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Header and steering shaft clearance

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Old Sep 30, 2018 | 10:09 AM
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Default Header and steering shaft clearance

I have XSPower Version 3 headers on my car and they barely rub the steering shaft. I would like to fix this by either shimming the driver side motor mount or denting the header. Has anyone shimmed the motor mount or filed the steering shaft?

I'm trying to avoiding pulling the header off as it was a huge pain to get it into place.
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Old Sep 30, 2018 | 10:51 AM
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Originally Posted by billy mild
I have XSPower Version 3 headers on my car and they barely rub the steering shaft. I would like to fix this by either shimming the driver side motor mount or denting the header. Has anyone shimmed the motor mount or filed the steering shaft?

I'm trying to avoiding pulling the header off as it was a huge pain to get it into place.
The steering shaft turns, you're considering filing it all around? Personally I would (begrudgingly and cussing) dent the header tube, I'd not consider the other options.
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Old Sep 30, 2018 | 01:09 PM
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Originally Posted by billy mild
I have XSPower Version 3 headers on my car and they barely rub the steering shaft. I would like to fix this by either shimming the driver side motor mount or denting the header. Has anyone shimmed the motor mount or filed the steering shaft?

I'm trying to avoiding pulling the header off as it was a huge pain to get it into place.
I have XSPower headers that were rubbing the steering shaft on initial install. I ended up heating and denting the header (while installed) to create clearance. Since then I have had more work done and have found that there is "play" in how the headers attached to the head. This has allowed subtle adjustments to create more clearance at the steering shaft. If you have the patience you might want to unbolt the x-pipe, loosen the header bolts, and see if there is any room to move the header slightly forward or rearward to create some clearance.
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Old Sep 30, 2018 | 05:04 PM
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Originally Posted by grantv
The steering shaft turns, you're considering filing it all around? Personally I would (begrudgingly and cussing) dent the header tube, I'd not consider the other options.
There is only 1 spot where the shaft hits the header actually. It is odd, but everything else is good.
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Old Sep 30, 2018 | 05:12 PM
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Originally Posted by billy mild
There is only 1 spot where the shaft hits the header actually. It is odd, but everything else is good.
My paranoia would make me fear steering into a hard corner, things move a bit... steering interference... I'd fix it. Up to you.
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Old Sep 30, 2018 | 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by grantv
My paranoia would make me fear steering into a hard corner, things move a bit... steering interference... I'd fix it. Up to you.
I need to fix it. That is why I'm asking the best approach to that without taking the header off again. If I have to take the header off it will be a brutal.
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Old Sep 30, 2018 | 07:05 PM
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I'd remove all fasteners, then move it, make some sort of female round for the inside something to dull the cutting edge, and dent with some sort of large bolt cutter or similar. Unsure exactly, but I feel your pain from having installed my TSP headers years back. I would have found a solution in place also.
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Old Oct 1, 2018 | 01:24 PM
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I've been through this with the XS Power headers. They're made of 321 stainless; it's some though ****. I believe the only way you're going to get satisfactory results is to remove the header, heat that spot on the primary with a torch (preferably some kind of fuel+oxygen), and hammer it. Mark the orientation of the steering shaft on the primary tube while the header is in the car, then when you have it out, lay a piece of black iron pipe in the exact same orientation as the steering shaft, and hammer against that. You'll get a dent that exactly matches the steering shaft, which will look a lot better than just beating the pipe flat with a hammer. The only other piece of advice I can give you is to dent it more than you think you need to; you don't want to remove it again (or three times, like I did). Good luck!

Last edited by TastyBacon; Oct 2, 2018 at 12:18 PM.
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Old Oct 2, 2018 | 08:43 AM
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Originally Posted by TastyBacon
I've been through this with the XS Power headers. They're made of 321 stainless; it's some though ****. I believe the only way you're going to get satisfactory results is to remove the header, heat that spot on the primary with a torch (preferably MAP/Oxy), and hammer it. Mark the orientation of the steering shaft on the primary tube while the header is in the car, then when you have it out, lay a piece of black iron pipe in the exact same orientation as the steering shaft, and hammer against that. You'll get a dent that exactly matches the steering shaft, which will look a lot better than just beating the pipe flat with a hammer. The only other piece of advice I can give you is to dent it more than you think you need to; you don't want to remove it again (or three times, like I did). Good luck!
I thought about doing something similar to this, but actually use an air chisel with a ballpeen end on it. Just have low air pressure and try to dent it.
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Old Oct 2, 2018 | 12:18 PM
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Whatever you do, use lots of heat!
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