Installed HEI Now My Air Cleaner Doesn't Fit

[JimQ]

Looking for ideas guys. As the title says, I installed one of those Skip White eBay specials (HEI distributor) and now my factory air cleaner doesn't fit.

It's a '64 K20 with a '66 327 transplant. The 327 has the std 2 barrel Rochester 2GC carb. I really don't want to use one of those after-market chrome jobs. Chrome just doesn't belong this truck if you know what I mean.

Any ideas for me?

BTW - Just for the sake of others considering the HEI swap, I had to persuade the firewall with a ball-peen to convince it to allow the distributor to drop into the block. It was close!

Now that I think about it, I wish I would have tried a floor jack under the transmission to tip the engine forward just enough to allow the distributor to drop in. That probably would have worked. Oh well.

Runs like a different truck now! Easier starts, more power, no random pinging! Well worth the time and money to get rid of the points.

She needs an air cleaner though!

Thanks,

Q

[Pop's C-10]

Have thought about dimpling tha backside of tha air cleaner..

[65Gregg]

Raise the air cleaner with a spacer, that worked for me..but mine is a 4 barrel.

[protrash64]

Offset the air cleaner base by moving the mount area; if you're into sheetmetal work.

[forestb]

I just put a spacer on mine but it is 4 barrel. I have also seen the bottom plate for an air filter with an offset hole in the jegs or summit catalog. You might also be able to make your own spacer out of a abs plastic pipe if they make them the right size.

[Rich 5150 69]

Originally Posted by JimQ

BTW - Just for the sake of others considering the HEI swap, I had to persuade the firewall with a ball-peen to convince it to allow the distributor to drop into the block. It was close!
Thanks,

Q

You really didnot have to dimple the fire wall, by installing the dizzy first without the cap, and then putting the cap on they fit, close but fits as far as the air cleaner you`ll probably have to notch to clear.

[Captainfab]

On both counts......

[JimQ]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

On both counts......

Sorry guys, have to disagree with you both. It was ooooooh so close but it didn't want to drop in. Only needed maybe another .250". Cap came off first. You'd have to get pretty lucky to drop the distrubutor in with the cap on and hope the rotor lined up with #1.

Like I said earlier, In hindsight, I wish I would have put a floor jack under the tranny to try and tip the motor forward a bit.

This was originally a 6cyl truck. The PO dropped in a 327. Maybe the motor mounts are different than a factory 327. Or, maybe my cab mounts are so rusted that the can has shifted a bit. Judging by the amount of rust I have down there, sadly, that's probably the problem.

Q

[63sbssbbw]

Find a stock air cleaner assy from a vehicle with HEI,it will already be notched
T

[andyh1956]

i had the same problem- 327 two bbl & added an hei. my solution was to take the "dimple" area from the bottom section of a q-jet air cleaner & graft it to the bottom section of the 327 air cleaner. worked for me!
andy

[notrailerqueens]

i ran into the same issue i got a 4 barrell with an hei, even though im running an after market cold air intake set up now you can go to o'reillys or auto zone and pick up a spacer kit (around $10) and it comes with 4 dif sizes of spacers. they work really good and are affordable if you dont wanna go into doing some fab work your self.