Bonnet blues

[67cammy]

OK, Ive just installed the bonnet on my 67. Cowl induction and it looks beautiful...but. The hole for the air cleaner doesnt line up with the cleaner lid! I have a five inch K&N filter so it needs to come through the bonnet but this thing is out at least an inch front to back. I dont want to cut the bonnet so I guess that leaves somehow offsetting the cleaner forward. Has anyone run into this before and what did you do to fix it? :(

PS Its an aftermarket bonnet. Do they come in big block and small block versions?

PPS Since found out that Moroso have offset bases front to back of 1 1/2 inches so I'll use one of those. Would still like to know what went wrong though

[SirGeo]

the packaging on my new bonnet doesn't say if it's a BB or SB bonnet.. so I doubt they make them different.. why couldn't you cut the underside part of the bonnet? seems like the simplest solution?

But if the spacer works.. well done :) (P.S. i would have run into this problem as well, so thanks for solving it for me :p )

[67cammy]

Yep thats the first thing I thought of to cut the bonnet, but then matching the candy paint would of been the next issue. Im pretty sure this offset air cleaner will work, just ordered it from the states to cut out the middle man. Saved heaps on stuff doing it that way. Cheers :)

[SirGeo]

let us know how it goes..

[blackoutsteve]

Cowl hoods.. (American cars have hoods & trunks, English cars and have bonnets & boots! :p ) ..are not big or small block. They are all alike.

Do you have factory frame and engine mounts?
What intake manifold do you have?

I have a cowl set up on mine with a GM hood. I can do some measurements on both the hood and air-cleaner for you if you like.

[67cammy]

Yes the frame and engine mounts are stock. The distance from the front edge of the hole to the front of the HOOD is about 640mm. Cheers
Intake is a RPM air-gap.

[TUFF68]

got my cowl hood off the car at the moment so i took a photo for you 68cammy. i have a 14" x 3" air cleaner and the hole is 39cm in diameter. it measures 650mm from the front of the hole to forward most part of the bonnet. I have a small issue with clearance in that it rubs (and scratched) the air cleaner on the right hand side due to BB's having a taller left hand engine bracket than the right to allow for more steering box clearence for the exhaust. Which means the engine does'nt actually sit level in the engine bay

774

775

[67cammy]

Thanks TUFF68. The underside of your bonnet is exactly the same as mine with a 39cm hole. Pitty about the rubbing. Why mine doesnt line up is one of lifes mysteries I guess. Nice looking motor. How does it cruise. Any issues with keeping it cool in Perths hot summers?

[TUFF68]

it's only got a mild hydraulic cam in it so it quite easily cruises like a stocker, but keeping the right foot under control is the hard part :D

i did'nt skimp on the cooling system so it does'nt get hot. i have'nt been on a long cruise yet, only short drives/thrash's but so far it mainly stay's on 180deg. occasionaly it will get to the low 190's but when the thermo's kick in at 194-195 the temp comes straight back down to 180 within a matter of minutes. Those EL twin thermos are well worth their money. with the 350 it never went over 195

keeping my '57 cool on a long cruise on a hot Perth summer's day is another story

[blackoutsteve]

Big block or small block?
If BB, I'm thinking this problem has to do with your frame mounts.

Firstly, note that 67-68 BB frame mounts are different to 69 BB frame mounts, AND that the RPO-ZL2 cowl hoods were never a factory item on 67-68 Camaros.

With my 69, because I have a BB & Powerglide (never a factory combo) I must use SB frame mounts to stop the factory 8" crank pulley touching the front crossmember.
Also, my BB sits about 1" off the centerline to the right (the car's right) which is quite normal.
I have no clearance issues at all with my cowl air cleaner or hood. I have only modified the height of the flange to allow the use of a Victor Jnr.

Oh, if it matters, from firewall to carb a/cleaner stud is 13".

[blackoutsteve]

Oh.. What I failed to point out in that post was.. that 67-69 SB frame mounts are all the same according to their part number..
So, any Big or small block 67-69 Camaro should fit under a cowl hood with SB frame mounts..
BUT.. Be aware of some possible BB height issues, -especially with a non-OE intake manifold.

[camaro_1967rs]

Thanks TUFF68. The underside of your bonnet is exactly the same as mine with a 39cm hole. Pitty about the rubbing. Why mine doesnt line up is one of lifes mysteries I guess. Nice looking motor. How does it cruise. Any issues with keeping it cool in Perths hot summers?

There is a difference of 1" between the big block location and the SBC location, there used to be two different cowl induction bonnets offered by Classic Industries to reflect the slight difference.

Mine hits and I unfortunatly need to trim the hole bigger even after all the cowl induction work ref my diagrams of why.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x102/bucketofbubbles_detailing/bonnetrubbing.jpg

[Nev68]

Thanks TUFF68. The underside of your bonnet is exactly the same as mine with a 39cm hole. Pitty about the rubbing. Why mine doesnt line up is one of lifes mysteries I guess. Nice looking motor. How does it cruise. Any issues with keeping it cool in Perths hot summers?

67 cammy, did you sort out your cowl hood clearance issues?
I just got a cowl hood for my 68 camaro from Classic Industries.
Will I have problems lining up the bonnet and air cleaner?
Are any mods needed before paint?
I've got the small block frame mounts and small block motor are there issues with some inlet manifolds?

Rgds,
Nev

[67cammy]

I used a Moroso offset air cleaner. It worked perfect. The cleaner is pretty much dead centre of the hole. I dont know if you'll have trouble. I thought I was using all standard type stuff. Small block frame mounts,small block motor, RPM air gap. I really dont have a clue why it didnt line up. I think Im the only person in history that this has happened to. Good luck with yours. :)

[camaro_1967rs]

I used a Moroso offset air cleaner.

Got any pictures?

[67cammy]

Got any pictures?

I had a nice 5" cleaner with a dropped base but the dropped base couldnt be used with the offset so I had to settle for a 3". Bummer.
876

877

[camaro_1967rs]

I had a nice 5" cleaner with a dropped base but the dropped base couldnt be used with the offset so I had to settle for a 3". Bummer.
876

877


can you buy them here? on OZ that is.

[67cammy]

can you buy them here? on OZ that is.

Yes I just got mine from the speed shop. They had one in stock so I took that instead of getting one myself from Summit. Moroso arent the only ones that make them though.