The mixer on my EBII was mounted to the intake manifold via a rubber joiner that has a bulge in it between the two hose clamps. I will be mounting this on my BBM soon and would prefer to keep the length and flexibility to a minimum. I know the bulge isn't critical, but is it valuable, say in the case of a backfire, absorbing some of the pressure?

Pictures?

No camera yet, sorry.

Imagine an otherwise straight tube of rubber with a section of the bebbendum man (the michelin man) in the middle. It's like one of his rolls of fat.

my ED doesnt have that just a flat bit of tube, so i would say it isnt critical