This question is for all of you that have a set of Rex HP headers in your 1955 or 56 Ford sedan with a stock steering column. Did anyone experience clearance issues with the original steering column tube when installing the drivers side header? You can tell from the photos - I need about 3/4" more to come flush with the exhaust port of cylinder #5. The tubes at the collector are both hitting the steering column. 



I contacted Gord and he told me that he has never heard of clearance issues on a 55/56 Ford sedan like this. I really don't want to beat and bang on a header this expensive with ceramic coating to boot. Sectioning the steering column or denting the tube does not appeal to me other. With as much room as I need to make these work I am not really relishing the idea of modifying the steering column that deep.

Any ideas?

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Can’t say for the Ford application or this brand of headers for fit but tubing header coating can take lot. I’ve had to cut the header mount plate between the front, center pair, and rear so they were independent. You could not tell once they were tightened against the head. At one time headers were not available coated from the manufacturer; you had to send them out yourself. I always did it after a test fit and adjustments.
Denting or dippling tubing headers actually has no effect on most. Friberger did a complete Engine Masters show on the subject. 

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

I guess not too many of us on the site here run a Y Block with these headers... at any rate you can tell from the photos that we have a resolution. My first plan of attack was to double check that the engine block was centered on the crossmember, and as you can see from the photos there was no problem there. So, I ended up inserting a piece of 3/16" shim stock between the motor mount and the crossmember mount on the driver's side. This gave me the clearance I needed for the header to mate up quite well. After that was taken care I ran into a small issue underneath - the clutch release lever was rubbing the down pipe off the collector. Easy resolution there as I ground away about 1/4" or so from the tip and plenty of clearance was gained. 








Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Great. Did you set a level across the 2 rocker covers before and after?  3/16” probably didn’t make that much difference. I adjusted my engine in it’s mounts after I removed the steady rest. The rear mount Ford-o-matic was also altered slightly when I changed to a Cruise-o-matic. Just courious.


56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

Daniel I saw from the picture you have a F 17 oil filter.  Is that an Atlas brand oil filter?  My father had a scrubron gas station for years and I worked with him after school and vacations during high school and college.  We had several Atlas products ranging from filters, batteries, tires and even tire patches.  Sure brought back some memories.

DryLakes - I did not put a level across the valve covers... maybe I should, but with it being so slight a difference I do not think 3/16 will matter much. It is interesting that the slight space was all I needed (at that spot on the block anyway) to give me enough room out back to clear the column.

shank - yep! good eye! I have a small case of these Atlas filters on the shelf. "scrubron" 

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com