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Hey, which steering center link gives the most clearance to a sbc oil pan on a Vega ?

I have stock p/s in a '73 Vega hatchback and Don Hardy side engine mounts... and stock 4-speed Saginaw. Looking to drop in a sbc with stock oil pan.
Some people have added washers to engine mounts to bring the engine up about 1/4 inch.
I'm thinking of also adding 1/8 of washers to bottom of transmission mount -- to help compensate/offset difference.
The v8 Monza diagram shows that the oil pan modification gets rid of only 1" of oil pan. Don hardy and a few others
allow heating the pitman & idler arm 3/4 inch........ so only approx. 3/4 inch removal seems to be needed.

Which steering center link gives the most clearance to a stock/aftermarket sbc oil pan on a Vega?

Thanks

*Photo was originally posted by Clyde.

robert . pretty sure we hAVE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE AND THE GUYS SAID THE CLEARANCE IS THE EXACT SAME WITH EACH CENTER LINK. YOU CANT INTERCHANGE THEM THOUGH. IF YOU HAVE PS, YOU NEED TO USE THE ONE FOR THE PS. LOOK CAREFULLY AT PIC AND YOU WILL SEE A DIFFERENT SPACING WHERE THE TIE ROD END CONNECTS TO IT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE... RAISING THE ENGINE MOUNT REQUIRES SHIMMING THEW TRANNY MOUNT THE SAME OR YOU WILL CHANGE ENGINE ANGLE AND THROW OFF WHAT EVER PINION ANGLE YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY. YOU WILL HAVE TO CHECK ALL THAT OUT WHEN ENGINE IS IN AND REAR IS INSTALLED.YOU SHOULD MOCK THE ENGINE UP IN PLACE, CHECK FOR EXHAUST MANIFOLD(OR HEADER) CLEARANCE. STEERING SHAFT CLEARANCE, AND TOP TRANNY BOLT CLEARANCE ON DRIVERS SIDE(BOLT TO FIREWALL CLEARANCE) NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, YOU WILL HAVE VERY LITTLE CLEARANCE BETWEEN CENTER LINK AND OIL PAN, EVEN WHEN YOU USE THE CORRECT PAN(MOROSO OR MILEDON)YOU WILL ALSO HAVE MINIMUM CLEARANCE BETWEEN WATERPUMP SNOUT AND RADIATOR CORE.DO NOT HAT UP AND BEND PITMAN ARM AND ODLER ARM. THAT IS A VERY BAD IDEA AND WILL WEAR OUT YOUR SUSPENSION PARTS REAL FAST AND AFFECT YOUR STEERING.LOOK AT SPEEDPHREAKE's project journal and see how he got his clearance. neet idea.i had mine dropped and welded, but most guys thought it was unsafe. i have faith in it. we will see. good luck art

Judging from the the picture I posted it sure appears that that the V8 one drops lower under the oil pan. I never really compared one side by side though. The bottom line is you need to use the correct centerlink based upon whether you have power steering or not. I would not choose which centerlink to use based upon just oil pan clearance.

chevyart wrote:robert . pretty sure we hAVE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE AND THE GUYS SAID THE CLEARANCE IS THE EXACT SAME WITH EACH CENTER LINK. YOU CANT INTERCHANGE THEM THOUGH. IF YOU HAVE PS, YOU NEED TO USE THE ONE FOR THE PS. LOOK CAREFULLY AT PIC AND YOU WILL SEE A DIFFERENT SPACING WHERE THE TIE ROD END CONNECTS TO IT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE... RAISING THE ENGINE MOUNT REQUIRES SHIMMING THEW TRANNY MOUNT THE SAME OR YOU WILL CHANGE ENGINE ANGLE AND THROW OFF WHAT EVER PINION ANGLE YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY. YOU WILL HAVE TO CHECK ALL THAT OUT WHEN ENGINE IS IN AND REAR IS INSTALLED.YOU SHOULD MOCK THE ENGINE UP IN PLACE, CHECK FOR EXHAUST MANIFOLD(OR HEADER) CLEARANCE. STEERING SHAFT CLEARANCE, AND TOP TRANNY BOLT CLEARANCE ON DRIVERS SIDE(BOLT TO FIREWALL CLEARANCE) NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, YOU WILL HAVE VERY LITTLE CLEARANCE BETWEEN CENTER LINK AND OIL PAN, EVEN WHEN YOU USE THE CORRECT PAN(MOROSO OR MILEDON)YOU WILL ALSO HAVE MINIMUM CLEARANCE BETWEEN WATERPUMP SNOUT AND RADIATOR CORE.DO NOT HAT UP AND BEND PITMAN ARM AND ODLER ARM. THAT IS A VERY BAD IDEA AND WILL WEAR OUT YOUR SUSPENSION PARTS REAL FAST AND AFFECT YOUR STEERING.LOOK AT SPEEDPHREAKE's project journal and see how he got his clearance. neet idea.i had mine dropped and welded, but most guys thought it was unsafe. i have faith in it. we will see. good luck art

Thanks for your advice guys.