Does anybody know of a manufacturer who makes shorty headers that will actually fit in the engine bay of a 1966 289 Mustang without having to a) dent the shock towers, b) dent the header, c) lower the rack and pinion steering, d) remove the Z-bar (although I am going hydraulic)? Anybody?
I have Hedman shortys on mine. Clearances are on the tight side but they fit in ok. I did need to "massage" one of the tubes slightly on the pass side head to allow proper access to one of the head bolts. Other than that no issue. I'm running a cable clutch and the cable does run fairly close to the header at the throwout arm so I made a heat shield and attached it between using the oil pan bolts as the base for the heat shield.
Now...I have started and run the motor but not driven the car any distance so we'll see if anything comes up. Almost ready to drive now.
bottom end is from a 87 5.0HO - torn down, honed/re-assembled with new parts (changed to carbureted)
ProComp alum heads
Comp Cam 281HR
Weiand Stealth alum intake
Quickfuel carb
Trans is a T5 5 spd