Thanks Damon!
The rest of my parts for the engine arrived while I was at the weekly cruise last night! I'll get the carbs pulled and install the wedges today, and maybe play with the exhaust system parts. Then I can see how the scoop will finally sit.

 

Now to find a plate that covers the end that reads "mouse trap."

 

Might kinda restrict air intake.

 

Probably.

 

With the scoop sitting higher I had to open up the firewall all the way to the rear edge of the hood. That gave me clearance, but also caused the hood to flex and sag while opeing and closing the frontend. Had to come up with a solution to keep things ridgid, so here's what I did.
I got some old 1/4" rod out of my stash and bent it with an offset to make the edge back near the cowl. Then I also bent it slightly rounded to elevate it in the middle. I then ground the ends flat so they would slide into the recess between the hood and the hood sub structure underneath. Once I had it test fitted and was sure it would go in and clear, I drilled 4 holes in the hood in line with the new rod support. Slid the rod in place and plug welded the holes to the hood. After that I ground them smooth and shot the hood with some satin black to match.


Next I made up some braces for the underside that will go between the hood and the side panels and connect to existing bolts. I used 1/4" all thread rod for this, and a couple brackets I fabbed from scraps. Prefitted the length to know what they would be when tight and cut some aluminum tubing from my old antenna on the house that I recently removed during the roofing. Slid the tubing over the rod and bolted it in place, then I adjusted it to be snug and locked it down.


It's all very solid now, and the rear support just clears the scoop when tilting the frontend. Next project is to make a round raised lip at the edge of the opening to dress the edge and eliminate the sharp hood edge. I also want to cover the edge of the cowl that's exposed with some smooth sheetmetal that wraps the area and cleans it up.

 

Pay attention kids. This is hot rodding. Can't always open a catalog to get what you need, don't have to either.

 

Thanks Damon! Almost tossed that old antenna out, but decided the aluminum tubing might be handy for car projects. Usually takes years to use the stuff I hoard, but I'm using this stuff up quickly on my car, and some friends's cars!

 

LOL I have such a hard time throwing stuff away. I always have some dodad that I think I'll use some day. Sometimes I do mostly I don't. Funny thing is I hate to reuse hardware. I always toss it because I can grab what I need usually from work.

 

I can't tell you how many good used starters, water pumps, alternators, etc. that I have, but when one goes out I always hate to put in a used, so I go get a new one. I've even offered them to friends who needed one, and they always thank me, but want a new one too.
I gotta give this crap to a friend to scrap out!

 

I think I have three alterator, a water pump and two dizzys on the shelf. But after getting the 86 rom my brother everything is now back up for that motor. I need a Holley carb though. This Q jet is starting to give up the ghost. Then I 'll do and intake and stab one of my other dizzys with a performance module and Accel super coil. Should wake that 305 up some.