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View Full Version : Hiding the EFI for Vintage looks


EASYGEAR
01-17-2012, 08:18 PM
Hey everyone * i am new at this place and still want to dig through everything, just thought i introduce my project first. Also i am in desperate need for a solution to give the EFI the most possible vintage look.

I am starting off with a 1982 Corvette frame. The frame gets some boxing and a full welding instead of the stitch welds. Reason is the engine that is going to get in there already bended another C3 frame. Then there are coil overs at all corners, light weight control arms, stronger trailing arms, axles and a 4.11 iron rear end. Brakes are Wilwoods with a hydroboost. Steering not sure yet, i maybe go with the new Flaming River center steer rack.

The body retains the pop-up rear glass from the 82`s Collector Edition, but anything else is handmade custom-fit as it got Chrome bumpers front and rear along with nicely flared side panels to get the 335`s in there.

The motor is a forged 416 LS 3, gears are T-56 . Intake manifold is a FAST LSx 102.

Well, way overboard if one thinks i originally only wanted another motor.

Now i need to hide that modern looking EFI as much as possible. I never intended to do so, but regulations in my country don`t actually allow the modern engine to achive historic car plates for my 82, that is something similar to the antique plates in the US.
I don`t want to go carb again, as gas prices in Germany are killing and for other reasons as well. Also i already got the programming for this setup and i love the modern system in vintage cars.

A few weeks ago i have seen a kit with an old school air cleaner on top of the EFI, the front mouth opening of the LS manifold was rerouted to the bottom of the overtop air-cleaner. At that time i wasn`t interested in that conversion so i didn`t notice who was the seller. I think it has been some new product introduction at the SEMA.
It wasn`t as huge as the SEMA news overtop aircleaner prototype from Spectre which is way to high for the low hood appearance i want.

For what i want the best solution would be some long oval air cleaner that covers as much as possible from the entire intake, with a bottom base hugging the shape of the intake, maybe even hides the fuel rails and having the intakes front mouth routed up directly.
Sounds like i need something custom fabricated if it can be done at all.

But maybe anyone has seen the similar kit i mentioned above or knows something else ?

bczee
01-17-2012, 08:54 PM
The air cleaner sounds like my custom setup that I designed and built over 5-6 years ago. my setup was the most Carb/Cowl Induction look a-like and most people are fooled into thinking is is a carb setup..

There is not one else that i know of or have seen any pictures of anyone else. But then again. SEMA was just over not too long ago ..!?

You can see it in my built thread on Cardomain.. Here are a few pictures.. hopes this help ya... maybe add some SBC valve covers to hide the coils !

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z296/BajaCruz-in/71%20LS1%20Chevelle/DSC_3597.jpg

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z296/BajaCruz-in/71%20LS1%20Chevelle/DCP_3891.jpg

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z296/BajaCruz-in/71%20LS1%20Chevelle/DSC_3598.jpg

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z296/BajaCruz-in/71%20LS1%20Chevelle/DCP_3888.jpg

BC

EASYGEAR
01-17-2012, 10:12 PM
Hello bczee,
thanks for your pictures. That big ground plate works good in camouflaging the intake.

Doing so with a long oval air cleaner - there is a finned version from Moon in 17" x 9" - could hide it even more if done with a big ground plate like yours.
Although i do not have an airbox like your hood has, that rubber sealing makes it look like it was intended for an airbox and so it doesn`t look like the ground plate is just for hiding.
So i got a good idea now from your pictures for a ground plate with rubber sealing.

In the Hot Rod magazine was written the LS manifolds can be turned around - imagine i had more space between the firewall and the engine, then i could have the air inlet and the hoses almost completely out of sight.

For the Valve covers, i will have the coils relocated and out of sight, there are some finned old style covers on the motor.

Thanks again !

bczee
01-17-2012, 10:29 PM
Yes.. the intened goal was to mate the LS1 engine EFI to the Chevelle Cowl Induction hood. It is fully functional as a stock hood and intake would be for a OEM 70-72 Cowl Induction Hood. All vacumm and electrical solenoid and flapper work as Chevy designed them. The seal is an OEM / Repo seal.

If you have enough room, yeah.. flipping the intake and fuel rail could hide even more of the tubing and other parts of the EFI and all. If you noticed my fuel rail is flipped 180 degee ..making the inlet on the Passenger side as a stock chevy might usually be for the car.

Hide the coil below or in the cab. let me know what you come up with.. keep me posted..

BC

Vetteman61
04-11-2012, 03:41 AM
That's awesome. I'm wanting to do something similar on my '37 Chevrolet. I'd like to mount a fake air cleaner up there to hide the EFI and I had considered making it functional as well.


Brandon