DCOE throttle return spring ideas

[Mags]

Hi all, I've been running a single Weber DCOE on my AH Sprite for many years with an ITG foam filter. As I have very little clearance above the carb (it has an aftermarket Speedwell F/G front end) I had to shave down the ITG backing plate to reduce it hitting the bonnet.
I used to have a K&N filter but it was too small as the carb is close to the inner wing, the ITG allowed a bigger filter with more surface area.
I found out that ITG sell upside down back plates for just this reason so I ordered one, tried to fit and now the bottom of the plate fouls the throttle return spring (genuine Weber single cable throttle mechanism) http://www.webcon.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=10488 as this mounts under the carb.
I took the carb off at the weekend to see if there's a way I can just move the spring but the filter mounting won't allow it which is frustrating.
I was googling for other throttle return spring ideas and closest useful looking one is this type:
http://www.classicperformance.co.uk/products/exter...
but it looks like it might foul the bonnet again as it protrudes above the carb, and as the kit is on the left of the carb, the same side as the bonnet slopes, the clearance is less there. I'm thinking I might just have to fabricate a similar looking arm and buy a generic throttle arm like this one:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UNIVERSAL-CARBURETOR-THR...
Has anyone done anything nicer/better than this or know of an alternative?
Worse case I have to go back to the standard ITG back plate which has worked OK for years but I would like to stop it touching the bonnet ideally.

Mags

[droopsnoot]

Some photos of your installation might be more helpful. It's hard to tell, not being familiar with the engine bay, how those would work.

[Mags]

Yes, appreciate the lack of photo's doesn't help, will try to get some at the weekend.

[Mags]

So here's a couple of pics, only with the carb on the bench as its already off the car. I've been swapping mails with a chap at ITG and have just sent him the same photo's, lets see if they can offer a solution.
The original ITG baseplate and filter with a butchered top to give me a little more clearance. This still touches the bonnet a little and I have an engine tie bar to stop the engine twisting and makign the carb hit the bonnet.

Plenty of clearance for the throttle linkage



Now with the upside down baseplate, it interferes with the spring



I could go for little ram pipe filter socks but I thought they robbed power? I guess I should ask the ITG guys about this. I forget what it made on the dyno now, its been so long since I took there, it was somewhere just over 100bhp at the flywheel IIRC.

[droopsnoot]

One way would be to extend the bar where the spring currently anchors so that the spring can run diagonally and avoid the tab, though it's a bit of a clunky way of doing it. Or perhaps figure out a different way of holding the filter to the backplate and lose the tab completely - is the quick-release aspect important to you?

I don't know the ITG filters, so I don't know whether figuring out some kind of central post / clip would help.

[Skyedriver]

On my Caterham with twin 40's the cable comes up between the carbs, the outer sits in a fixed mount, the inner continues up to the butterfly lever and there is a spring which consists of wire coiled about 30mm dia with two arms, tangentially off that col about 90 degrees apart.
I'll try and get a photo....

[OldGermanHeaps]

spacer plate to take the filter backplate 10mm or so away from the venturi?

[Mags]

Droopsnoot, Yes that was my original aim but I can't make it work as it fouls when I move the mounting point either way, its unfortunate. I don't need the quick release aspect at all, I hadn't thought about that idea, will have a think about how I could hold the filter on if I removed the tab completely, thanks.
Skyedriver, a photo would be good thanks
Oldgermanheaps, Yes, I was thinking that might do the trick but I am very limited on how far out I could space.

I'll see what the ITG people come back with, they might have a simpler solution and if I'm lucky offer to swap parts over as I've shelled out 60-odd quid on this lot.