Doug's Headers Hitting Column!?

[iw378]

Yeah I still don't really understand why my car is seemingly having this issue. In light of Rusty's comment I was hoping it would be as simple as he states, but on my car, without modding the column flange in any way but mounting it max to the left and up, with my stock column+bearing, I had around 1/16" of clearance. After drilling the flange out a little bit it increased to around 1/8". After modding the flange a bit more and adjusting the dash mount by loosening it and pressing the steering wheel hard to the passenger side before tightening it all back up real good, I was able to quite literally squeeze out 1/4" of clearance. While I'm stoked that this should at the very least work for now, it def doesn't feel like I should have to go to such lengths, so I still wonder what is truly the root cause.

The k-member is a brand new RMS Alterktion so it should be all square up front. My Doug's have a 3/8" flange and the #7 tube sticks out another 2 1/2" for a total of 2 7/8". Anyone know if that's to spec or what the TTI's are comparatively?

That is what I was getting at. Not a stock k frame. There is as you found out very little lateral movement in the column. Think about it. If the engine mounts are an eight inch off towards the drivers side and the steering box mounts are off the same amount towards the passenger side, well then there's your quarter inch.

 

[nub340]

So I managed to get a flaming river tilt column installed. Check it out:

As you can see the rubber dust boot is very close but does not actually touch the #7 tube. The boot feels like silicone more than rubber but I suspect it's still gonna get torched being that close. If I stretch the boot out to the max the ridges don't stick out as far so maybe I'll just zip tie it fully stretched out or put some thermal wrap on it or something, I dunno we'll see. What do y'all think, should I even be worried?

 

[nub340]

Under the dash:

 

[72Valiant4Door]

If you are that worried, wrap the header there...

I wrapped my dougs headers in a couple places after my borgeson box and coupler install.

 

[trapster]

Had to use a flaming river steering coupler to get enough clearance to be able to steer my 64 dart (but that is a different animal) I also have a 340, dougs headers, and power steering.