I have a 1978 supercab 4x4 f-250 truck with the 400 v-8 stock engine. What are your opinions out there about headers vs. stock manifold exhaust system -(which is what mine is.) I have a stock 2 bb. carb on it. If headers,is a 4 bbl. better? Painted or ceramic coated headers? Shorty or full length system? Ease of installment on this particular truck? My stock manifolds have been loosened so bolt breakage during removal shouldn't be a problem. Thanks,Randy

 

Headers behind a 2 bbl dont make much difference. Internal combustion engines are nothing more than an air pump. Cant exhaust anymore air than you take in.

 

If you ever intend on swapping a 4bbl onto it go with headers so it can breathe. Unless you have some serious performance parts just stick with painted and I went with the long tube but that was just a preference thing for me. Also being that it is 4wd try to find the kind that go outside frame rails, you will thank me for that tip ha ha

 

FWIW, here is what I am going to install on my 79 F350 4x4 SC with the 400. Going with the MSD Ignition 8350 - MSD Pro-Billet Ready-To-Run Distributors, MSD Ignition 8200 - MSD Blaster 2 Ignition Coils, MSD Ignition 6425 - MSD Digital 6AL Ignition Controllers. Below are the carb & headers. This will be a much needed upgrade over the current stock setup.


http://www.summitracing.com/parts/bi...rd/model/f-350

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/edl-1406/overview/

 

Upgrading the intake and exhaust with headers, exhaust, intake, and carb is worth about 25 percent more HP plus more TQ.

I recommend 2.5-inch exhaust tubing, long tube headers, free flowing mufflers of your choice, a Weiand Action Plus intake, and a 600 cfm carb with vacuum secondaries.

 

You are half way there.....IMO frame exit (outside the frame exit) are the easiest and cheapest to finish the rest of the exhaust sys. You can even you do it yourself...

Painted $ are cheaper that ceramic $$$. Ceramic might be a back order if you use L&L?

Headers now, then alum intake and 4 bbl ASAP, then one thing after another. Straight up timing set....

Get the thick Jeffs Bronco Graveyard header gaskets and the locking Nord-Loc lock washers (Fastenall) along with some quality grade 8 hardware.

And put some anti-seize on the bolts.

 

LOTS of anti-seize

 

Rich, I'm not sure L & L offers the headers for 78/79 400 engines? I know my son put a set on his 429 (1977 hiboy-fender exits) but I didn't think they were available for the 400 engines...might be wrong...?

 

I dont think they do. You would think with all the 4x4 Ford trucks from 77-79 and Broncos from 78-79 w/351m/400 someone would design/sell a set of headers that are not fenderwell that dont hang 4 inches below frame rails. Hell even some type of blockhugger headers would be better.

 

So are there any shortys for the 400.

 

The Sanderson FC3 header set fits Ford Cleveland/Midland engines in 1972-Up Ford F100 pickups.

 

IIRC the only one that makes shorty's for the 400's is Sanderson...

Edit: Sorry about that HIO, I didn't see your post!!

 

long tubes. period. just for the music. all v8's should have long tubes.

 

No problem. It's all good intentions to provide help!

 

I have no idea if L&L sales them, I only guessed, just to give the OP a direction...yes I should of looked it up.

But I figured that someone would have a better answer anyway.