Xj750 Airbox mod

Working on my 83 garage find. Removed carb rack with ease using a heat gun on the boots. Carbs look pretty good. Floats and bowls need a good cleaning. Biggest hurdle will be removing buggered up drain screws on all 4.
Anyway was planning ahead for reinstall and thinking about the tight space and the air box boots. My xj has an air box trim on both sides that really serves no purpose. Is there any reason I couldn’t cut an access window into the airbox that would allow access to the rubber boots to aid in reinstall? Once trim piece is reinstalled with a seal of some kind you’d never know the window/hole is there.

 

My opinion:

Could it be done as you described? Yes. Assuming you end up with a good seal and everything then why not?

Is it worth it? I don't think so. Getting those airbox boots in place can be tricky, but it's not THAT bad.

 

Thanks, I get your point and I’d try the path of least resistance first, just thinking ahead just in case. Getting the rack out went pretty smooth so hopefully back in will be the same.