93 USDM Del Sol Si
D16A Block
D16Z6 , P08-1 Head
Almost 260k on the shell
Unknown origin 4-2-1 Header with down-pipe and i think 2" collector
Ebay 2 1/4 Cat back exhaust with aftermarket muffler
Stock Cat

The Long:
So changed the header out on the Sol as the old cast one was developing a crack down the center. Got this D series 4-2-1 header from a friend who was doing a B swap. Neither of us know where its from flanges / finish seems a bit to nice to be from ebay but who knows. At first the downpipe ran into my old NRG H brace at the front bar across. I gained some clearance by filing the downpipe flange where it connects to the header to an angle pointing the exhaust further up as it came to the rear of the car. It now cleared but still rattled on it at idle. So i replaced that NRG H brace with a Megan H brace that came a bit further down up front and gave the clearance i needed. The issue is now it rattles further back on the second bar across, the bolt that holds the spring for the socket on the cat touches the bar at idle. Any ideas on how i can get the extra 1/4 to 1/2 inch i need to clear and eliminate my rattle?

TLDR:
The bolt on the cat that has the spring on it for the flex point at the cat rattles on my H brace. How can i get just a hair more clearance? You can see the scar from it rubbing in the second picture.

 

TL:DR Cheap made. Time to hack away at the H-Brace

I mean if your old one didn't rub it than that tells you something about the quality of that header.

 

The brace fits perfect, Im deff not cutting up the brace lol even if that would solve the problem. Old header/downpipe was oem and did indeed have better fitment. New to me headers fitment did leave a bit to be desired but ive got it so damn close after altering the flange. They really aren't bad 1/2 inch flanges, all the runners line up, welds look nice, flange faces where flat, i just had to port them.

Ive been shopping for shorter spring bolts but had no luck so far, just a 1/2 inch shorter would do. Also want to add a bracket to the down pipe where the oem one attached. Idk if that would solve the issue or not but deff wouldn't hurt.