Fresh air duct installation - help

[paolotvl]

Hello everybody,

My 1987 Custom Deluxe was missing the fresh air duct from the air box to the radiator side. So I found it on LMC and ordered it. I just got it and I tried to install it. I bought the correct one (26", the longer one) but it seems too short, by at least 2-3". I tried to stretch it a little bit, but it is a little stiff. Looking at the engine bay trying to figure out what the problem was I noticed that the air box outlet is straight to the side. It is at 90 degrees to the engine, normal to the right side of the truck. Is it possible the the air box Instead should be rotated about 45 degrees so that the air duct would not have to do 90 degree elbow to connect to the connection on the side of the radiator ??
Thank you for your help.