I'm installing Doug Thorley headers on my 69 Camaro with a stock small block 350. In the process I loosened the bolt out of the block for the Z-bar, cross shaft, and lifted the engine some to gain some room to install the header on the driver side. Well, I've got that in, and dropped the engine back down in place. I can not get the bolt that goes to the block off of the cross shaft to thread in. It just won't get started. Any tips?
I can get my fingers on it to turn to try and get started, and I have used a screwdriver against the shaft itself to pry the bolt further toward the block...

Is there something I'm missing... Anything I can try. This seems simple, but is frustrating the crap outta me.

LOL. That's funny.

As soon as I go backto work on it after asking for advice...I get it to go in. I loosened the nut on the frame side more that I had already...and pulled on the shaft away from the frame a the same time as turning the bolt...it went in. I have had this Camaro off the ground over month now putting these headers on a little at the time as time permitted. Been messing with this z-bar for a while. Just took some luck from Team Camaro.

Thanks

I've been there, even loosened the Z bar frame bracket, and after an hour crawling in and out from under the car I realized I was trying to screw the Pivot Ball bolt into the oil gallery access just next to it.

LOL. That's funny.

As soon as I go backto work on it after asking for advice...I get it to go in. I loosened the nut on the frame side more that I had already...and pulled on the shaft away from the frame a the same time as turning the bolt...it went in. I have had this Camaro off the ground over month now putting these headers on a little at the time as time permitted. Been messing with this z-bar for a while. Just took some luck from Team Camaro.

Thanks

Loosening the frame side bolts (3) or totally removing them, is the only way that I have done and gives you less fits, less tools being thrown across the room. Didn't matter Hooker or Thorley's , the Z bar gets in the way. . Next time you know you dont have to lift motor.

My 1st Gen. Camaro car has a slotted frame bracket so it slip's right down on it!

Problem is, is that it's a real b.. to tighten the nut from the top on the Z-bar to make sure it's done!

Talk about CUSS!!

pdq67

We all have Z bar stories. None of them good. Wanna hear mine? Been a TH400 man since '69 because of those things,,,, and 4 speeds behind BBC's.