Fairlane header/z bar interference

Hi!
I have a 1967 Fairlane RacheroXL. It came as a 390/C-6 car. I have owned and driven her since '92. Irebuilt the engine in 1994 and have put 160,000 more miles on her 1994-2001.

Last year, I bought a friend's '66 Fairlane (orig a 6 with stick on the column). It had a 428 CJ (freshly rebuilt but - back in the day - removed from his '68 or '69 Cyclone) with lakewood bellhousing, and a 4speed toploader out of a mid '60's Galaxie. There is no tag to the trans. The z-bar appears to be similar to the big block set up from a Fairlane (according to the Ford Manual).

I detailed the new engine, bought new ceramic coated Hookers (like the ones I had been running for years on the original combo), removed the console. I built a new crossmember.

PROBLEM: The trans looks the same length as my C-6. The drive shaft, however, appears to need to be shortened 3/4 of an inch. Not the end of the world, except...
BIGGER PROBLEM: Header interference with Z-Bar. It looks like I need to maybe move the locating pin forward (the one on the block) to help the swing thu. The '66 had cheap rusty thru chassis headers. Of course, the Super Comp Hookers are below chassis (right?) on the driver's side. It is the below chassis stuff that is hitting. There aint much room in there. Hooker said a mistake on their part is possible but not probable.

Q1: How do I know my engine is sitting correctly front to back and up and down. It IS very tight in there. btw, it is a clean/original paint Ranchero. High mileage, but original.
Q2: How do I know my Z-bar is stock for the Fairlane and shape/size is correct?

Thanks in advance, Craig :CRY:

What is the number on the Z bar? I'm pretty sure the Mustang and Fairlane used the same one. Not positive on this though....but can check the application from the part number on yours. G.

G:

The only part number I can find is an S1V on the end where the pin is for the pedal. Mine (the z bar) is a two piece affair.

The lower (inner) portion of my equalizer has rougher welds than the outer/upper portion- making me wonder if it has been modified. Dunno.

All of this worked on the other car, but it had the cheaper headers that had no interference.

On section 5, page 10 of the Mustang/Falcon/Fairlane factory manual, mine is a two piece that looks just like the one in the photo for a 390/427 comet/fairlane. The other applications look different. In the drawing, it says "outer equalizer bar - 7528" with no id of inner equalizer bar. btw, that is the same number they show for the apparently one piece Mustang/Cougar z bars.

Thanks, Craig