Headers hitting steering shaft, wonderig if i can add a 3rd joint to change angle??

wondering if i can add a third joint to a steering shaft to change the angle on this Mustang 2 styled front clip so i can fit some full length headers.

i think i have seen this on many hot rods at Lead East and other shows like a middle joint with a ball bearing eyelet.

not sure who makes or sells these parts or if i will have steering geometry issues.

please post up some info or links here as my buddy and i are having hell with this. even shorty headers wont work

its a small block ford engine

 

Yes, you can use a third joint.
Yes you must use a "ball bearing eyelet".
Borgesen and many streetrod vendors offer them.
As long as you don't exceed a 15° or 20° angle you should be OK.

my 2¢

.bjb

 

You can have two u-joints on a common shaft.

 

If you put a third u-joint in then you must add a support bearing. Otherwise the shaft will flop around. The support bearing is usually a spherical rod end bearing, what you call bearing eyelet. Check out Borgeson or Flaming River as two suppliers for the u-joints, support bearing and shafts.

It is very acceptable to have the steering shaft go out around the exhaust and then back in to the box. But you need 3 u-joints in the system and make sure the support bearing is mounted securely.

 

Did it in my "A" coupe as described above. Works just fine

 

Got it guys i just called borgeson and spoke to.Guy

I am open to use the support eyelet i just do not want to yank the engine somi can drill and tap a hole form the support bearing unless there is another option. There are holes in the frame already but not im a good location to use a support bearing.

I so wish these joints werent so expensive as id keep a bunch in my drawer for times like this.

 

Can you guys throw some photos up so i can reference. Does the support bearing need to be before or after the joint or it doesnt matter?

 

I am using three joints with a support bearing. I did it 10 years ago...a ton of miles ago, it still works slick.

Just make sure you don't end up with crazy angles and make damn sure that support bearing is set up really strong, you need "zero flex".

 

Nova column and u-joint at the firewall, center u-joint and support bearing in the middle, and u-joint to Mustang II rack at the left.

.bjb