Hey everyone, i am in a jam and need some help...on my 95 TA with an LT1 A4 i can not get the drivers side lower K member to sit flush on the frame...My #3 and #5 headers are catching on the steering shaft. is there a secret to having clearance between the headers and the steering shaft?.....Please any help or suggestions...The headers are Pace Setter Long Tubes Wrapped.

 

Stock or aftermarket K-member? Is the wrap part of the problem? The massive temps of wrapped primaries can cause distortion,

 

Fred, thanks buddy....The headers are Pace Setter Long Tube and it is a stock K member.

 

Sorry..... I edited my post. I missed the last sentence in your original post the first time I read it.

 

My next question is why did you have to seperate the K-member from the sub frames?

 

Fred, i removed the k member as well as the motor while rebuilding it this past winter. Every parts was replaced so it was easier to separate the motor from the k member.

 

Fred, the parts of the steering shaft that is causing me the problem is where the 2 shafts join together (Where the yellow strips are #3 and #5 cylinders).....if this makes any difference.

 

I've had to dent headers in the past so that the steering shaft doesn't hit the header. You can switch to Pro-thane motor mounts to keep the motor from torqueing up into the steering shaft and switch to a rag joint eliminator to gain more clearance. Beyond that, I don't have any suggestions.

Once you get a solution, test it out in a safe area with lots of room. Launch the car from a stop to get the engine to torque up. Wiggle the steering wheel while doing this to see how it feels. If the header is contacting the shaft, you'll feel it. You don't have to wiggle the wheel a lot to feel the rubbing. I'd rather know my steering wheel is being locked up during a simple test like this than one day by surprise.

 

I have the same headers on a 97 Z28. The prothane mounts and the motor mount cradle that bolts to the K member was hitting on mine. Not the steering shaft, interesting that same generation cars hit in different areas. Interesting common denominator is my motor recently was out. Is there any adjustment in the K member? I think TA dreaming nailed it.

New prothane mounts made the most difference to stop everything from hitting and the engine from moving around. The factory rubber mounts are horrible and then add age....

 

If I remember correctly, I used a modified (lengthened) shaft with a rag-joint eliminator kit. I had contact with the headers as well, until I resolved the issue with the new shaft.