Plan on installing HEI in 69 Cutlass does the air cleaner housing need to be modified for clearance?
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If it interferes a 1/2" spacer should do the trick

 

On an SBO, yes it will hit. Mid-70s cars alternately used an offset air cleaner or a notched air cleaner. As noted, a spacer between the air cleaner housing and carb air horn also fixes the problem.

 

Thanks - easy enough

 

My '69 4-4-2 has an HEI and full factory air cleaner assembly. No modifications and no clearance issues. If anything, I would guess that there would be more space with the SBO assembly.

 

You would guess wrong.

The distributor is in exactly the same place relative to the cam on both SBO and BBO, but the taller BBO deck height means that the carb is about an inch higher on the BBO (Toronado intakes excepted). That's why I specifically said that there was a clearance problem on SBOs.

 

As my dad says, "Well, I be go-to-hell!"