Well, all I can say is that the intake doesn't sit at an angle causing the hood to rub on the lift cylinder (strut) or to bind on the filter or tube any more. The assembly is now "level" and doesn't look like it was jammed in there. The bolt that fastens the support will not come loose every few days (courthouse deb knows what I'm talking about) from the valve cover, causing the bracket to rub a groove on the ignition coil housing. And given the fact that the bolt would never stay tight, and the CGS was always loose, there would have been "flex" in the elbow anyway. So If the elbow happens to wear out, I will goto the dealer and pull $17.89 out of my pocket and simply buy a new one. I could always save that money too if I put on my factory air box take it to the dealer and get it replaced under warranty. So wost case senerio I replace the air cleaner outlet duct (elbow) for $17.89 plus tax. It is still better than having to replace the hood pad insulator ($33.67) which is harder and would take more time, the ignition coil housing ($23.56) which would take more time to replace than the elbow, and hoping in time that it doesn't damage the coil ($77.63) which would take even more time, and possibly the hood support strut ($13.72) after a period of it rubbing on the intake. To me the benefits (present and future) far out weigh the one negitive.......Regards

 

I wondered if anyone had that same problem of rubbing on the hood shock.
I was planning on grinding off that bracket and rewelding a new support, and connecting to the mounting point on the back of the engine like that.

 

My alignment of the tube was so bad, the hood shock would actually disconnect from the top part of the hood. And you could tell that it was binding, because when you would "pop" the hood it took alot more force than usual......G/L with your project and post pics when you are done........Regards