Just got through putting my tw heads and manual steering rack on and now the steering shaft wont mate with the rack coupler because the header is in the way. Any ideas? I was thinking about putting some washers inbetween the motor mounts and the k member to lift the motor just enough to raise the headers so the steering shaft will connect.
steering shaft wont clear BBK equal lengths
- Thread starter Modular2v
- Start date
squeak93
15 Year Member
I ran into this with shortie bbk 351 swap headers. Can u rotate the whole engine assb a little to make it clear? Or are u missing by a lot?
The washers would work to get it connected but I'd worry about how much abuse the could take. Might let someone else chime in there. I've never tried it.
The washers would work to get it connected but I'd worry about how much abuse the could take. Might let someone else chime in there. I've never tried it.
I had that problem with the stock steering shaft, and actually machined some aluminum spacer "washers" myself. I believe I made them 1/2 inch tall and maybe an inch or 1.5 inch in diameter. The thing is, once I got them put in with new motor mounts, it was raising the motor so much that the midpipe was pressing against the bottom of the car. Without the spacer, there was maybe 1/8 inch clearance with the new motor mounts installed, so I just left it without the spacers. The headers vibrate against the shaft coasting on downshifts, but I'm not worried because the shaft AND the headers are eventually going to be replaced. It really was one of the last things that ruined my faith in BBK.
Long story short, put new motor mounts in it and finangle the parts as much as you can to get it to fit. The BBK equal length shorties just have clearance issues and there isnt much you can do about it.
Long story short, put new motor mounts in it and finangle the parts as much as you can to get it to fit. The BBK equal length shorties just have clearance issues and there isnt much you can do about it.
squeak93
15 Year Member
I had to bfh one of the tubes in my shorties.
I to agree that bbk is not what it used to be.
When I built my motor we rebuilt a friends 351 at the same time. His has been together for 8 or so years and therefore his bbk headers were from a long time ago. They are still beautiful, welds are great and are a great quality piece. Now fast forward a few years and I go out and buy some bbk swap headers know his are awesome and fit great, but no.... mine were chit. I had to spend 2 or so hours grinding the inside welds to get them cleaned up and satisfactory. They bending in the pipes was junk and they overall were not that smooth or great of a piece. Sorry I'll get off of my soap box but I find more and more of these thread with bbk products recently.
Anyway. Good luck to you. You can always try a flaming river shaft, more money but should give u the clearance u need.
I to agree that bbk is not what it used to be.
When I built my motor we rebuilt a friends 351 at the same time. His has been together for 8 or so years and therefore his bbk headers were from a long time ago. They are still beautiful, welds are great and are a great quality piece. Now fast forward a few years and I go out and buy some bbk swap headers know his are awesome and fit great, but no.... mine were chit. I had to spend 2 or so hours grinding the inside welds to get them cleaned up and satisfactory. They bending in the pipes was junk and they overall were not that smooth or great of a piece. Sorry I'll get off of my soap box but I find more and more of these thread with bbk products recently.
Anyway. Good luck to you. You can always try a flaming river shaft, more money but should give u the clearance u need.
91notch5.0
Founding Member
i had clearance problems with my longtubes. i bought the flaming river shaft and it solved the problem. it is a nice piece. i was pissed though, this is just another one of those nockel and dime things.
