The nut from the u joint is touching the header when I turn the wheel. It's probably 1/16" space needed. Would you guys add another u joint and heim joint or try and modify this one to get it to work...

 

Personally, I'd do my clearancing on the header flange and leave the u-joint alone. Is the flange able to rotate to get the thinner part next to the joint instead of the fat part? Be sure to leave enough room for engine rocking and movement. You don't want that to bounce into the shaft while driving.

 

Good idea. I'll try and rotate header flange

 

Header flange doesn't spin. The other side is welded to the exhaust

 

 

Can you use a different combination of shaft lengths to move the joint down a bit?

Edit: Now I see the pic. Looks like maybe you can slide the joint down a bit on the splines?

 

Cant tell if it would work from the pic but maybe a coupler on the rack so the lower u joint would be moved up closer to the column..or a 3rd joint may be needed..or cut the collector off and extend the outlet of the header lower. I did that with a set of headers on my truck #1 build. Plans are to get them jet hot coated.

 

Might use thinner jam nuts and/or clearance the flange with a grinder.

 

move your column over a bit

john

 

Or push it through the floor board further which would increase the angle away from the header. You could also make angled shims to mount your rack putting a more downward angle on its input shaft.

 

Thanks guys for the ideas. This is why I love this site so much.

 

A longer column with a shorter intermediate shaft might have been better arrangement, but the needed clearance is so minor that I'd either buy thinner jam nuts or put them on a bolt with another nut and grind the upper 1/2 the corners off, then lightly notch the header flange. I'd want at least about 1/8" clearance, engine movement shouldn't bring them any closer together. Did you drill dimple the shafts where the set screws contact?

 

Ax,
how would a longer steering column and shorter shaft change the position of the u joint?

 

I'd want an inch, myself. There shouldn't be any way, under any circumstances, that the engine can touch the steering. Cooking the joints with exhaust heat isn't going to do them any good, either.

 

It would kick out the angle of the intermediate shaft. That's why I went with the longer steering shaft. I'd get as much clearance as possible as rubber engine mounts deteriorate over time.