Pacesetter header hits the torsion bar (z22 2wd)

[heyman421]

What am i doing wrong, here? I know there's issues installing these pacesetter headers on 4wd trucks, but i'm having a heck of a time getting this thing on my truck.

If you guys could help me out and tell me what i've done wrong, i'd greatly appreciate it!



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The torsion bar is RIGHT in the middle of where the pipe needs to go. It's close enough that all 8 bolts line up with the head, but just enough in the way so that it wont sit flush.... Wah.

Could this have something to do with the particular ride height of my truck? Would raising or lowering it move the torsion bar out of my way?

I cut the EGR pipe to get the old manifold off, so there's no turning back at this point.

[MetalFab]

adjusting the torsions won't do anything for you.. how much clearance do you have between the pipe and the motor right there at the torsion? Looks like you'll have to either have the pipe bent enough to give you the room needed or cut it further up and pie out just alittle bit on the back side, then reweld it. There isn't much out there for these rigs.. it sucks to know that the few aftermarket providers out there for the 720 can't get things done right.

[heyman421]

Someone else mentioned that it may be a broken engine mount, and they're probably right.

This is only the most recent in a series of should-be-fun projects turning into a huge disaster.

I want to love my truck, but she just hates me so much.

EDIT: Does the rubber mount bushing in my 2nd picture look legit, or like something someone rigged up? If that's not a real mount, that could explain why the drivers' side of the engine is higher than it should be.

[MetalFab]

Ahh good thought. Guess it all boils down to what is easier for you, the motor mount doesn't look correct to me, but they seem to vary through the years (or all my datsuns have been modified o.O) check to make sure nothing else happens if you indeed lower the drivers motor mount down an inch or so (fan housing clearance, etc)

[PEZi]

Someone else mentioned that it may be a broken engine mount, and they're probably right.

This was my initial thought. Something isn't lined up right with the engine. I suppose it could be something not lined up right on the suspension too, though. Has it been in any wrecks that would cause either one?

[heyman421]

Well, crap ...

I figured out the problem today, and it's less than climactic.

Turns out that the reason the pipe was pinned against the torsion bar was because the #1 primary was hitting the motor mount clamshell.

I had to hammer the pipe 1/8" or so in order to get it to fit. I've probably introduced some unnecessary turbulence into the exhaust, but my engine compartment is too oily to use an angle grinder, and i wasn't feeling motivated enough to remove it first.

I'm still not entirely happy with how tight some of the tolerances of the header are or how the included extension pipe is routed, but I'm happy enough to have it back together.

[Rev_D21]

I used a 4x4 Hedman header on my 2wd 81 720 and didn't have any clearance issues like the one your pics are showing. I would also say that the motor mount could be the issue here. It's old enough for the rubber to be nothing more than a memory at this point. Does lifting the engine a bit help with clearance?