Dog too big for the House

[propstrike]

With the 502, the doghouse bumps the air cleaner. ARGH!

It's been a long and winding road, but true to it's soul, this project is still throwing me challenges to overcome. Worst part is trying to fix the issues, long distance. The Vegas diesel shop that is doing most of the work is as frustrated with me as I am with them. A big truck shop, lowering itself to work on my gasser. I'm sure they're a good group of mechs, but they like the bigger stuff.

So, now that the engine is in, the new fuel tank and pumps are in, and it's got about 1/2 mile drive time on it, they tried to close the doghouse. Clunk. The air cleaner held the dog house up by 1/2 inch.

Any pics out there, of the doghouse uncovered? Anyone recover, rebuild or otherwise tear apart their doghouse, and have the pics to share? I'm looking to modify, by about an inch, the top of the cover. Since it's hinged, raising the whole thing won't work, right? If I can prep even a temporary fix, just to get it home, would work. Once it's here, I plan to weld up a new doghouse cage and cover plates. Maybe I'll cut a hole on top for the carb, and install an intake trumpet, set right between the two front seats! LOL!!!! I could put cup holders on each side of it !

I've looked at going with a shorter intake manifold. The only one that shaves off an inch of deck height is a single plenum set up, not meant for lower RPM work. The single deck works best for the high RPM/high flow big blocks??? Not suitable for the low RPM/high torque of the HT-502.

The Holley carb is probably not any taller than other carb models. The air cleaner is a pancake style, not much to shave off, there.

So close to driving it away.... straight to the Airstream shop, for new front spring replacements. Wanna get rid of the front airbags. The rears will be shot, too. They know I'm coming, get their parts sourcing guy warmed up! Ball joints, rod ends, brakes, too. Kills me to pay someone else to do those things, but I'm not going over the Sierra Nevadas until I know I stop, coming down the other side.

Then it's north, to the new place in South Dakota. Where I can start tackling the rest.

So... any pics of a doghouse, or other words of wisdom to lower the air cleaner by an inch, would be greatly appreciated!!

Cheers!

[weirdstuff]

I guess you're talking about something technical. HOWEVER...I clicked on this thread, hoping to see photos of a really really large, cute dog!!

[tevake]

I wonder if you can find a snorkel to put on top of the carb to move the air cleaner to the side or front somewhere there is more room for it.

Interested in performance report on the new big dog.

Cheers Richard

[PKI]

Agree - snorkel - low profile custom aluminum fabricated air transition on carb - oval tube and flex hose to air box with high quality paper filter to clean the air.

Temp system will work until you can configure an efficient configuration that looks good. Take care to not create a backfire hazard with your assembly.

Good luck - Pat

[xrvr]

What's a 502?

[OTRA15]

Probably the motorhome's engine size?

[martin300662]

Take a look at Brad's Argosy thread that shows his install of a snorkel/remote air filter, but also Chiefair's thread on his 502 swap.

But a word of advice from someone that has gone through this....your motorhome is a truck, anything mechanical go to a Chevy truck shop, the Airstream guys will know nothing about motorhome mechanicals asking them to work on suspension/steering worse than asking a regular auto shop.

[bkahler]

Like Martin said, take a look at my rebuild thread starting at post # 860. I totally rebuilt my doghouse from the floor up.

To get you by you might be able to use a low profile air plenum. I have it's taller brother on my 454. You'll need to add the intake hose and remote filter and you can see examples of that as well in my thread.

Good luck!

Brad

[Mollysdad]

How about a lower profile air cleaner, like used on street rods?

[romeb]

different height air cleaners are available from stock car racing suppliers like speedwaymotors.com or cmwraceparts.com....If you were closer I have a carton full of different size air cleaner housings and filters

[Swillv8]

Take to a welding shop down the road have a bump up installed half a day of shop rate it's $20 of material Change it when you get home or plan a nice bump up and pay for a couple hrs extra. Buying different carbs, intakes or other stuff I'd think would be more.

I have friends that are welders that could get that done in an hr