equals hitting steering shaft

[streetyme]

I have 86 fox and have taken out the old exhaust and already installed the passenger side without a hitch, but when I went to install the drivers side no matter what I do its hitting the steering shaft.. Do i just loosen the stock shaft or do I need the Flaming River shaft? Any advice would be appreciated

Joe

 

[93 LX]

check your motor mounts. Ill be willing to bet they have collapsed and allowing the engine to set lower in the valley.

 

[Bullitt347]

Usually the Flaming River shaft clears up the interference issue, but it does not hurt to check the motor mounts as suggested.

 

[streetyme]

Thanks for both suggestions... Do you like the Flaming River more than the Maximum Motor sports or the Borgeson steering shafts ?

 

[LiquidGT]

I read that the Flaming Rver shaft is junk and that the MM shaft is a much better design, I never heard of the Borgeson shaft though.

 

[stang&2Birds]

I have 86 fox and have taken out the old exhaust and already installed the passenger side without a hitch, but when I went to install the drivers side no matter what I do its hitting the steering shaft.. Do i just loosen the stock shaft or do I need the Flaming River shaft? Any advice would be appreciated

Joe

WOHA there a minute Joe!!!
First, you have two choices to make
1) Get another year Stang
2) Change your name.
You are NOT ALLOWED to have an '86 Stang and be called Joe.
So, MAKE UP YOUR MIND WHICH YOU WANT!
NOW!!


Uhm, otherwise,
Don't listen to the myth about motor mounts. That's very rarely the case.

In reality, the Stang tolerances are somewhere between sucko and non existent. Often, people can loosen their steering shaft and move it over just enough to clear the headers.

Some people will also "dimple" the headers to allow room for the steering shaft.

After that, it's time to go to the MM steering shaft.

UNDER NO REASON AT ALL SHOULD YOU BUY THE POS DEATH TRAP FLAMING RIVER STEERING SHAFT DESIGNED AND SOLD BY SOME OF THE BIGGEST MORONS ON THIS EARTH!!!!!!!!

Uhm, is that clear?
Buy the MM steering shaft!

FWIW:
Flaming river steering shaft questions - Corral Forums

BTW: Unless someone has an engineering degree, and many years of real world experience with high vibration environments, IMHO, they can stick their comments about how "good" that Flaming River POS DEATH TRAP steering shaft FAR up their *ss and the follow it with that POS steering shaft.

Last: Four Eyes RULE!

 

[stang&2Birds]

BTW: You'd think that the clueless ***holes at Flaming River would have made the SIMPLE changes by now. But, nope! Goes to show that CLUELESS MORONS are clueless morons.

BTW: Any car pics?
Here are my latest:
Mustang 86 - Mach1 Springs

 

[streetyme]

Thanks Stang&Two Birds.. Anybody named Joe cant be too bad. I will try and move over the shaft just a little bit.... If not looks like I'll be buying a MM shaft.. I am just hoping these equals are worth the trouble....

Joe

 

[streetyme]

Joe you certainly have some nice rides. Here is one of my 86

 

[streetyme]

I loosened the steering shaft up from inside the car and moved it over just a bit, but the header is still hitting the shaft. It does not appear to be hitting the rag joint.. Would the MM shaft fix this? In the mean time I guess I'll install my stock headers and wait for the shaft to come in ...

 

[riceslayer302]

one word: hammer

 

[NIKwoaC]

I have an '86 with equal lengths also, and they do just baaaaaaaaaaaaaaarely tap the steering shaft. Not trying to cause a ruckus, but replacing my motor mounts actually did help, the old ones were shot and after the new ones, I gained about 1/4-1/2" more clearance per side. Before new motor mounts, the headers literally pressed against the steering shaft, and actually tapped the sheet metal on the passenger side, too.

That's just my experience...

 

[streetyme]

Nikwoac which one should I do first? I know I probably need both the steering shaft and motor mounts, but just wasn't planning on having too change both out to run these headers... I am thinking might still put the stockers back on and in two weeks buy the steering shaft motor mounts and tranny mount

 

[stang&2Birds]

I loosened the steering shaft up from inside the car and moved it over just a bit, but the header is still hitting the shaft. It does not appear to be hitting the rag joint.. Would the MM shaft fix this? In the mean time I guess I'll install my stock headers and wait for the shaft to come in ...

