Air intake duct comes loose

["Dave Martin" <dwmartin@domain.elided>]

Hello listers, you have been so helpful - here is another question -
The air intake duct on my 87 Spider Quadrifoglio keeps coming loose.
This is the duct that connects to the air flow sensor and goes across the
top of the engine to another duct that then connects to the throttle body.
It is the duct-to-air flow sensor joint that keeps coming loose.  This
connection is just a slip fit, with a clamp like a large hose clamp.  There
is no ridge or lip on the mating surface of the air flow sensor to help keep
the duct on, and the way that all the parts fit on my car, there is some
tension on this joint such that the duct keeps pulling off.  I'll be able to
drive okay for maybe a few months, maybe only a week or so, and then
sometime when accelerating from start, I'll get a great big nothing from all
the false air being let in - that's my cue to get the screwdriver that I
keep handy, pop the hood, and reattach the duct: loosen the clamp, push the
duct back on, retighten the clamp. It's kind of a pain in the neck and I'm
looking for a more permanent solution.
I've removed the duct and washed it thoroughly to degrease it, wiped off the
mating surface of the air flow sensor to degrease it and thus help keep the
connection for a while longer, but nothing works for good.  I've thought of
trying to adjust the positions of components so that there is a better fit
and no tension on the joint, but all I can see to try is to get some really
fat washers (or a small stack of 'em) and use them to shim up the air
cleaner body.  Not sure that this will work and I haven't yet tried it.
Has anyone had a similar problem?  What was your solution?  Anyone have any
other ideas?

Dave Martin
Endwell, NY
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