Shimming for Kooks?

[cougar9150]

The car I bought has a set of Kooks headers on it. I'm hitting the steering column and plan on shimming it this weekend. Everyone says about a 1/4" but I'm not sure what some people used for the shim.

I have a couple foot long lengths of aluminum that are 0.25" thick by 1.5" wide. I was going to cut it 2" long and notch it at 1" to the center of the plate so I can slide it over the bolt without removing the whole mount. Should I have it sit midway by notching it to 0.75" or make the notch a little smaller to kick up the outside of the mount more? Or should I just drill a hole in the center and lift the motor enough to slide the bolt through?

Thanks for your help.

[FordNut]

Just grind down the steering shaft.

[cougar9150]

Grinding down the steering shaft scares me a little. It is my lifeline to my steering and just worry about weakening it. Plus I think I can do this in less time.

16736

This is what I'm thinking. If this doesn't work I'll give the grinding a try. Will the shaft rust where the iridite coating is removed from it?

[FordNut]

Grinding down the steering shaft scares me a little. It is my lifeline to my steering and just worry about weakening it. Plus I think I can do this in less time.

16736

This is what I'm thinking. If this doesn't work I'll give the grinding a try. Will the shaft rust where the iridite coating is removed from it?

Yes, just paint it.

I have around 100k on mine with the shaft ground down.

[cougar9150]

About how much materiel did you remove from the OD? I will also have to put a shorter bolt in the upper collar. This hits the header when taking pretty sharp turn, generally tight 90° or sharper turns.

[FordNut]

Removed about 1/8", maybe more from the raised section, then cut about 1/8" from the shaft itself.

Did you shift the steering column over? Loosen the bolts under the dash, make sure you've got them all loose enough by sliding the steering wheel back & forth. Then wedge something between the header tube and shaft before tightening the steering column mounting bolts.

[Joe Walsh]

We (fellow CAMmers) were looking at the steering shafts on various Kook's/Marauders last Fall at the Ocean City Cruise.
IIRC; It seems that there is a difference in the design of the steering shafts.
Some, like mine, clear without any interference...not even close.
Others, are rubbing on the steering shaft.

[cougar9150]

Did you shift the steering column over? Loosen the bolts under the dash, make sure you've got them all loose enough by sliding the steering wheel back & forth. Then wedge something between the header tube and shaft before tightening the steering column mounting bolts.

I'll give it a try tomorrow. Didn't think to try that, Thanks. :up:

I'll get it fixed one way or another. Just sick of hearing the grinding.

[FordNut]

I've had 3 different sets of Kooks on my car. 2 sets rubbed, 1 is fine. Also, 1 set almost touched the fuel line on top of the frame on the passenger's side. The other 2 sets came nowhere near it. That's why some sets have no problem removing the starter and others it's near impossible. Manufacturing tolerances seem to be pretty wide.

[Joe Walsh]

I've had 3 different sets of Kooks on my car. 2 sets rubbed, 1 is fine. Also, 1 set almost touched the fuel line on top of the frame on the passenger's side. The other 2 sets came nowhere near it. That's why some sets have no problem removing the starter and others it's near impossible. Manufacturing tolerances seem to be pretty wide.


That's why I wrapped my fuel lines with heat sleeve to protect them from the header's heat.
My headers were kinda close to the fuel lines, but not dangerously close.
I figured that that it was cheap insurance while I had everything pulled apart.

[cougar9150]

I'll have to look at the fuel line. I thought it looked pretty close but I think it has about an 1" or so of clearance. Thought about buying the stick on heat shield from Ford and just laying one over them.

This looks promising though: http://www.heatshieldproducts.com/heat_shield_loom.php

[Kennyrauder]

I just heated up the steering shaft to avoid contact & did a mild offset & everything is great. 3 years & all is AOK.

[Kennyrauder]

I agree about the starter issue & am not looking forward to the day when my starter quits.

[Joe Walsh]

I agree about the starter issue & am not looking forward to the day when my starter quits.

That was my biggest headache when I installed the Kooks headers...the starter was a 'MOFO' to re-install.
A whole lotta cussin' to finesse it back into its' place....It was like an old school puzzle to move it just the right way to fit.
Push it, pull it, twist it, cuss....move it back, move it up, twist it, cuss....move it down, jiggle it....cuss....

BTW: I also wrapped the starter with a heat shield/blanket.

[FordNut]

That was my biggest headache when I installed the Kooks headers...the starter was a 'MOFO' to re-install.
A whole lotta cussin' to finesse it back into its' place....It was like an old school puzzle to move it just the right way to fit.
Push it, pull it, twist it, cuss....move it back, move it up, twist it, cuss....move it down, jiggle it....cuss....

BTW: I also wrapped the starter with a heat shield/blanket.

Yeah, I wrapped mine too. I modified my motor mount, it helped a lot. Where the rivet holds the two metal pieces together, I ground it down so about half of the rivet is gone along with the metal flange that sticks out toward the starter. Then I welded the two pieces back together. Takes up a lot less space than the rivet, it's amazing what an extra 1/2" of clearance will do for you. A few less cuss words are uttered!

Oh, and I can remove my starter even with the wider sump in the oil pan!

[cougar9150]

Looks like I may have few headaches ahead. At least I know some things to look out for now. Gonna try shifting the steering wheel over as that seems to be the most painless option, then work my way up the pain in the %&*ladder on the way to correct it.

Shifted the steering wheel about a week ago. Been driving around with no rubbing. Fordnut thanks for the advice, simple and free is for me.