OK to remove steering linkage to remove starter?

I was under the impression this was an OEM starter that needs to come out so a mini can go in - that OEM piece ain't coming out of there with header in there.. there's barely room for a mini. My idea was that the header needs to be completely loose - as in not on the head and disconnected from the rest of the exhaust too. I forgot that that stud is water passage... what Phreakish is saying is interesting and frankly, a surprise, but if it is doable - then why not!? If going with out from under car method, do what you have to do to get the header loose, the steering is turned to the left for max clearance and you still may have to disconnect the steering linkage... again, assuming I am reading the dilemma correctly and the starter is an OEM piece.