Fox body header problems

[Powerluvr]

I have a not so little problem with my current engine swap project. I have mounted a 460 into a 1980 fox body t-bird. The headers I purchased are hooker super competition engine swap headers. First off, the steering shaft runs in between two of the pipes and is actually touching one of them. Second, if I can manage to bend and dimple the pipe enough to clear the steering shaft, what could I do to prevent the engine from torquing over and forcing the pipe to rub the steering shaft? Has anyone ever had this problem before? Are these 700$ headers actually poorly fabricated? If anyone has any tech advice or knows of engine swap headers that actually fit this application please help.

[pat mccarthy]

take the engine mount off the block and try to shim it up i have done this by making a 1/4plate. that get the tube a way some times or cut the tube and pull it in find two spots to cut it were you can weld it back to gether but when you turn it the tub will move down so you will have to add a pice in the tube you cut loose when cutting the tube loose cut it at the top by the head and cut it at the collector somtimes you can move the streering column by loosing it at the fire wall this is sloted sometimes move it over and tighten the screws. or you may be able to grind the tube at the head side off the header flange the o ring weld a see if you can pull it in try not force it if you dont need 1/4 this might work then weld the o ring back on use a belt sander to get it flat so it will seal

[Dave Severson]

Any chance of repositioning the bottom steering column mount so the tube will clear the shaft?? Had to do that on a Fox bodied Horse a few years back.