Custom hoods

[Blake129]

Has anyone modified an RT hood to add a cowl in the center to accept a taller intake manifold? I dont want to ditch the unique design of the factory hood, but need some sort of ideas to accommodate a tall intake manifold. Pics would be appreciated.

 

[Adam]

How tall is this intake? Can you mill a half inch off or so...

 

[Blake129]

It’s a Edelbrock victor intake which I believe is roughly 6” tall

 

[DetMatt1]

I’d find the next most comparable intake that fits under the stock hood and go with that. How much difference in HP or torque will there be and how much hassle and expense will you have to go through to keep it? To me though this hobby is all about the aesthetic and the nostalgia though, in other words these cars looked the best as they rolled off the assembly line and performed just fine. If I wanted a car that was really fast and efficient I’d buy something new.

 

[DrEamer]

Could you use a drop base air cleaner?

 

[DetMatt1]

Could you use a drop base air cleaner?

Or there’s that.

 

[Blake129]

I haven’t considered that possibility with the drop base. My build is far from factory when it comes to powertrain.

 

[DrEamer]

I haven’t considered that possibility with the drop base. My build is far from factory when it comes to powertrain.

So, tell us about your build, what do you have going?

 

[Blake129]

Well I've got a 70 challenger r/t (originally plum crazy purple), but the previous owner appeared to have painted it red and now its sporting rust. It used to have a vinyl top, which I'm abandoning. It used to be a 4 speed car with a 383. When I received it it didn't have either. I'm planning on building a street/strip car with the factory color. I've got a 440 block bored .040" and a 512 stroker kit from 440 source. Its going to be a 10.5:1 engine on pump gas, aluminum Edelbrock Victor heads, custom grind bullet cam with a fairly aggressive profile. I'm hoping to get it in the high 9s in the 1/4. I've purchased a 727 that I got for a good deal. It will be rebuilt with a fully manual valve body and transbrake. The rear end is a 8 3/4 and I plan on running a 4.10 setup. A few other mods: exhaust electric cutouts, line lock, possibly a small nitrous setup?

The car is fixing to go into the shop for metal work, the majority of the skin will be replaced. I'm not tubbing it, however it will have a 3" spring relocation kit put on as I plan on running 295s in the rear on some 15" black steel wheels (that's still undecided). Ill also have subframe connectors put in and a cage inside the car. While I realize this wont be ideal for daily driving, I still want this car to be driveable on the street to cruise to car shows and what not. Basically I'm trying to build a badass street car that will turn heads.

 

[rbbruno3]

I run a Holley street dominator with a drop base and factory hood. No clearance issue other than can’t run the under hood pad

 

[Blake129]

what intake are you running? comparable to an edelbrock victor?

 

[rbbruno3]

It’s a Holley Street Dominator intake. Here is a Dyno test from a Hot Rod Magazine.

 

[Blake129]

Ah sorry I misunderstood, for some reason I thought you were referring to your carb setup. Do you know how much of a drop that drop base is supposed to be and the height of that air filter? The victor intake is just over an inch taller than a dominator according to summit racing so if I can squeeze an inch in somewhere whether it be a bigger drop base or a lower filter it should work with a factory hood. Fingers crossed.

 

[rbbruno3]

I think it was 1 1/2 “ Dropbase and 3” filter

 

[6PKRTSE]

I have also cut the little Ridge off of the base of the drop base air cleaners at the carb flange for another 1/4" or so. You could have the intake milled slightly on the carb flange if needed. Another option is some K-Frame spacers to lower the engine in the engine bay.

 

[6PKRTSE]

I saved my original R/T hood and made a custom Super Shaker scoop and hood for my car to clear the tunnel ram and two foggers. Scoop is getting painted black and hood blue soon.

 

[6PKRTSE]

Painted now.