Bird Catcher Learning Curve

[Was_II]

Okay, newbie question.

I traced out and measured thrice. I cut the hole in my hood to allow the Hilborn to clear. I measured from the edges of the center of the scoop to the edges of the hood so the hole would have a very slight taper that followed the contour of the car. I cut it figuring I'd have 3" on each side of the scoop and then I'd run an expanded metal grating for 2" on each side.

No one ever told me that engines are off-center. Mine is off-center almost exactly 1" to the passenger side.

I have 4" of clearance on the driver side of my scoop and 2" on the passenger side.

When you're done laughing, read on.

I can't be the first one who's run into this problem; what's the protocol, here? (I have the gut feeling that there's a "right" and a "wrong" way to proceed.)

Do you / did you / should I:

A.) leave the hole centered and fill in 1" of expanded metal on the PS and 3" on the DS?

or B.) Enlarge the hole another 2" on the PS and use 3" of expanded metal on both sides, and leave it symmetrical but an inch off-center in the car?