Working around the headers has been a bear for me. The run through all of the steering linkages. I couldn’t get them out of the way when I needed to get to the steering box before. The headers that are on there now are cheap ones and they aren’t in the greatest shape.
Maybe research a good header that is correct for your application? Think, Dougs, TTI? Sounds like you may have an incorrect set somebody has made to fit somewhere along the way. A good fitting set creates a lot more room for most everything?