I took a photo of my starter in order to give me some ideas for a heat shield, and noticed that the lower control arm is rubbing against the down pipe. This is after 5,000 miles. When the pipe was put on it was crimped a bit to clear, but obviously not enough.
Eventually I will have to deal with this because that spot is going to rust through.
I keep on finding funky things with these reproduction control arms.

 

I've heated a ring around the down pipe with a torch and with a big pry bar have bent them over a hair to clear. Or possibly spot heat and dimple it.

 

I was thinking of taking a bit off the edge of the control arm. It would only have to be 1/16" or so.
Is there anything I put on the downpipe to stop the rust and hold up to the heat?

 

Hi temp coating.


http://www.eastwood.com/paints/hi-te...st-paints.html

 

how old are your engine mounts maybe they sagged enough to make it rub

 

Thanks Eric!
Steve - engine mounts are only a couple of years old.

 

Here is an update. It turns our it is not the LCA that is rubbing on the exhaust pipe, but rather the frame support for the LCA bushing mount. This probably occurred during installation, and there is no sign of recent contact, so I just put some rust converter on and them painted with high temp paint.