BBK Long tube clearance problems

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I bought a set of bbk long tubes from summit. They went in with no problem but while I was doing the swap I saw my motor mounts were shat so I just installed poly's. Now everything is back in and the engine is level so I go to install the steering shaft-I'd have to dent the header tube in about 3/4 of an inch to get the steering shaft to line up and not hit. It was like this b4 I put the new motor mounts in too. Any ideas on what could make me have such a clearance issue? The car has never been in an accident so I don't think it would be out of wack. Please help. thanks guys



Nick

 

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Bump

 

[DeadLifter]

Shim the motor mount.
I had this problem with equal lengths. I took a steel plate little less than 1/2" thick and cut it so it would slide over the bolt and sit between the frame and the motor mount and that solved my problems.

 

[postalbunny]

I've heard vert motor mounts help out... fixing to try this out myself next week Hope mine slide in..

 

[Mike92GT]

Mine have plenty of clearance, I'm using poly mounts as well. Thats strange. Sometimes you can get a little extra clearance by loosening the steering column nuts under the dash, then you pull the steering wheel to the side and hold it while you tighten the bolts back up

 

[eagleautosports]

I have MAC l/t in an 88 and had to use the Flaming River steering shaft. It gets rid of the rag joint and gives a lot more room but it does go in between two of the four tubes. And shimming the mounts helps too.

 

[89Notch]

shimber me timbers

 

[90lxboost'n]

I installed my BBk 1 3/4 lt last week and no problems anywhere. They look great but waiting on an x-pipe.

 

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Hmm, I guess I'll have to check into the shims. Thanks for the help guys, I was hoping that it would be a smooth install but then again nothing really goes smoothly with this car... O well Thanks for the help. I'll post up once I'm done.


Nick

 

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One last thing. Do you think its at all possible that because I am running twisted wedge heads that it would cause this fitment problem. I am finishing up my h/c/i swap and decided on long tubes since I have the s-trim ready to go in. I never heard or read anything where the TW heads pose a problem with long tubes. Any ideas? Thanks everybody

Nick

 

[sn9550]

I had the same problem when I installed my Mac longtubes. I think between the PA Racing k-member and poly mounts the motor sits up higher. It would seem (in my situation) that if the motor was a half inch lower I would have enough clearance. Maybe a measurement of some stock motor mounts and the urethane ones would show a difference. Moving the steering column helped but not enough in my case.

 

[mustangillusion]

I had the bbk lt's installed on my 93 gt. I had a clearance problem, but mine was with the passanger side header. It was lying on the k member. The driver side fit like a glove. I thought maybe my motor mounts were bad, and i was broke so I just shimmed them untill I could by new ones.

 

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Yea, this sucks, I'm about an hours worth of work away from starting the car up yet I can't drive it. I guess I'll have to pound the header in a bit and see where that gets me. Thanks for the help guys.

Nick