Driver side Thorley interference with AIR pipe

[mws]

We are (finally) installing the Thorleys in my old '87 5 speed, CA model.

As I attempt to install the driver side, it appears I am having interference with the AIR pipe. This is the steel 3/4" diam pipe running from the AIR valve down to the catalytic converter. It would appear that the two pipe portion of the header wants go through the same air space occupied by that pipe as it passes the frame rail.

 

Ideas? Eliminating the pipe is not an option for ethical and legal reasons.

 

Anyone else encounter this? What was the solution?

 

I would look at the '88, but my nephew has it this week.

[Casey.T]

Someone else had problems with fitment along the frame rails, I just cant remember who...

 

Nothing wrong with re-routing the AIR tube. I know I found a kit at Motion Auto Parts that was a repair kit for Cat return tubes....

[mws]

Yeah, rerouting is an option, but the lazy part of me is hoping there is another! It is a thin walled rigid steel pipe... Good tip on the repair kit!

 

[Casey.T]

Can you just bend it out of the way... careful not to deform it to much??

 

Or Re route with some copper/stainless/Steel plumbing tubing... Remove it and use a tubing bender to get the clearance you need???

 

On my EGR Tube I cut it and put in a 1" extension... Slick and Dave and Allen BFH hers to fit...

[mws]

I tried bending by hand - no way. And since it is welded to the cat, it will be kind of a bitch to remove. Welding in an extension will be a bit tricky as it is very thin wall and difficult to access....

 

Unless someone can tell me it will fit if/when the header is crammed into place (it interferes hard and prevents seating header onto head and really doesn't look like it will get better if I force it), I'm liking the cut out a section and re-route with clamp in replacement section.

[Casey.T]

Got a Picture of it???

 

Did you get the Thorleys for the 87-89 or 90-95??? Still trying to remember who else had this problem, they posted pics and everything....

[mws]

Supposedly are the 464-1 set....

[unccpathfinder]

i should be removing that tube sometime in the near future...do you have a welder i could send you however much you need and could bend it to form and cut out the section you need to weld it in...

 

other advice...use a BFH but be careful not to crimp it...

 

leave it disconnected till its time for a smog check? then go by an exhaust shop and let them take care of it for u

[mws]

Thank you for the offer - I love you guys... sniff sniff...

I will not need to take you up on it as as I do have a spare pathy lying around (don't we all???) We picked up another 87 last weekend for $340 - mainly for the 5 speed trans and Smittybilt bumper and tons of spares.

I do have a welder, and I may resort to that. But I also acknowledge I am a hack welder and welding that thin steel in that location without leaks will be a challenge!

[Slick]

hmm. when i installed my egr tube, i screwed it in at the y pipe, then manhandled it to the upper mount. it took 3 of us to get it in there but it worked. other than that, i had no clearance issues you speak of.. and WHERE did you get a pathy fer $350? i was mooching over one fer $1k for the 5 spd.... it was a 2wd but in very nice condition. the trans and motor alone woulda been worth the $1k to me....

[unccpathfinder]

if it doesnt seal...get some jb weld and seal it up...then cake some mud on it and they'll never know...

[Casey.T]

I knew I had seen this before.....

 

hastifc sold, thank you mws!

Edited February 21, 2007 by Casey.T

[Casey.T]

His problem was on the passenger side though???

[Guest SuperSon]

Maybe and just maybe one model number works better for certain year pathys. I know that it says on the site that from 87-89 is supposed to be the 464-1 and 90-95 is 464-2. could it be possible that the person packing those grabbed the wrong part at summit or could thorley boxed the right pipe in the wrong box?. Is there a part umber stamped on the pipe itself?

 

Hope you guys that have thorleys can post what year pathy you have and what model number was in your thorley box or the receipt and If you have any difficulties in installing them

 

 

I dont see why certain pathys would have difficulties and some dont,Theyre all going in the same engine and going one way only.

 

 

I see that slick has a 93 and didnt have much difficulty in installing hers.

Can you post what part number you have please coz thats what im going to get Slick

Edited February 21, 2007 by SuperSon

[M in KC]

MWS would you think this cat tube would run any hotter than the EGR tube? When I did my Pacesetters the EGR pipe didn't match-up. Big suprise I know. Any who we took a chunk of hi-temp silicon hose and bridged the gap with that and a couple of hose clamps. It's been golden since.

 

M

[mws]

It shouldn't be exposed to any higher temps. Normally, air will be flowing from that funky valve down to cat. Should not be exhaust gasses flowing back up... But then again it is possible!

 

So I love the high temp silicone hose idea! Where you able to find it locally?

 

 

And this is that set of headers hastifc had. Guess I'd better check the passenger side before I start hacking the driver side.... Maybe these are some kind of mismarked/mispackaged set.

 

Did MPFI versions still have the air pipe going into the Cat?

Edited February 22, 2007 by mws

[unccpathfinder]

hmm i donno how diff it all is but till i read the link above about wheelmans...his engine (95) is what i dropped into my 87 that had all those tubes and what not and i didnt have a lick of interference with anything (except they lay along the brake lines b/c the early wd21s have the lines on the side of the rail instead of on top...gotta get some heat wrap so i dont create air pockets) headers were installed when i dropped the engine...and comparing between the 2 the only difference i see (my 95 isnt a cali version tho i think they're the only 1's with that return tube from the catbut could be wrong i know my 87 is from cali but it was also TBI)...the 95 engine was also an auto and i dropped it into a manual so i wouldnt have that cooler interference but i know his didnt..

[M in KC]

MWS, go to NAPA and ask for an air pipe repair kit for a GM application. They should recogize the kit simply by the request. Otherwise it should be for a '80's model of something. It should have stainless steel clamps, a piece of stainless steel tubing and a chunk of the "magic" silicone hose in 1/2" and I think 3/4" ids. I think the kit was like $22. It's been a couple of years since I did mine. I don't have a Cali model and the Show-Me State doesn't require annal probing of the tail pipe. Yet.

 

Try a Napa P/N: EXH35574. The kit will be something like this. I didn't keep any part number specific notes for my application which will likely be different than yours. But at least you will have a starting point if this is the route you end up taking.

 

M

Edited February 23, 2007 by M in KC