Dodge Regency Van Conversion question

I recently bought a low-mile 2003 Dodge Ram Van Regency conversion. There is carpet over the lower half of the dog-house / engine cover, which is glued on, and also glued directly to the floor carpet. This is very strange, as there is no way to get at the lower fasteners to remove the engine cover. I've loosened the clips on each side up top but it won't budge. I'm assuming this van has never had a spark plug or air filter change because of this. Anyone else ever run into this or am I missing something here? There's no way to remove the air cleaner from under the hood.

Ian

Ian, have you figured out anything. Sounds like a manufacturing mistake to me.

Yes, the carpet was glued down. I had to rip it all apart to get the engine cover off. It still had the original air filter, plugs, points, PCV, and all that stuff. Unbelievable after 78,000 miles this had not ever been done. I wonder how many other Regency conversions were done like this?

My 01 is this way and I currently have doghouse
Pulled trying to get my damn boa constrictor to come
Out. No, I am not kidding.