I was hoping that you would succeed with the duraweld plan. I'm going to have the same height issue because my donor engine is also the DOHC. I think I might have to befriend someone who has a TIG welder or live with either a hole in the bonnet or a bulge.
On the other hand, I guess Ford made it that way for a reason. I doubt you would get as good air flow through a modified one by just hacking it in half and sticking it back together.
__________________
David
|