Headers

[1968fordmustang]

I have a 68 stock 289 coupe and i would like to put on a set of headers without pulling the engine? I'm lookin at Hooker or any other brand. I've replaced the whole front end. I want shortys. Any recomenddations?

 

[woodsnake]

The typical shorty header won't work in a 'classic'.
Other than a "351 W" exhaust manifold, (Which is a decent upgrade for a stock 289),
I think you are stuck with a long tube, and the new dual exhaust to go with...

 

[gurney7040]

I had a 67 Coupe, 289 and had Thorley Tri-y's that went in easily with the engine in. Also they hugged the engine/chassis enough I didn't have to drop the steering ram with the extension. I have heard that the JBA shorty's fit well, but no experience.

 

[rhyno9]

I have a 68 stock 289 coupe and i would like to put on a set of headers without pulling the engine? I'm lookin at Hooker or any other brand. I've replaced the whole front end. I want shortys. Any recomenddations?

headman 88400 will fit 289-302 in a 68 if you have an auto or a manual that doesn't use the z-bar.

 

[rbohm]

i have put long tube headers in my 66 coupe without removing ANY parts. mine might be a bit of an unusual case though, but the engine stated firmly in place. by the way my mustang has the 3spd manual trans and the Z bar.

 

[HookandLadder]

My Headman shorties fit without moving a thing. The driver's side is like a rubics cube though. All of a sudden it drops in. Takes 15 min to do whether its been a month or five minutes since you took it out. It does go in though.

 

[SportStang]

I also have the headmans for a 302 5.0 roller carbed and t5. Can I ask what exhaust system you hooked up or is it custom. Thinking of the RMP Cable kit? How hard is it to make your own?

Thanks

 

[zookeeper]

I love my Patriot tri-y's. They go in from the top without nicking the paint and after switching to solid aluminum collector gaskets, they don't leak. They also have great ground clearance, which is kinda important since my car's pretty low.

 

[thexrcist68]

i have a set of flowtech long tubes, they fit well but for them you will need the drop bracket if you have power steering
as far as exhaust goes i just used the 3 to 2.5 collectors and built it with 2.5 pipe and mufflers and made some turndowns, fits good sounds great

 

[HookandLadder]

Custom exhaust.......needed some big pipe. 333 and built C-4. No kickdown linkage either. It's tight, but doable.

 

[Calponycarsmike]

You can always go with K-Code manifolds the really well and keep a nice classic stock look.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

I have Hooker Comps and all I had to do was take out the z-bar in order to install them. (the z-bar goes between the primaries) They do require a power steering drop bracket, but I put a PS delete on my car instead.

5.0 and Toploader with a McCleod scattershield, BTW. It's been a few years, but I think I had to slightly clearance either the scattershield flange or a few primary tubes.

 

[shelby69]

I have Heddman headers on mine for the last 20 yrs. Never a problem, except lowering the slave cylinder bracket. Had to do some frame repair when the nuts broke loose inside the rail.

 

[jspagna1]

You definitely want to go with long tube headers. A nice set of ceramic coated Hookers $$$$ or Heddman headers would be the ticket. With your car being a 68, you have plenty of room. The quote below is from an article I read not long ago that says it all.

"Shorty headers have to worth some horsepower but the gain is minimal, I have never actually seen a direct dyno comparison of shorty headers vs. stock manifolds. Long tube headers are where the real power is made."

 

[mushaus]

The JBA shorties install easily. They are a little expensive but very high quality.