Header rubbing on center link and idler arm

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Righty Tighty

Blame it on the dog
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Last summer I installed TTI headers on my 71 Scamp. When I removed the stock exhaust, I noticed it was rubbing on the center link.
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I didn't think much of it, just chalked it up as a damaged and possibly bent exhaust pipe. Fast forward to now. I'm getting ready to drop in the rebuilt motor with the same headers.

Upon inspection, I found the passenger side header has gouges and rub marks from the same part of the center link/idler arm.
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The mounting bracket for the pittman arm looks factory, or at least the welds do. The welds on the bracket for the idler arm on the passenger side look like bird ****, and there's even a piece of MIG wire left behind.
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I think at one point the bracket had to be re-welded in someone's backyard, and they got the angle wrong. Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm thinking I'm gonna have to cut that bracket off and start over with the correct angle. The only other thing I can think of it that maybe someone bought the wrong idler arm, which changed the angle.
 
The angle is likely right. Very common issue. Some simple shims for the motor mounts to raise the engine a little will solve it. OR if your motor mounts are collapsed some, new ones might even do it.
 
I did notice that the old mounts were pretty squished. I have new mounts ready to go on the block, and I installed new shocks just in case the old ones were contributing to any sag in the front end.

Do they make shims specifically for motor mounts, or is that something typically shop made?
 
I did notice that the old mounts were pretty squished. I have new mounts ready to go on the block, and I installed new shocks just in case the old ones were contributing to any sag in the front end.

Do they make shims specifically for motor mounts, or is that something typically shop made?

Are yours the little square biscuit mounts? I forget the year of your car. If they are, you can just stack large diameter fender washers between the k member and mount. Shocks don't do any weight support whatsoever......unless they are load leveler types with the springs over them that go on the rear.
 
Are yours the little square biscuit mounts? I forget the year of your car. If they are, you can just stack large diameter fender washers between the k member and mount. Shocks don't do any weight support whatsoever......unless they are load leveler types with the springs over them that go on the rear.
It’s a 71, yes they’re the square or rectangular type. Okay, gotcha. I actually have some large grade 8 fender washers leftover from another project. I’ll see if they’ll work. Hopefully between new mounts and some shims, that’ll fix her.
 
Yeah, that weld looks pretty "factory". Never hurts to clean it up and reweld it while it's apart, though.
Shims are just 1/4" plate with a hole in the middle, nothing special. You can probably buy pre-made ones somewhere, but why? I'm sure you can find something else to spend that money on!
Edit: I type slooow. I see Rusty's got ya covered.
 
Last summer I installed TTI headers on my 71 Scamp. When I removed the stock exhaust, I noticed it was rubbing on the center link.View attachment 1715492446

I didn't think much of it, just chalked it up as a damaged and possibly bent exhaust pipe. Fast forward to now. I'm getting ready to drop in the rebuilt motor with the same headers.

Upon inspection, I found the passenger side header has gouges and rub marks from the same part of the center link/idler arm.View attachment 1715492447

The mounting bracket for the pittman arm looks factory, or at least the welds do. The welds on the bracket for the idler arm on the passenger side look like bird ****, and there's even a piece of MIG wire left behind.View attachment 1715492449View attachment 1715492454View attachment 1715492455

I think at one point the bracket had to be re-welded in someone's backyard, and they got the angle wrong. Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm thinking I'm gonna have to cut that bracket off and start over with the correct angle. The only other thing I can think of it that maybe someone bought the wrong idler arm, which changed the angle.
That's what they called a Monday morning weld on the assembly line.
When installed my TTI's they hit on everything. Installed a set of Mitty mounts - no more issues.
 
That's what they called a Monday morning weld on the assembly line.
When installed my TTI's they hit on everything. Installed a set of Mitty mounts - no more issues.

I’m glad I’m not the only one! They’re great headers so far, but everything is so damn tight in the engine bay that there doesn’t seem to be a way around hitting at least something.

Thanks for the tip on the Mity Mounts. I can’t quite afford $140 for mounts right now, maybe sometime in the future.
 
Might want to take a look at those bushings in the lower control arm too.. Hell let's just rebuild the whole car... LOL
 
LOL you should see all the leftover wire on my 74! Poking out everywhere. Like a pin cushion.
 
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