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I need help with headers.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cupid
  • Start date Start date Jun 27, 2006

Cupid

Member
Mar 30, 2006
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Jun 27, 2006
#1
  • Jun 27, 2006
  • #1
For those of you who have been following my other suspension build thread you know that I have completed it and it has a decent stance.

However.....I have a MAJOR problem. My headers are too low.



I need advice on headers that will "tuck" like the stock headers.(not below the frame) I don't know what type of headers I have on there now. They came with the car. I can only speculate that they are some type of "long" headers (not necessarily the correct ones for this car). I have a 351 - 2V. Any advice would be appreciated.

Right now, I can't even get out of my driveway....SERIOUSLY....
 

dennis112

15 Year Member
May 15, 2005
1,561
36
79
Amish Wonderland of Central PA.
Jun 28, 2006
#2
  • Jun 28, 2006
  • #2
Coke Challenge

My Accufab headers fit tight against the body of my 351w powered 65.' I have not lowered the car like you did so the clearances shown may seem large to you. Rest assured that these 3" collectors are about as close to the floor pan as you can get.

Also notice that the big arsed Lakewood bellhousing sits LOWER than the headers.







http://www.accufabracing.com/exhaust.htm - Call George and he will fit you up.
 
D

D.Hearne

New Member
Sep 29, 2000
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Jun 28, 2006
#3
  • Jun 28, 2006
  • #3
He needs shorty's like maybe the 351W Hedman swap headers for a 65-66 Stang. Don't know if they'd interfer with anything in a 70 though.
 
D

davishokies

20+ Year Stangneter
Jul 27, 2004
20
0
1
Stafford, VA
Jun 28, 2006
#4
  • Jun 28, 2006
  • #4
Yes, like these hedmans

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=HED-88400&N=115&autoview=sku
 

Cupid

Member
Mar 30, 2006
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Jun 28, 2006
#5
  • Jun 28, 2006
  • #5
$135

$135? That's what i'm talkin' about!:SNSign:

I would call George @ accufab, but $599 is way too much for headers. Thanks anyway though.

Can anybody beat $135?

$135 going once...

$135 going twice.....



I am worried about spark plug changes. The ones I have on there now have a notches in them to fit the plugs.


Anybody have these headman shortys?
 

Pbum5

Member
Oct 27, 2004
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Minneapolis, MN
Jun 28, 2006
#6
  • Jun 28, 2006
  • #6
maybe the angle is weird but are you sure your motor is a 351W and not a 351C?
 

Cupid

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Mar 30, 2006
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Jun 28, 2006
#7
  • Jun 28, 2006
  • #7
Pbum5 said:
maybe the angle is weird but are you sure your motor is a 351W and not a 351C?
Click to expand...


Uh-oh....

You tell me. I have 8 bolt valve covers and my water neck bolts directly to my block, not my manifold. All Cleveland characteristics right? However, my fuel pump has vertical bolts. Windor characteristic right?



If this is a cleveland, what are the implications? Am I hot water as far as a rebuild or what?
 
D

davishokies

20+ Year Stangneter
Jul 27, 2004
20
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Stafford, VA
Jun 28, 2006
#8
  • Jun 28, 2006
  • #8
Finding shorty headers for 351C becomes a big challenge....and big $$. Summit has ceramic thorley's for $512.
 
6

68RCodeConv

New Member
Oct 2, 2003
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Houston, TX
Jun 28, 2006
#9
  • Jun 28, 2006
  • #9
That is a Cleveland engine. The only headers out there that will gain you more ground clearance are made by Ford Powertrain (FPA) and they are not cheap. About $450-500. Hooker Comps or Super Comps are going to hang almost as low as the ones you have. In fact, they may be Hookers.
 

Cupid

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Jun 28, 2006
#10
  • Jun 28, 2006
  • #10
I saw these Headmans for a Cleveland over at Summit as well, but I don't know how low they are going to hang. Any thoughts?

