I'm modifying my stainless tube header so it has better clearance around my steering. Cutting, fitting, and tweaking but haven't committed to tig welding yet. Wondering just how much space I need to create between the header and steering. As you can see in the photo, there are sealed bearing u joints and plastic steering parts not far away - u joints currently about 1/4" away. I believe I will need to wrap the header with insulation in this area. Any suggestions on suitable minimum clearance and best insulation for this type of application will be greatly appreciated. I know the more clearance the better but also trying to keep this tube flowing well by keeping sharp angles out of it. Trying to keep it clean but this is how custom stuff goes sometimes. A combination of a welded joint and a bit of a dimple may be in order.Thanks.


Bill C

Drag it home, figure it out.

How close is the block? Would an angle cut help? Perhaps a metal plate between the steering and exhaust would help too. Last resort, but often used, is to squish the tube a little flat for clearance. These headers really don't add much, per Ted Eaton's extensive testing, So the effect would be minimal.


Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Lots of room on the inside to block/head. That's not a problem, and is why I've already cut the header off and made a new bent tail section to exit between the steering shaft and C4 shift linkage. I plan to tig the newly angled aft section but still have room to tweak it at the problem area for slightly more clearance... and possibly flatten the area. That's what I meant by a dimple. I guess my main question is: Is there a best exhaust insulation material to wrap the tube in this area of minimal clearance? I suspect I'll end up with close to 1/2" of clearance at the trouble spot - one of the the steering u joints. Will exhaust insulation do the trick here?
I know this is isn't a great flowing header but I went with it just for this reason - easy to modify.

Bill C

Drag it home, figure it out.

As far as I know the wrap used for sprint car headers is pretty good. A lot of cars, including the early T-Bird's, used a metal sheet as a heat shield. I assume it would absorb the heat and dissipate it through the metal. I didn't catch the dimple part but that is a last resort. I'm not the wizard on this stuff but I think with a shield you may not need the header wrap. If the car is running put a pie.ce of metal between the exhaust and the steering and check the heat on the steering side. Not sure if I'm being any help here but just throwing out idea's.


Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Long way to go before running but I do appreciate any and all input Moon'. More hackin' and ponderin'.

Bill C

Drag it home, figure it out.

I've got an ididit column and a Borgenson u joint about that distance from the header on my bird. End of last summer, I'd cooked the u joint. You could feel the steering start to bind. I poured cold water over it, and it released immediately, but the damage was done. So, I think you need something. I was going to rig a heat shield, but after reading this I might try the wrap first. Not much air circulation under the hood on the bird, so yours might be a little better.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Excellent input 56Roger an Miker, just the sort of experiences I needed to hear.

Made some more adjustments to the header tube and steering today (all day) to come up with almost 1/2" of clearance at my steering u joint. Bought some fiberglass wrap and am comfortable with moving ahead with tig welding my modified header back together. I'll snap a pic and share the results later. Once again, thanks a bunch guys!

Bill C

Drag it home, figure it out.

Here's a pic of the results. Pic from bottom shows the fit with C4 and Lokar linkage - gobs of space, gobs of fun! Thanks all for your ideas, experiences, pics, and links.


Bill C

Drag it home, figure it out.

Actually looks great. You've gained a lot of clearance and the wrap is clean and tight. Should stop any problems.


Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire