I am having difficulty passing inspection in Texas due to not having a carb pre-heater (Thermac and heat stove) on my 71 Malibu convert. I have a free-flow air cleaner and cannot fit the original air cleaner back on due to clearance problems after conversion to HEI. Also I have headers so no temporary heat stove possible that I can think of. How are the rest of you guys with this challenge dealing with this? Texas is not the only state with a visual emssisons test. Failing other options, anyone know a lenient inspection station in the northern Houston area? My car is not exactly a stealth-mobile and I'm just waiting to get stopped by The Man for an expired sticker.

I wen to the salvage yard found a small diameter aircleaner for a 4bl carb to clear the HEI. For the heat riser I had a piece of tubing saddle cut so that it would sit on a header tube, ground two small slits in it so that I could hold it place with a hose clamp.this alows me have the tube inplace for inspection.

After inspection all this comes off.

Thanks Awesome502. Question: Was the small piece of saddle cut tubing closed at the ends? What did you use to connect with the air cleaner, flexible tubing, or did you use the uptube from the junkyard donor? Thanks.

Thanks Awesome502. Question: Was the small piece of saddle cut tubing closed at the ends? What did you use to connect with the air cleaner, flexible tubing, or did you use the uptube from the junkyard donor? Thanks.

I will hazzard a guess and say the saddle adapter is just a piece of header sized tubing about 3" to 4" long cut, (about long enough so two hose clamps will fit), in half down it's length with a fishmouthed piece of short pipe the size of your flex tubing welded to it's back. Probably about 1" to 1.5" long or just enough to clamp the flex tubing to.

This should work just fine to make a stove to help you pass a visual if they don't get "stock parts" nit-picky!!!

I lucked out here in MO, b/c '67 is the last year that you could run one without a stovepipe!!! The Inspector even commented about my car being a '67 to be able to run an open element air cleaner!!!pdq67

pdq67 hit the nail on the head. I have had it inspected three times with no problems.

Thanks for the advice guys. I had visualized differently before pdq67's description. Just had the epiphany moment. What a great idea Team Chevelle is !