As NikwoaC said, it takes a very little tap to clearance the headers. It won't effect performance. But, I can see the desire not to do that. Also, the header is close to the engine. And, you do have to clearance the header enough so when the engine rocks, it won't hit the steering shaft.

Plus, any Fox that still has the OEM steering shaft and rag joint is on borrowed time. So, putting in the MM steering shaft isn't a bad idea.

Yes, a MM steering shaft should give you the required clearance. But, I don't know with a 4-eye. 4-eye's have a slightly different front suspension. So, just because the same combo may work on an 97-93 Stang, there may still be some interference. I don't know if they kept the steering wheel in the same exact place when Ford when to the newer dash. A 1/4" isn't that noticeable for people doing a dash swap. But, a 1/4" is the difference between having clearance and not for the steering shaft.

You will get more clearance with the MM steering shaft. You cam call/email the people at MM (very nice and knowledgeable) and ask if they know how much more clearance their steering shaft provides. IMHO, email would be best for a very specific question like that.

If you do replace the steering shaft. Make sure you have the steering wheel straight and the wheel straight. When you put the steering shaft back on, make sure the steering wheel didn't move at all.

I forget, but I think that the stock steering shaft has a ?torx? or weird bolt at the end ner the rack.

Also, it's a PITA to get to the bolt and nut near the firewall. Two people would be great. Doing by yourself really sucks.

IMHO, I'd "clearance" a header before I went through that hassle again. But, you do get more precise steering (and more road feel - some see that as bad) with the MM steering shaft. And, you won't have to worry about when your rag joint will go.

So, there are you options. Your choice. I only push people away from getting screwed by companies and doing bad/risky things. Otherwise, it's up to the person to decide what's best for their desires and needs.

Good Luck!

 

[stang&2Birds]

Joe you certainly have some nice rides. Here is one of my 86

A vert! ME LIKE!!
Okay, after an emergency meeting, it's been decided it's okay for you to be called Joe and have an '86 Vert.

Four Eyes RULE!

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

check your motor mounts. Ill be willing to bet they have collapsed and allowing the engine to set lower in the valley.

If it's not that they're collapsed, it could be that your engine isn't seated right in the K member and the engine itself is sitting too far to one side. That's my problem right now...i put new mounts in and i've tried my ass off to straighten it up but can't seem to get it right.

 

[streetyme]

Thanks Stang&Twobirds .. I originally bought the 86 for something to play with so I would leave the 06 alone.. Its by no means a show car, just a solid driver. Do you think I would be happier with a standard shorty instead of the el's? You guys wealth of information really helps a nebie like me out. These are the first fords I've owned; before this I had the other brands. Your absolutely right , hard to smack a brand new header and taking a chance of the coating to wear off.. I was actually looking for a 87-91 coupe , but they are hard to find in my area.. I would eventually like to do a h/c/i change over to mass air or use a tweecer with the factory sd and have some fun with the old vert. I know it will never be a all out race car; just looking forward to seeing maybe a 11.8 NA in the 1/4 eventually ...

Joe

 

[streetyme]

Wow!! Something else I wasn't aware of.. Thanks.. 85...SS... Every car I know has there own quirks.. The two fourth gen camaros I owned was kinds of a pain being that half the motor was behind the windshield... The 93 was know to have shotty opti spark dist and being the only year for SD.. A real pain since I had installed cnc'd AFR's, ported LT-4 intake ,30 lb and 58mm tb along with a T.P.I S ZZ9 cam... Never ran the way it should have with the SD.. The 99 camaro's Dynatech headers were also a pain in the rump to install..

 

[lang williams]

I equals on my 87 an liked them. no clearance issues there. you might be able to get some grade 8 washers to slip on the motor mount an gain a little clearance there.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

I equals on my 87 an liked them. no clearance issues there. you might be able to get some grade 8 washers to slip on the motor mount an gain a little clearance there.

That's probably what i'm going to have to do. With mine, the engine is basically sitting high on the driver's side. The problem is that the mount won't go any lower than it is. I loosened the passenger side and lifted it up and tightened it down while it was lifted up and that solved the problem for about a week and then i guess it slid back down because it's hitting again. I'm using '93 vert mounts so maybe there's an issue with those on an '85 K member. I'm either going solid or making a steel shim to slide in on the passenger side.