn't even considering a SP intake since car will mainly be street driven. Seriously considering the Holley SD now. May be the best solution to get the clearence needed.