S series 4.3 v6 steering shaft issues with exhaust manifold

I have a 2000 Blazer that is stock-floor on 20's and the stock 4.3 has been lowered as much as possible and I am having a great time trying to keep everything under the stock hood. Currently, I am trying to figure out about what to de with the hole in the firewall for the steering column blocked by the exhaust manifold with the line that runs to the intake manifold. Even if I removed the line and plugged the fitting, the casting of the manifold would be in the way..

What is everyone with v-6 s-10's, Sonoma's, etc. doing about this?? Will the JBA headers that MiniTruckin tech article'd do the job? Thanks in advance, I'm just trying to get this project up and running again and would like some answers before hand to settle my mind some. ( still have to worry about the intake clearance, I want to put AC back in it, the huge driveshaft tunnel and back seat, and brake booster!!!)

bump. I KNOW there are a million bodydropped s-series trucks out there with the same motor and bodydropped.

Well I don't even own an s-10, but I did just get done body dropping one. I had to re route the egr tube, and the manifold was really close to the steering shaft. Plus I just pushed the shaft, and column over a little, and it didn't affect the inside that much...Good Luck.

Edited: 7/20/2008 11:39:23 AM by MagicMikey

i got the 95 s10 with 20s stock floored 3 inches and i didnt lower the motor and had to make a small bubble for the alternator, and i didnt have to change anything with the shaft. oh and its a 4.3