Exhaust header help for RHD, Aus/UK swappers?

[btec116]

Hey guys, I've been stuck on a problem for hte past few weeks, the rear set of headers (Cyl's 4,5,6) foul the flexdisc on the steering shaft. It comes in at a pretty horrible point, so its not just a simple cut-and-re-weld job like it was with the front set.
I wanted to know how others have overcome this problem, and if anyone knows of some bolt-on headers for sale. I'm in a pretty shit situation, got a job halfway through the swap, so I moved to Melbourne, and the car is stuck in a garage in Sydney. To have something made up on the car is not really an option at this stage.
Something I thought about, has anyone tried the E36 style collapsible steering shafts? The reasons for this; it's more compact, and replaces the stupid rubber flexjoint, which is huge, and sits right next to the headers...
Otherwise, project is a few weeks away from running, motor starts and runs (bit noisy with just the headers) Electrics (mostly) sorted, its just the bloody exhaust holding everything up ATM.
Some help here would once again be hugely appreciated.
Cheers!

[benjy]

You need to cut the headers from the flange, take a bit out and weld back up. Not a very good description i know but i'll try to get some pics for you. Or try e30zone.net ;)

[Mike B.]

Have you tried the euro S50 headers? They are contoured for E36 RHD cars.

[ultegra]

G'day Mike B.

All partly right.

Ask me how I know...

You have 2 options:

1: buy http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=018

or

2: go for the s50b30/b32 euro rhd headers and adapt the steering.

I opted for option 2 - it requires lowereing the point that the steering column goes through the firewall and modifying how the rack mounts to the subframe. All this to get a linkage to miss the manifolds [or 'headers' for those in the Colonies]. The steering shaft can be fabricated from e34 UJs and lower shafts spliced together.

Cheers all

Chris

[Ray Smoodiver]

Those headers were so damned sexy, I just couldn't justify the c.5K NZ for an exhaust system. I believe they flowed exactly the same as the original E36 Evo headers too.

Do you have photos of your setup Ultegra?

[btec116]

Have you tried the euro S50 headers? They are contoured for E36 RHD cars.

Ye, thought about this. But the E36 crossbar (mounting the rack) is a whole lot further forward than in the E30. THis lead me to beleive that there's more room on the rear set of headers in an E36 (to allow better routing of runners for S50, for example) so steered clear of this idea. My thoughts have no factual basis, so anyone correct me...

You have 2 options:

1: buy http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=018

or

2: go for the s50b30/b32 euro rhd headers and adapt the steering.

I opted for option 2 - it requires lowereing the point that the steering column goes through the firewall and modifying how the rack mounts to the subframe. All this to get a linkage to miss the manifolds [or 'headers' for those in the Colonies]. The steering shaft can be fabricated from e34 UJs and lower shafts spliced together.

Cheers all

Chris

Hey Chris! Finally someone from the UK found this thread!!!

Those headers are beautiful! Unfortunately, my whole project has cost considerably less than what they're worth (agreeably worth the money, regardless of wether I have it or not!)
But back to what you did, Lowering the steering shaft? At the firewall? That sounds like a huge job... Why did you use the E34 UJ's? Are they longer? Do the splines match the rack and steering shaft? Some pics of this would be very helpful.

Otherwise, I'm about to go and cut the headers at the flange to bring them closer, just like benjy suggested (yes, I actually understood, thanks for that!)
Benjy, how much did you need to remove? Again any pics would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers to all!
Bence