Quote:
Originally Posted by chr2002ca
I believe I see at least part of the problem in the photos(besides the fact that it's not a stock subframe which adds a big variable). That's not a stock power steering box, and it's the same model I just switched to from a larger/heavier model/series(my previous one was from AGR). The one he has I believe is the '600 series' model that's smaller and lighter than other quick-ratio PS steering boxes, but also unfortunately makes that common fitment issue against the #5 tube even worse. Like I mentioned earlier, it's specific to headers designed like his(and mine) where all tubes just go immediately downward instead of the #5 tube looping over the #7 tube. That particular series of power steering box just sticks out like that in that exact area against the #5 tube even worse than other quick-ratio boxes. The other quick-ratio boxes can also have a clearance problem right there, but the 600 series is even a little worse. It's a situation that's not fair to header manufacturers and sucks for both parties really. Now, the passenger side header hitting on the idler arm is another issue in itself that I won't comment on, and if other tubes on the drivers side are hitting, there's not much you can do for clearancing that doesn't involve modification to the header.
For that #5 tube issue, if you change that particular bolt on the steering box that is hitting the header to a button head bolt, and you do a little light grinding(flap disk) in that area of the steering box cover to add some additional clearance, you should be okay. You could wrap a little titanium header/heat wrap around that area of that tube if you're worried about heat transfer(I did just to be safe). The engine will rotate upwards in that area when you hit the gas, so clearance will be okay at WOT. I have the exact same situation with my headers, but mine's even worse than his. I had to do some "clearancing" and also had to dimple my #5 tube slightly. My #7 tube was really bad and I had to cut a section of it out completely and add a curve to it. All because of the "smaller"(in all the wrong places) steering box. His #7 tube looks like a much better design than mine.
|
I thought it was a stock subframe with a DSE Speed 3 kit, hard to tell. The steering box being changed is an issue as you said as it has less clearance in that tube area than the stock one. If he has aftermarket heads (or some GM Performance heads), many of those have raised exhaust ports, another potential issue, especially with the steering box, maybe the idler arm depending on how the tubes are run.