I posted this in "body shop" also, but thought there might be some of you here who have done this....

I will be installing a Harwood 4" Outlaw scoop on my original '70 non-cowl hood this weekend. I was planning on cutting out the round hole that is formed by the factory underhood framing and getting my air cleaner as high as possible to get some of that cooler air above the hood. This would not disturb any of the structural framing of the hood and would provide some functionality to the scoop. Should I go ahead and cut this hole ?
http://users.ev1.net/~jaaustin/chevelle/hood_primed_bot.jpg

Before you make the cut, measure down your fenders from the rear and pull a string across the engine bay, line up the string with your aircleaner mounting stud and at equal distances from the rear of each fender. You now have some references measurementwise to see if the carb stud actually is in the center of the hood bracing circle. Just measure the hood from the rear corners the same distance as the fenders and pull a string across to see how close to center the stud will be. If your front sheetmetal isn't square this will also effect where the stud ends up in relation to the hood. The last one I did was on a 78 malibu with a BB transplant and it was off from hood center by over an inch! If I were you I'd make the first cut small maybe with a 1" holesaw and trial fit before the full cut. Good luck, graemlins/beers.gif

Originally posted by baddbob71:
Before you make the cut, measure down your fenders from the rear and pull a string across the engine bay, line up the string with your aircleaner mounting stud and at equal distances from the rear of each fender. You now have some references measurementwise to see if the carb stud actually is in the center of the hood bracing circle. Just measure the hood from the rear corners the same distance as the fenders and pull a string across to see how close to center the stud will be. If your front sheetmetal isn't square this will also effect where the stud ends up in relation to the hood. The last one I did was on a 78 malibu with a BB transplant and it was off from hood center by over an inch! If I were you I'd make the first cut small maybe with a 1" holesaw and trial fit before the full cut. Good luck, graemlins/beers.gif Bob,

I appreciate the advice and it is very good advice. The only problem is that all this (cutting the hole and mounting the scoop) will be done while the front clip is off and the motor is at the machine shop getting bored.... :rolleyes:
http://users.ev1.net/~jaaustin/chevelle/firewall_cortez.jpg
If I go ahead and cut the circle out of the factory location I will have an opening in which an air cleaner of some size can fit into, right ? Or do the opening and air cleaner have to "match" or be "centered" the way you have described?
Thanks for your advice graemlins/thumbsup.gif

i would not cut the hole yet..........if at all wait until the motor combination is installed.........im sure it would be ok if you was going to a stock style set up with factory type air cleaner assy.

but if your combo is modified then the center of the hole can be anywhere....aftermarket intakes place the carb in different places then stock........if you was putting in a big block or small block then that makes for different location......

i have in the past always cut my holes after the engine was installed with the aircleaner i was going to run..............i would use a extra long carb stud and shut the hood on it to give it alittle scratch mark to measure of off........

then i would cut the hole just big enough to clear the filter set up and run just enough clearence on the pass. side for engine torque movement........

even with a fresh hood that has been painted i use tape on the hood to allow myself to run the sawsall along to keep from scratching the paint...........