This is topic longtube install in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by Stimpys 5.0 (Member # 5829) on :
 
i have a 90 coupe im trying to install some LT headers i have them in on the driver side but cant get them lined up. the shaft on the steering column hits the runner. what do i need to clear it? also the pass. side wont go in at all. is it because its an autommatic or does that not matter. any tips, advise or help would be really appreciated thanks.....
 
Posted by warhorse58gt (Member # 7702) on :
 
are the long tubes made for your year/engine and are they for a auto trans?
 
Posted by Stimpys 5.0 (Member # 5829) on :
 
there bbk. its supposed to be for 302 sb but i dont have any specification on them. but i guess that my question. is there a difference in auto and man. transmission.
 
Posted by Blind (Member # 3052) on :
 
unbolt the motor mounts and jack the engine up on the side you are trying to install, and unbolt the steering shaft from the rack and column, put it back in after the headers are in.
 
Posted by nine (Member # 6732) on :
 
check out the link,
http://www.bbkperformance.com/products/exhaust.shtml

there's an asterisk that explicitly states that BBK longtubes will NOT fit automatics.
 
Posted by Stimpys 5.0 (Member # 5829) on :
 
yeah i just saw that, so is thats it? no ones ran bbk longtubes on an auto? (on foxbodies) do i need to look for something else?
 
Posted by SmokinLX (Member # 1684) on :
 
Unfortunatley I have to install em on My car which has an auto. Let's just say that on the drivers side You will obviously need to remove the steering shaft & then a considerable amount of grinding on the shifter lever & then You will have to beat & grind some of the bead from the weld where it contact's the lever on the H pipe. Then You will need to do some beating on the two header's that contact the steering shaft which suck's because You don't want to beat them too much so You take em off and beat them then reinstall em to check for clearance and then repeat & repeat & repeat! Hell I must of had em on and off 15 times, also make sure Your shifter will go into all gear's before you put everything back together and tighten it all up. Actually I did the passenger's side 1st & I had to remove the starter, disconnect the 2 short tranny lines that are rite by the tranny pan on that side, and then You get to diconnect the engine mount's and then put the car up on jack stand's and then jack the engine up " I had to resort to putting a piece of wood under the oil pan and using a floor jack" and lift the engine up about 3 inches and then stuff that bitch in! I did it from the top but heard of people doing it from the bottom. Needless to say it was a bitch! Then when I finished the header install I was rewarded with a trip down to the muffler shop with open header's to have the H pipe widened about an inch and a half to make it line up with the header's, now I bought them used so I am not sure if You will have to do this to Your H Pipe? I am embarrased to tell You exactly how long it took Me to complete this job but then again I had to go step by step while running into one roadblock after another with no instruction's or word's of advice from someone that had actually completed the job on an auto. Good luck with it Man & I would set aside a weekend to get this one done and You will need someone there to work with You or it will ba an absolute nightmare [Embarrassed] .
 
Posted by Stimpys 5.0 (Member # 5829) on :
 
hey man i appreciate all the info. and it really sucks to hear that.i already spent 3-4 hr. on it, just trying to get the headers in. once the drivers side was in i had hope, but when i spent 1 1/2 hrs trying to get the pass. i knew something was not rigth. so again i appreciate the info but i guess ill just pass on the LT's
anyone need some bbk longtubes [Wink]
 
Posted by HaulinAss Motorsports (Member # 541) on :
 
The BBK's Longtubes should clear your AOD trans without a problem, other brands however you will find may not be the case. You will most likley need to install a set of solid motor mounts to get the extra clearence you need for the steering shaft issue.

[ December 04, 2007, 07:22 AM: Message edited by: HaulinAss Motorsports ]
 
Posted by turbo50 (Member # 6700) on :
 
Are your BBKs the newer kind with a ball and socket flange or are they the much older kind with a 3 bolt flat flange?

I can tell you that if they are the latter it will be the nightmare that smokinlx had. I speak from experience. I ended up not putting them on and selling them to SAWSON (ST5150) years and years (11?) ago.
 
Posted by Stimpys 5.0 (Member # 5829) on :
 
there the new style 2 bolt, but i didnt put them on. i just installed the equal length headers instead. ill try to put them back on in the near future when i have more time, unless they sell. thanks again guys
 
Posted by SmokinLX (Member # 1684) on :
 
Mine are the 2 bolt flange. They will fit around the tranny with no problem's except for the contact with the shifter lever.
 




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