HEI/Air Cleaner clearance - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

71Blazer · 04-12-2004, 09:27 PM

Has anyone with HEI had trouble getting their air cleaner to fit?

I have Edelbrock Performer carb on a Performer RPM manifold. I want it to clear a Hypertech HEI distributor.

I see they sell an offset base to move the whole thing forward but I wanted to know if this is necessary before I buy one.

These are common parts. With a little luck someone out there has the exact same setup...

454_72_4X4 · 04-12-2004, 09:42 PM

I run an RPM intake on my S-10, (750 Holley though), and a dropped base 14 in. air cleaner. It's tight and it will fit but I don't have the plug wire retainer on top of the cap either. With the plug wire retainer you might have to remove some of the front side of the retainer.

If you have an aircleaner without the dropped base you shouldn't have any clearance problems at all.

71Blazer · 04-12-2004, 10:15 PM

Thanks for the reply! Time to bust out the tape measure...

stepside454 · 04-12-2004, 10:38 PM

mine fits, but it is a regular performer

454_72_4X4 · 04-12-2004, 10:50 PM

Hey stepside454, those valve covers sure look awful wide for a small block!!

Longhorn Man · 04-12-2004, 11:36 PM

I have a performer RPM intake, with a performer 750 electric choke (can't remember the 1400 number) and HEI. With the dropped baseEdelbrock signiture series air filter, I had to use a spacer, not for HEI clearance, but to clear the fuel line. I grabbed one from a late 70's early 80's small block van, sand blasted it and painted it black. If there are no vans in your wrecking yard, you can get plastic spacers at Jegs for minimal cash. (Had one, but a carb fire claimed it's life)

stepside454 · 04-13-2004, 12:25 AM

sorry, I didnt see any referance to small block, but actually, that wouldnt make any differance. John

454_72_4X4 · 04-13-2004, 12:37 AM

You're right. I didn't see any thing about a small block either.
I was just funnin!

But a big block does have more room between the carb and the dist.

acloco · 04-13-2004, 01:23 AM

71Blazer,
Check the engine pics....I used a 1/2" spacer on top of a performer RPM, Carter 625, and a drop base air cleaner. Plenty of room.

www.acloco.com/charleetruck.html

jorgensensc · 04-13-2004, 02:08 PM

I have a Edelbrock RPM air gap with accel HEI. I had to trim the top of the wire retainer a little and also had to ad a 1/2" spacer to the top of the 1406 Carb. My problem was I was hitting the vacuum advance. Works good now.

71Blazer · 04-13-2004, 04:53 PM

Thanks for the input. Acloco, your project is looking good! I'm going to take a chance and go with the "normal" and not the "offset" for HEI. I don't like the look of the air cleaner sitting so far in front of the carb with the offset style. Wouldn't be the first time I had to trim something to fit.

04-12-2004, 09:27 PM	#1
71Blazer Goodbye Darlin' Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Coupeville, WA USA Posts: 330	HEI/Air Cleaner clearance Has anyone with HEI had trouble getting their air cleaner to fit? I have Edelbrock Performer carb on a Performer RPM manifold. I want it to clear a Hypertech HEI distributor. I see they sell an offset base to move the whole thing forward but I wanted to know if this is necessary before I buy one. These are common parts. With a little luck someone out there has the exact same setup... __________________ 1971 Blazer CST SOLD!

04-12-2004, 09:42 PM	#2
454_72_4X4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: N.E. MO Posts: 1,749	I run an RPM intake on my S-10, (750 Holley though), and a dropped base 14 in. air cleaner. It's tight and it will fit but I don't have the plug wire retainer on top of the cap either. With the plug wire retainer you might have to remove some of the front side of the retainer. If you have an aircleaner without the dropped base you shouldn't have any clearance problems at all. __________________ 72 C20 4X4 454 4 speed 89 Trans Am (was) 305 TPI 700r4 93 C1500 2wd Extended cab 350 700r4 98 Sonoma (TPI outa the Trans Am) 03 Yamaha 660 Raptor 03/04 660 Raptor 07 700 Raptor 85 Honda Odyssey

04-12-2004, 10:15 PM	#3
71Blazer Goodbye Darlin' Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Coupeville, WA USA Posts: 330	Thanks for the reply! Time to bust out the tape measure... __________________ 1971 Blazer CST SOLD!

04-12-2004, 10:38 PM	#4
stepside454 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: st. louis area Posts: 1,551	mine fits, but it is a regular performer __________________ 75 GMC C-15 short/step factory 454, lowered

04-12-2004, 10:50 PM	#5
454_72_4X4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: N.E. MO Posts: 1,749	Hey stepside454, those valve covers sure look awful wide for a small block!! __________________ 72 C20 4X4 454 4 speed 89 Trans Am (was) 305 TPI 700r4 93 C1500 2wd Extended cab 350 700r4 98 Sonoma (TPI outa the Trans Am) 03 Yamaha 660 Raptor 03/04 660 Raptor 07 700 Raptor 85 Honda Odyssey

04-12-2004, 11:36 PM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	I have a performer RPM intake, with a performer 750 electric choke (can't remember the 1400 number) and HEI. With the dropped baseEdelbrock signiture series air filter, I had to use a spacer, not for HEI clearance, but to clear the fuel line. I grabbed one from a late 70's early 80's small block van, sand blasted it and painted it black. If there are no vans in your wrecking yard, you can get plastic spacers at Jegs for minimal cash. (Had one, but a carb fire claimed it's life)

04-13-2004, 12:25 AM	#7
stepside454 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: st. louis area Posts: 1,551	sorry, I didnt see any referance to small block, but actually, that wouldnt make any differance. John __________________ 75 GMC C-15 short/step factory 454, lowered

04-13-2004, 12:37 AM	#8
454_72_4X4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: N.E. MO Posts: 1,749	You're right. I didn't see any thing about a small block either. I was just funnin! But a big block does have more room between the carb and the dist. __________________ 72 C20 4X4 454 4 speed 89 Trans Am (was) 305 TPI 700r4 93 C1500 2wd Extended cab 350 700r4 98 Sonoma (TPI outa the Trans Am) 03 Yamaha 660 Raptor 03/04 660 Raptor 07 700 Raptor 85 Honda Odyssey

04-13-2004, 01:23 AM	#9
acloco Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Nebraska Posts: 335	71Blazer, Check the engine pics....I used a 1/2" spacer on top of a performer RPM, Carter 625, and a drop base air cleaner. Plenty of room. www.acloco.com/charleetruck.html

04-13-2004, 02:08 PM	#10
jorgensensc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cypress, Tx Posts: 4,005	I have a Edelbrock RPM air gap with accel HEI. I had to trim the top of the wire retainer a little and also had to ad a 1/2" spacer to the top of the 1406 Carb. My problem was I was hitting the vacuum advance. Works good now. __________________ 1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE

04-13-2004, 04:53 PM	#11
71Blazer Goodbye Darlin' Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Coupeville, WA USA Posts: 330	Thanks for the input. Acloco, your project is looking good! I'm going to take a chance and go with the "normal" and not the "offset" for HEI. I don't like the look of the air cleaner sitting so far in front of the carb with the offset style. Wouldn't be the first time I had to trim something to fit. __________________ 1971 Blazer CST SOLD!

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