cant get steering

hi everyone, i hope im posting in the right section. if not please forgive me!! i have an 86 coupe that ive installed a mild 466 with hooker swap headers, 1.5 inch k member spacers, solid side mounts, upr k member kit and flaming river manual rack. the issue im having is getting the manual rack steering shaft threw the headers. ive tried lowering the column, prying the colapsable part of the steering column out, pushing it in and i just cant come up with the right combination of up down in out to get the shft installed. its made up of dd shaft with the large u joints. any help, pics of installs, anything will be greatly appreciated!!!

Over the years, I have had to move the engine around, cut header tubes, ect. just what ever needed to be done.

Flaming river make a small one too.

dfree383 wrote:Flaming river make a small one too.

The Flaming River kit with the smaller diameter u-joints works.
Gary

thanks guys, im hoping to get this thing all figured out. first time building a car like this. just glad to have a site like this to get help and advice. much appreciated!!!! any part numbers on the small diameter u-joint kit??

I used the Flaming River FR1504MLP shaft kit wich is a low profile chromemoly kit for manual steering 79-93. The universals are only 2/3 the diameter of their regular kits.
www.flamingriver.com/index.php/products/c0008/s0006
Gary

Thanks Gary, I'll give that shaft set up a shot!

I think the Hooker headers have two tubes that can be removed. Can you remove part of the header, install the steering shaft, then reinstall the header? You might also need to modify the header tube for clearance.

I've got the header bolted in, all tubes. Since I spaced the column down, it almost fits. I just need to get a smaller u joint and I think it'll work I hope. I've been tossing the idea of a custom header around and stop all the fighting with the steering shaft. Last attempt will be with the smaller joint that's all I can do to try and get it to work. Unfortunately I can't do any fab work, I can bolt stuff together just don't have the other needed skills or equipment to do fab work. I thank you all for taking the time to help!! It means a lot.