Long tube header clearance?

[Yeret]

So, my truck's in the shop getting long tubes and a new exhaust system installed. Yay!

My man just called, however, and warned that, upon installation, one of them is uncomfortably close to the front driveshaft. Not so yay.

Has anyone had a similar issue with long tubes on these trucks and drivetrain clearance, notably the 4wd ones? If so, was it any real issue, or did you have to do other stuff?

I suppose a driveshaft's a driveshaft, and maybe I could swap the front one with a different one with a narrower diameter to increase clearance. Is this feasible or even necessary?

I'm looking forward to hearing the results of the new system but it's gonna be awful bummerous if I go bouncing around off-road and the driveshaft eats the header.

 

[rzr6-4]

A low quality shop will just notch out your tubes to give clearance for the driveshaft, but obviously hurting the flow of that runner. A quality shop should be able to bend it a little to make room.

Putting in a smaller shaft is probably going to be weaker as well, I would fix the exhaust correctly before I risk putting a weak spot in my driveline. It probably wouldn't break, but the odds are not zero.

 

[GeauxinUp]

What long tubes are you using? My stainless works weren’t close to my driveshaft

 

[Yeret]

Pacesetters. Yeah, I know, not the greatest quality-wise, but I got 'em brand new for damned near a steal a few years ago.

They were advertised as "fitting" the 4x4 models, but I guess "fits" and "clears" aren't necessarily the same thing.

 

[Pull Ya]

If you trust the shop doing the install, just have them make the appropriate adjustments necessary; if not, and if they were that "cheap," you might have to eat the cost of them and buy a quality set of long tube headers. Sell the Pacesetters to your ex's boyfriend.

Jay

 

[Yeret]

Got the truck back from the shop a few days ago. Turns out, the clearance wasn't as bad as we'd thought. It's a damned cozy fit, no doubt, but I don't see any real cause for alarm. If I manage to get the truck bouncing around enough while 4x4'ing it such that any contact does occur, my ancient suspension is probably in much greater danger, LOL.

Sounds absolutely fantastic, or at least like what I was shooting for. Just went with a single 3" with a new Magnaflow cat, and he picked a "Street Max" muffler. Deep, bass tone that's just loud enough to let you know it's there. Only thing I'd have done differently was having this done years ago, LOL.