Have a post about this down in a thread on a header install, but really need help.
Putting on long tubes and can't get drivers side up and attached without moving steering linkage. Promblem is I have undone the top bolt of the 'u-joint' in the engine compartment, and the two nuts inside on the firewall, but can't get steering 'rod' out of lower 'u-joint'.

It easily comes up about a half inch, but still needs to go up about another half inch to come out. I could probably pry it out, but am concerned with then not being able to get it back in. I've searched like crazy and every post here and on other forums with this issue just mention 'remove' steering linkage for easier access...like it's something real simple. Did read one post that mentioned tilting the rack & pinion forward...but they said something along the line of needing a well trained gorilla with a 5' breaker bar to get the rack & pinion bolts loose. Plus, I'm not sure if I can move the rack & pinion with the rod still in the 'u-joint'. I have been trying to work around it by jacking up the motor, but you can only go so high before the collector wedges against the floorboard.

Hope someone can shed some light on this...Need to get back to sleep, get ready for an early attack on the headers. Thanks!!

 

This is probably a little late in coming.

But

The easiest way to install headers is to drop the entire k member and lower the engine down.

Takes about 2 hours to complete. Just saw it done yesterday at the speed shop I go to.

 

GT John, thanks! Hope it doesn't come to that, but it may have been quicker to do in the first place. Don't know how much room there is to move the block over, but I'm gonna try that this morning.

 

You just need to take the two bolts out of your steering rack and slide it forward. The steering rack has two 18mm bolts holding it on and will slide forward out of the way giving you plenty of room to pull the steering rod out.