Headman Full Lengths
 
D

D.Hearne

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Jun 28, 2006
#11
  • Jun 28, 2006
  • #11
Sanderson Headers also makes, (or made) Cleveland Shorty's. Can't tell you if they'll fit the Stang though. Go to the 335 engine forums on Network54. Those guys can get you an answer. You also have to watch what heads you've got. 2 bbl and 4 bbl Cleveland heads use different exhaust ports. They both have the same bolt pattern, but they don't interchange. And just because you have a 4 bbl intake on there, doesn't mean you've got 4 bbl heads. Edelbrock made 2 different 4 bbl intakes for Clevelands, one has 4 bbl sized ports (big enough to store tennis balls in ) the other has 2 bbl sized ports (little larger than a golf ball) Look at the front, top corner of your heads, there you'll either find a "2" or "4" cast next to the valve cover. If there's neither, then someone swapped a set of later 351M/400 heads onto it.
 

Cupid

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Jun 28, 2006
#12
  • Jun 28, 2006
  • #12
D.Hearne said:
Look at the front, top corner of your heads, there you'll either find a "2" or "4" cast next to the valve cover. If there's neither, then someone swapped a set of later 351M/400 heads onto it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I do know I have a big "2" stamped on them. This really does suck, but there's gotta be something out there for less than $500-600. If it is, I plan to find it. If it's not, my wife is going to kill me....
 
D

D.Hearne

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#13
  • Jun 28, 2006
  • #13
Sandersons were cheaper than that. They used to have a website, ain't been there in a while though......... Nickel-chromed FPA's run about $430 shipped to you. That's the cheapest they get. Stan (the guy who builds em and takes your order, doesn't do plain steel) I've got a set on my 68 Merc's 390 and have no complaints about the headers, I don't care for the gaskets he included though. He's got a website too www.fordpowertrain.com I see all he's got listed are long tubes for Clevelands, you can call him and ask him about the ground clearance. I looked at Sandersons too and it looks like none of the 3 designs they list will work on a Stang, except maybe the bottom one. But it looks like it dumps right into the firewall on a Stang. But I could be wrong, it's been awhile since I had one.
 

Cupid

Member
Mar 30, 2006
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Jun 28, 2006
#14
  • Jun 28, 2006
  • #14
Manifold vs. Shorty Headers

Can anybody break down the advantage of having shorty's over the stock manifold? I'm going one way or the other. I just would like to know if there is a BIG difference in performance.
 

latamud

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
791
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Tampa, FL
Jun 28, 2006
#15
  • Jun 28, 2006
  • #15
If those are your only choices, go shorties. You can go to an exhaust shop and have the headers modified to fit the car tighter.
 
D

D.Hearne

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#16
  • Jun 29, 2006
  • #16
As far as manifolds go, the Clevelands got better ones than 95% of other Fords got. I know this may be a weird comparison, but a while back I saw an article where they did a comparo between manifolds and various types of headers on a big block Chevelle, of which the Cleveland manifolds, seems to me are similar to, there wasn't much power lost with the manifolds.
 

Cupid

Member
Mar 30, 2006
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Jun 29, 2006
#17
  • Jun 29, 2006
  • #17
D.Hearne said:
As far as manifolds go, the Clevelands got better ones than 95% of other Fords got. I know this may be a weird comparison, but a while back I saw an article where they did a comparo between manifolds and various types of headers on a big block Chevelle, of which the Cleveland manifolds, seems to me are similar to, there wasn't much power lost with the manifolds.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I was thinking. The manifold are extremely short. I mean, they definitely won't flow as good as headers, but not so bad that i'll lose a lot of power. Today I plan to call a few junkyards to see if they have any manifolds laying around that will fit and are not cracked! If i'm unsuccessful, i'll have to be really nice to my wife before popping the $500-600 question for some shorties.... And to think, this all started as a $500 suspension build!

Thanks again guys.
 
D

D.Hearne

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#18
  • Jun 29, 2006
  • #18
Not sure, but if the 351M/400 truck manifolds will work in a Stang, the right side one has a better looking shape (as far as flow goes)to it than the Cleveland car manifolds did. I think the left side is pretty close, if not the same as the car manifold.
 
D

D.Hearne

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#19
  • Jun 29, 2006
  • #19
I went from headers to 428CJ manifolds on my 67 with the 427 and it lost some power on top, but none on the bottom. And that was a huge difference in flow, a lot more than your headers to Cleveland manifolds.
 
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