Reply to "anyone have vintage engine compartment photos to share?"

Those stampings appear to be on that giant boss at the back of the intake, with the three holes on it, where the jackshaft bracket anchors. I think the thermactor air valves sat there on some cars.....but it is an odd chunk-o-cast iron there....

Ground clearance...I think it all had to do with springs and shocks. My car had the originals and as a result, my bellhousing is about 1/2" shorter than stock....! Missing material! Ain't there no more! Done ground off! Could have been replaced once.....by now.....

Once I put on higher rate springs, and actual shocks with seals in them...WOW! Car went from feeling like a VW bug with 6 people in the back, to feeling like a real car! No more ground clearance issues....but watch out for speed bumps....they can be hazardous if you aren't ready for them!!! Stupid speed bumps....

The stock shocks were gas originally...now not gas...not hardly a shock! There was nothing to prevent the car from squatting down when you moved thru a depression in the roadway. First time on the way to Vegas, not even 15 miles from home, I hit a bridge transition joint and scraped my block plate! Actually bent it back to where it was before I straightened it....! Rest of the trip was "pucker factor on high(!)" when ever a bridge joint came up....

Found some new shocks as soon as I got back from that trip!

But yes, I have heard of guys wiping out their bellhousing AND the front of the ZF case!!! OUCH! However with new shocks, and a reasonable right height set (no roller skate tires here guys..!), one should be fine just about anywhere today!

Of course, the cars in the magazine articles could have been dragging their skid plates too!!!