Chevy 454 Air filter curiosity question.

[wildtoad]

Hello. Started to change the air filter on the new-2-me 1988 Winnebago with a chevy 454 (Probably the very first time this has been done). I took the dog house off and noticed some kind of thin tubing/wire(?) connected to the top of the air filter housing. It's above the wingnut that holds the cover on, sitting on top of the screw. I have not had time to follow it but it goes towards the front of the engine compartment. the reason for asking is that it appears to have rubbed a hole in the dog house cover which can be felt through the carpet.

Just curious and thanks if you know the answer...

[bigskymt]

Two things comes to mind and I hope I'm not way off. For several years GM installed a braided cable from the Air Cleaner stud to the dog house cover on Van models and a few cab/chassis (P models) there it connected to a metal shield on the fiberglass cover. It was supposed to control engine noise on the radio from the HEI. .
I believe at some point they also used the same type cable to assure a good ground on the air cleaner (it ran to a valve cover bolt, I think). Something about a plug wire shorting to the air cleaner that was not properly grounded and igniting a backfire.
If it looks 'factory' those are my best recollections (guesses).