Whipple Owners - Hood Clearance Problems!

[Vapour Trails]

Have you ever had a problem with the Whipple CAI tube or airbox rubbing the hood?

Since day one my intake tube has rubbed the underside of the hood (liner removed!). I’ve spent hours trying to reposition it with no luck. The main problem seems to be the connection between the fuel rail and the fuel supply line. That connection is directly below the intake tube, a couple inches from the throttle body. That connection keeps the intake from having a more downward angle towards the front of the car, and thus clearing the hood. Right now the intake sits touching the connection. I’m afraid of bending the fuel rail tube for fear of creating a fuel leak now or later on that will burn the car down.

FYI I have adjusted the hood height as much as possible, I can barely close it and get it to latch it is sitting so high, yet it still fucking rubs!

As for the airbox, it is positioned correctly with the rubber gommets installed in the factory position, yet it rubs the hood and has made an indention on the underside. I even removed the bracket that secures it in place to get it to sit lower and it still fucking rubs! There no point getting it fixed and repainted if I can’t figure out how to get it to clear.

I cannot understand what the fuck is up with my car, it’s like the engine sits higher than other S197s. Will different engine mounts lower the engine?

 

[killr3v]

Yeah you can always purchase poly engine mounts to drop the engine a bit. I don't see why it should still be rubbing if you removed the liner, and the bracket for the CAI. Have you tried moving shit around underneath? I thought there was supposed to be a bend under the CAI for the fuel rails/regulator?

 

[loots06]

I had the same problem. The cause of the problem it seems to be the larger injector, if in fact your running them instead of the supplied 38's. You can fix the problem as you noted by bending the fuel connection under the intake tube. I also took out the heat sheild and have not any problems since then.

The best options to resolve the issue without doing any of the above is getting short motors mounts, Lethal Performance, or by getting a shorty style injectors. I'll be installing the heat sheild soon as I now have a cowl hood and dont expect any other problems.

 

[smeltz]

I wish I could help, but I have no clearence issues with mine. Has the car ever been wrecked? How old is the whipple? Have you talked to Whipple and see if they have any ideas?

 

[BlownAway05]

hmmm, odd. I have no problems at all with mine (hood liner is still installed too).

 

[Liftedbronco]

no problems wiht mine either. but i have whatever injectors the frpp kit came with. not sure how injectors effect engine height. can someone enlighten me?

 

[Vapour Trails]

I'm using the shorty injectors included with the kit.

Taller injectors would cause the fuel rail to sit higher, but that's not the issue here.

So loots6, you bent the fuel rail connection down w/o issues?

 

[Liftedbronco]

ooooh, higher rail = higher fuel line hump thing that gets in the way of the air intake tube. word.

 

[loots06]

I'm using the shorty injectors included with the kit.

Taller injectors would cause the fuel rail to sit higher, but that's not the issue here.

So loots6, you bent the fuel rail connection down w/o issues?

Yes, I did. There is a thin piece of metal comming off the fuel rail that connects to the fuel sending unit, I bent that piece down and away. Be very careful as you do not want to crack the fuel line connection, looks like a little silver piece or cause it to come loose and leak fuel. This would cause a car-b-que..

 

[Liberty911]

Do the CAI tube and airbox both hit the hood?

Can you post some pics? Something is up. There is a dimple in the underside of the CAI tube at the fuel connection location, right?

If there is a dimple in the CAI tube, then my guess would be an error in the manufacturing of the airbox that is throwing things off. This would cause both the airbox and CAI tube to be raised causing the rubbing.

There are other motor mounts that will lower the motor, but then you will have the drive train noise issue. I would want to solve the current problem before throwing more parts at the problem.

 

[*JZ*]

We offer a 3 way adjustable motor mount set.

It allows for 1/4" - 1/2" - 3/4" drop of the motor. So you won't have this problem anymore.

 

[Vapour Trails]

Do the CAI tube and airbox both hit the hood?

Correct

There is a dimple in the underside of the CAI tube at the fuel connection location, right?

There is a divot in the intake tube for the fuel pressure sensor, and that lines up well, but there is no divot for the fuel line connection as far as I can remember.

Although I installed my kit one year ago, it is an older kit. It sat on the set at a local ford dealership for 18 months before I bought it. It was manufacutured in late 2007/early 2008. It's possible later kits were improved for fitment.

I'll get some pics, because those are worth a thousand words.

 

[explict]

Mine rubbed too. I bought a new hood.
I was also thinking when I bought my fuel rails about switching the rails around putting the pickup rail on the passenger side. Not sure if this would affect pressure or anything, I doubt it. I may do this over the winter for I have other plans....

 

[loots06]

You could find out if its a Gen I just by checking the serial number if it starts with W3A then its a Gen 1.

 

[2BlownStangs]

I had no issue with mine either, in fact I was running that Steeda strut brace as well with the OEM hood back in 2008. I removed the hood liner for that just in case though.

 

[W1ldcat]

I have a Gen. 1 on a 06 with no problems.

 

[69Mach1-409]

No rubbing issues here and I have the hoodliner on as well.

Pics?