High ports and steering
 

I am switching from E-heads to high ports. Had to dent the header to clear the rag joint. Have a little problem with the last head bolt hitting the upper steering clamp. Does anyone know how much force is on this clamp? Looks like it hold a spring and collar.

The high ports move the header out a 1/4". Have to modify the exhaust a hair.

I had same problem with cvs and the hiports that followed, my solution was to replace the rag with a solid borgeson sleeve gained a lot of clearance, it has been no issue when it was street driven and will remain now that the car is coming back to pump gas.
You can just see it in this picture

Could you shorten that head bolt a little?

They do make rag joint replacement solid joints, maybe one of those would have more room around that clamp?

Also heres a joint bracket that has a set screw, maybe it would offer more clearance? Of course, make sure its your spline and so on.

https://www.opgi.com/chassis-suspens...FaTHD0qKiAPlnR

I actually cut my rag joint out and went with a borgeson joint. I still need to pin the 3/4" tube that slid into the old shaft and I welded it. This is on a 69 Firebird:
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1775132607

My motor is about 1.5" back from
Stock which moves the port intersection of the steering shaft
Even w the turbo manifolds it is close

Ground it , got it to clear but very close for my liking. This is what I ended up doing. I like fabricating. Used some bar stock aluminum I had laying around. Have 1/4" clearance now.

what did you do at the rag joint?

Still have the rag joint. I just dented the header to clear it. Didn't feel that bad denting the header in a few spots after watching Engine Masters when they dented headers. They dented 8 tubes and didn't lose power.