LTFOUR

iTrader: (23)

If you're using the RaceCraft 'racing' k-member with motor plates, this question may not apply to your setup. I need to find someone that's using the non-race version of the RaceCraft k-member, manual rack, with the RaceCraft steering shaft.

Did you need to need to change your header around in order to clear the steering shaft? Apparently there's no way of using the stock steering shaft with this setup. Maybe there is a header system already out there that works with the steering shaft.

I'm currently using Kooks 1 7/8 into a 3" merge collector. If these headers can clear the RaceCraft steering shaft, that would be great. I'm just looking ahead so I don't blow money where I don't have to.

LTFOUR

iTrader: (23)

Weekend bump.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

It's not entirly uncommon that the primary on #1 has to be redone, with a little U ut into it to clear the steering shaft with a manual rack.

I'm about to find out hopefully next weekend when I put the burkhart fornt end together if I'll have to do the same... it's the only reason the motor's still in the car, I wanted to see if the headers would clear or not.

If possible, take a pic, Im curious how bad yours is hitting, last car I saw that needed it done, what we did was just mark and cut the header primary so it would clear the steering shaft, then dropped the headers off and brought them to a local fab guy and had him put a couple little bends in the #1 primary to get us the clearance.

I dunno why Kooks didn't just take #1 and bend it down towards the block a good bit more then they did, there's plenty of clearance in there next to the block, and it would have given a TON more clearance around the steering shaft, probably made the headers alot easier to install too.

Makes too much sense would be my guess.

LTFOUR

iTrader: (23)

That's the thing, my car is already apart and I'm moving into a manual steering application.

I'm trying to save some headache later by getting this figured out now when I'm ordering my parts.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

If it's already apart... just get the steering setup, and if you have to have the header modified later, just deal with it. You'll have to pull the steering shaft, install the header then see if the shaft will go back in place, and if not, call your fab guy or whoever you will have modify the header, ask them how they want it marked up, and do it.

Alot of guys will tell you to just dent the header in, and if it's a TINY dent I'd do that as well.. but if you have ot put a huge dent/flat spot on it then that's something that needs to be cut out and reshaped, just to prevent one cyl from having more backpressure then the rest.

LTFOUR

iTrader: (23)

I guess I was hoping to avoid fabbing the header for this.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

You may not have to. But the only way to find out is to get it back together.

promod1955

iTrader: (44)

you can run 3 steering universal joints and a steering shaft support at the 2nd joint to clear yout headers or any headers you may have down the road. We do this on all the tube chassis cars as well as on the SI car with a burkhart front end. There was no way a straight shaft was going to work.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

Got a picture of that? I know that the 3rd universal is 100% going to need support.. I'm hoping that I can get away with what I have... but from what you're saying it sounds like the steering shaft I have isn't gonna work (as I suspected)

promod1955

iTrader: (44)

Yea Ill post a few up around lunch.

promod1955

iTrader: (44)

ok, here is a shaft on a stock type front end f-body.



and here is how we do it on the tube chassis cars. As you can see, its pretty much the same thing, we just have way more room in this application.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

Interesting. I'm curious to see what happens when I try to get the burkhart front end on now with the steering shaft they supplied, from that picture I might either be looking for another steering shaft... or be bringing the header to someone to cut/notch out primary #1

LTFOUR

iTrader: (23)

Got one of these you want to sell!

promod1955

iTrader: (44)

Im not a sponser so i don't want to step on any toes, but i don't know of a sponser who carries stuff like that anyway. You can buy those pieces from jerry bickel, quartermax, tim mcamis etc. racecraft sells the adapter to go from the stock steering column ( got to cut off the last 1 1/2" of shaft) to a typical setup like that. Ask for Mark and he can get you the adapter.

EDIT: i know madman sells bickel stuff. You can buy the support and universals from him.

LTFOUR

iTrader: (23)

I don't have the means to put something like that together, that's why I ask.

promod1955

iTrader: (44)

I got ya. well, the support has to be welded to the car, (such as the one in my picture)so if you have any chassis builders in your area im sure they can get you something that will work for your application.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

Damn welding, always getting in the way

That is a nice setup... I am hoping I can get away without having to do that... but if I do... I do.

It's either that, or cut/refab the #1 primary to the way it should have been in the first place. Still urks me that they didn't think of that when making the larger headers. Sure for a 1 3/4 that will be on a street car fine, but they should have known guys buying 1 7/8 stepped to 2 inch, or strait 2 inch headers would have this issue, and it needed a little C shaped bend to clear around the steering shaft.

Josh@KY-Turbo

iTrader: (120)

I guess I will be moving the #1 tube on the header on my N/A car then.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

If you were closer, I'd send ya my header to fix too... might anyway if I can't find a local guy that can do it without having it look like a dog chewed on it.

I'd already know the answer to this, if it wasn't so damn cold out here in CT> i just can't bring myself to work on the car when the tools in the garage are all like 10 friggin degrees, I can heat the air up, but everything I touch is still frozen

LTFOUR

iTrader: (23)

I bet Josh will make a house call for the right price, lol.