headers from 01 firehawk not fitting on 99 ss..

**claytonr** · 10-13-2009, 02:09 PM

Bought a set of long tube headerd that were on an 01 firehawk and their not fitting on my 99 ss the ss is lowered substantially and the firwhawk wasn't but it isn't a problem w/ the car height its a problem with the steering shaft and u joints..the rod will not allow the headers to go down the inch that they need to start the bolts..the headers should be compatible right????

**c5z28** · 10-13-2009, 02:14 PM

They are, so you are going in from the bottom and they are hitting the steering column? You may have to loosen the motor mounts(don't take them off yet) to get the motor higher and clear it. If the driver side header shows wear signs on the inside the k-member may need to be ground down a bit for clearence.

**claytonr** · 10-13-2009, 02:18 PM

The header is in place it jus has to go down an inch or so to take the bolts and when u try to push it down it hits that rod..I have a buddy that's gm certified doing it and he seems to think we need a different set of headers..

**buswwa** · 10-13-2009, 04:19 PM

Can you post some pics of the headers? Possibly get a shot of them hitting the rod. With headers its al about just finding the right angle to fit them in.

**c5z28** · 10-13-2009, 04:20 PM

^yep lots of banging around and dirty talk, post a vid or something with good light.

**claytonr** · 10-13-2009, 04:35 PM

I have a pic on my phone and I'm doing this through my phone and dnt knw how to upload it to here it looks as if the shaft needs to go over/down an inch to fit properly..(He steering is hard on that car could the previous owner had messed with that shadt in any way..it has a tubular k memeber in it?

**c5z28** · 10-14-2009, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by claytonr

I have a pic on my phone and I'm doing this through my phone and dnt knw how to upload it to here it looks as if the shaft needs to go over/down an inch to fit properly..(He steering is hard on that car could the previous owner had messed with that shadt in any way..it has a tubular k memeber in it?

Then you don't have to grind anything. e-mail the phone pics to your e-mail, download on computer and upload on photobucket.

**claytonr** · 10-14-2009, 11:16 AM

So I compared it with my trans am and it looks as if the shaft coming up out of the rack and pinion is pointed almost straight up where mine is pointed toward the fender..I looked the numbers up and they have the same part number so I'm wondering if the k member has adjustments where the rack and pinion bolt onto it..on the camaro it is pointed nearly straight up which has both U joints torqued almost al the way which must be why the steering has always been a little hard..I'll try to post some pics asap..

**buswwa** · 10-14-2009, 11:24 AM

Hmmm, starting to sound like a required modification, ie: the car has either been stuffed and rebuilt, or hacked together at some point. Look for any other signs of damage repair, such as junkyard tags, or mismatched bolts and nuts.