Steering shaft/header clearence
 

I know that getting the steering shaft past the DS header is always an issue for us Miata folks. I have used the BF set and they were basically a Hooker LS Block-Hugger set with a crease across the top collector weld. Mine actually cracked there and I had to re-weld them. Having used the entire BF set up on Nadine I would say that I am familiar with their stuff. Ric includes a modified steering knuckle that extends the shaft side of the joint about 1 -1 1/4" That makes up the distance that he sets the rack forward in order to clear the oil pan. However it occurs to me that while building the Exocet (having the space to see the geometry clearer) if the LOWER part of the joint were extended the same amount there might not be a need to dimple the header at all. It does mean that the joint is moved farther away from the rack but the change in overall joint angle isn't that large.
I will be using an NB rack on my set up. I am going down to my local welding shop today for some other projects so I am bringing this with me to see what they can do. I am hoping that with this mod I can use off the shelf Hookers and save about $400 in the process.
Has anyone else found a solution like this?

I pondered something along those lines too. Seems to me moving the upper u joint down a bit and adding another joint with a support and you would go around that tube completely.

Looking forward to how this goes.

Phoenix Motors (now long gone) used 2 joints but had to add a Hiem joint to keep the "center" shaft in place. They ran it through the Hiem and braced it off the body. With a little luck, my idea will move the entire joint and eliminate the need for all that.

I used the Hooker block huggers on my BF setup. Ordered them from Summit and modified them myself. I cut off the DS collector flange and welded the 90° pipe to the header and added the flange below, next to the trans. The dent required for my steering shaft was minimal because I used a belt sander with a 40 grit belt to "machine" the header flange at about a 5° angle, further pulling the collector closer to the block.