95 f 250 with a 5.8, the truck was sitting for awhile there is a huge hole on the exhaust manifold, and the rest of the exhaust is sh** too,
i was looking for new headers and new exhaust, anyone know a good product that is some what cheap, long or short headers? and id like to send the exhaust off the side before the rear wheels,

the bed is rusted too, how hard is it build a flatbed on 8ft bed frame




95 Ford F 150 5.0 160,xxx
95 Ford F 250 5.8 c6 60,xxx

 

Im in the same boat as you. My bed is completely shot and there is no saving it. Im thinking flat/stake bed also. Ive seached this site and the internet for flat bed plans and havent found much. I searched the web for pics and found some good designs an some poor ones. But, I have a pretty good idea how Im going to do it. So, late spring or early summer Im just going to go for it.

 

If you have a welder and a mechanical ability, it is easy. I built one in my highschool shop class. If you dont have a welder or mechanical ability then let someone who does, build it. And i must say, if you are asking, it is over your head

 

Welding is easy... but I weld 40-60hrs a week. Id say more importantly, to the OP, do you have the tools to do the job. Ill probably do it with just a chop saw, torch, welder and some hand tools. If he has all that he is good to go LOL

 

headers wise...long tubes i've had troubles with...on my 5,8 bronco i went with shortubes and took my inner fenders wells out and it wasnt too bad be careful because the studs like to snap really easy

 

Headers are a maintenance intensive PITA. The collector gaskets burn out pretty regular, and I've had some headers that liked to cook the manifold gaskets. Other problem is that I've never had a set of headers stay solid more than 5 years. They'll start rusting out or cooking through, and if you wrap them, it only speeds the process.

 

"GOOD" and "CHEAP" very rarely go together when talking about parts for a engine... that being said, I have had good luck with the Hedmans on both my 460 and the 5.8 in my old 90 Bronco. Both were (are) the basic painted ones... if you want a bit better, go with the ceramic coated ones. Be sure to use copper gaskets (SCE-4036 for the head and MRG-7177 for the collector) and you won't have 'burn-out' problems with the gaskets. As for the rest of the exhaust, I like to use mandrel bent sections and flat band clamps to build it to run how I want and dump where I want. Price wise, its about the same as having a shop bend something up for you, and you gain the flow advantage of having the mandrel bends (plus the sound is better too).

As for the bed, its not hard to build if you have access to a welder and can do some welding. Biggest part is after you draw out the basic diagram and start mocking it up to get ready to weld is make sure the truck is sitting level and then making sure the bed is level on the frame and then spacing it out for wheel clearance.

 

also with the bed some states require mudflaps behind the wheels with a flat bed or in my case they say you still have to have the wheel wells? im not sure on that just what i heard from a buddy

 

thanks for all the replies, i do have the tools and knowlegde to build it, looking for tips, best materials and advice, iam gunna wait until after winter season to get my hands on it.

as for the headers would i lose or gain hp with short or long headers?