I have not even thought about how to deal with (or, without) the fender brace. I just removed it with the Rochester set-up. Maybe Sweet will remind us about how he did it.

I looked at my three trucks and their fender-to-firewall rods. The rods on each side are the same length and they attach symmetrically to the fenders/inner-fenders. However, I like Warren's idea about attaching the manifold-side rod one or two bolts rearwards (rather than bending the rod or eliminating the rod. I might have to cut and re-thread the rod but that is not a problem.

Here are some photos of the Carter-Weber "mock-up":

Carter-Weber set-up on the bench

Another view of the Carter-Weber set-up - the o-ring seal for air cleaner on right can be seen

Oil-bath air cleaner guts


Tim
1954Advance-Design.com
1954 3106 Carryall Suburban
1954 3104 5-window pickup w/Hydra-Matic
The 216 and early 235 engines are not "splash oilers" -- this is a splash oiler.