Of all the photos you posted, I'd say the Mercedes in #7 has the best flow of them all. That one just kind of oozes right out of the hood while the others are just a bit more lumpy. Hell, if it weren't for that mesh you'd have to do a double take to tell it was there. It looks like it comes to a point toward the back of the blister. Perhaps something like that on the 37 (or whatever year Clarence has) but turned around so it starts with the point and then widens and follows the lines of the hood?
Could you (I mean your distant cousin's uncle) do a blister/bubble in black "Bonneville style" that is held on with dzus fasteners? 6 of them around the edge and then when you wanted to 'let her breath', you could take it off for a completely different look or even have a different style blister/scoop that you could put on via the dzus fasteners? Something to think about.
I cut up a '55 T-bird hood and welded the scoop into my friend's shoebox about a month ago. Looks really good on there, mirrors the split windshield and the shape of the top of the grille nicely, not sure it'd look right on a late 30's car though.
Nobody want's to say their wife looks "different" The headlight bucket is probably the best solution. It would be cool to incorporate a T Bird scoop grill into it somehow.
If Clarence just needs clearance, then he does not want a 'scoop.' Scoops cause drag, particularly front-facing scoops. Requiring clearance but not an air source is asking for a bubble. Bubbles are traditional.
I like the Tbird one personally. Will this be out of a specific era you are going for though? The headlight bucket idea is a good one too. I would look around your garage/shop for inspiration. You know you are surrounded by shapes and items you enjoy and admire.
Interesting challenge. This will be a slightly long-winded response. I had a tall engine in my '36, but I wanted a stealth installation. The result is a little difficult to see here, but it's a long flat plenum mounted to the tops of the carbs and extending to the rear, with a paper element air filter mounted upside down to the rear of the plenum. If Clarence's '37/38/39 were MINE, I'd probably do this again: I do like airscoops on certain cars, such as this GTO scoop or the T-Bird scoop that you offered, Ryan. I think they're too modern and taper in the wrong direction for a prewar Ford hood, though: Larry Mitchell, who built my T, used this off-the-shelf boat scoop for clearance. This could work for Clarence, pointed to the rear like this or to the front: (shortbus photo) You showed an Allard scoop in your post, but I think that one is too wide. Google Allard J2 images for a huge selection of scoops and bubbles; I like this one the best. It's a nice size for a car the size of a Ford, but I'd turn it around so the grille is at the front: If Clarence can't hide his engine and really needs a bump, I'd pick the Allard one.
The first one that you have pictured.Cowl induction would look to Camaro-ish,something reminiscent of the era would work better.
I agree that a bubble without an opening would also work well. Don Dillard sells pre-formed bubbles exactly like the one in Just Gary's post.
If the engine can't be mounted 2" lower, can it be dropped AT ALL? also, Does Clarence need 2 inches with the air cleaners on the carbs? What carbs anyway? Seems like a couple guys as crafty as Clarence and Co. would be able to find a couple inches somewhere? But sometimes, It is what it is...
I've also seen dudes notch their oil pan to tuck it down tighter to the crossmember, But Im not sure what kinda room there is in the basement of a Y-block for that kinda thing..
This will give you an idea of the great lengths that Clarence has gone to in order to get the motor as low in the chassis as possible.
Damned cousins' uncles' roommates! They're always the ones with such a special, close-to-the-heart project. The kind of project SO secretive that NOBODY will get a glimpse nor detail until the Grand Un-veiling, PROMISE! Sworn and committed to "top secret" status. But it SOOOOOOO cool that......well, just maybe a teeeeny hint, but ABSOLUTELY nothing more. Gotta thank YOU, Ryan, for "trying" to help 'Clarence', and US, with the latest "SCOOP"! DD
I don't know if there's something wrong with me but I just read through this whole post thinking Clarence was a real guy.. Gee.
ryan, it looks like the main problem Clarence is having here is that the engine is actually under the chassis, and vertically mounted. youll need a lift kit. also you may want to inform him that engines go on top of chassis...and horizontaly, (unless you run a dry sump oil system)
I'm for the bubble. Something made from contemporary parts, like Jeff suggests would be a traditional and cool solution.
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