1969 Shelby Clone engine clearance problem

I have been building a 1969 Shelby Convertible clone (10 year project!) and have run into an issue with the 1969 Shelby hood! Now that the 351W engine in is place in the engine bay and the factory air conditioning is bolted in place, the hood when lowered to close hits the top AC bracket that holds the compressor in place.

I have checked all the manuals and appear to have the correct brackets for this 351W AC system and also checked the engine mounts to make sure the engine is not sitting too tall in the engine compartment - all appears to be correct.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Thank you!  

What hood are you using? '69/'70 A/C equipped Shelby's got the hood with louvers at the rear for under hood heat venting. Could you perhaps have a hood without the proper height? Or the underside liner is too far from the top surface of the fiberglass?

The 351W is an inch taller, but the mounts should be the same...

HTH...
Mark  
Mark Houlahan
Editor
Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

1965 FFR Roadster 427W/TKO-600
1966 Mustang 289-4V/C4
1968 Mustang 4.6L Three-Valve/5R55S auto
1990 Mustang 347/AOD
1998 Escort 2.0L SOHC/F4E-111 Auto
2002 Explorer Sport Trac 4.0L V-6/5R55 Auto

The hood is a Tony Branda hood - I have not actually seen the hood you are referring to with louvers - did not know that there were 2 different hoods used on these 69/70 Shelby's!

I checked the Branda website and they have 2 hoods - but no reference to AC and Non-AC. They only state 2 quality levels of fiberglass as the difference.  

Oh, brain fart, I was thinking of '67/'68 Shelby and the A/C louvers...

The '69/'70 all used the same hood...

Sorry, back to square one I guess...

Mark  
Mark Houlahan
Editor
Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

1965 FFR Roadster 427W/TKO-600
1966 Mustang 289-4V/C4
1968 Mustang 4.6L Three-Valve/5R55S auto
1990 Mustang 347/AOD
1998 Escort 2.0L SOHC/F4E-111 Auto
2002 Explorer Sport Trac 4.0L V-6/5R55 Auto