Hey Tim,

Lots of luck with the "inexpensive" headers....if you're using an IFS clip you might be able to score. I'm one of those "straight axle" guys ....(it's a truck). I weighed the "header" situation and listened to a couple pretty sharp 385 builders who suggested I forego the HP gain for the convenience of power steering. In mounting my engine I elected to offset to the passengers side and move a bit forward. Plenty of clearance for Toyo box and stock exhaust manifold and for the kickdown linkage.

Was curious where you were going to locate? Lot's of year-round cruising down here. Good luck on your "header hunt"

BTW....don't forget the tiedowns, generator and tarps.....

 

We're moving to the Dade City area. Just a little northeast of Tampa. My Mom has lived there for years and reports that they usually only loose electricity....but that the winds and rain are not that bad where she was located.
I'm wih you on the straight axel thing. I'm leaving the front suspension basicly stock except for pulling a few leafs out of the front end. I'm not too old yet, so I think I can use the muscle part for power steering. I got my motor mounts from Dennis Carpenter, and neither the manifolds nor the headers will clear the mounts. Supposedly, this kit is a direct bolt in to transplant a 460 into a 53-56 ford f series. Some "bolt in". No big deal though. I am a certified welder, so I'll just go to the local header shop and get some mandrel bends and modify it as I need to with a little 110 rental welder. No big deal. Should take me about a couple hours. The hardest part was biting the bullet and comming to that realization. Oh well. Now, where did I put those tie downs at????

 

Hey Tim,

Nice to have you in the neighborhood.....lots of old iron in that area!!! I'm a bit south and east...close to Winter Haven......where the eyes of three storms all hit.....what a rush! Storms aren't that bad but the week after, before they get the juice back on, is a bummer.

Amen to the straight axle.....don't want my 640+ pounds of iron riding on Mustang II ball joints!!! Speaking of motor mounts....there are some on the market that tuck up close to the block....easily fabricated and installed with the engine in the bay. I fabricated mine and they have stood the test of time/torque...frame too, but I'm hunting the yards for a swaybar setup to tame the body roll. A guy once told me that "an old truck is like a blank canvas....you can create whatever you want".....and he sure knew what he was talking about. Good luck with your project.

Dave

 

1981 F-150 (350) Dana 60 up front Dana 80 rear locked,4.10's. shortened 87 F-350 frame for 6 foot bed and hot dipped galvanized. 38.5 swampers. Np435, currently in the process of putting in a 71 460, dove heads redone and all the other goodies. hopefully she'll go up hills better now then with the 302 about 132,000 hard miles motor still running good dropped it in my other truck last week.

 

1985 F250 460/C6/3.55 Holly 4 barrel 2 stage power valve replaced with 6.5, recurved stock dist. dual 45inch / 2 1/4 glasspacks, early timing chain and gears: 14 mpg freeway........I'm the original owner!

 

My 89 F-350 SC Dually gets 10 MPG. It has a C-6, 3.55 Sterling rear. At 65 MPH it's turning 3000 RPM. It originally had a 4.10 and it turned 3000 RPM at 65 MPH. It also got 10 MPG with the 4.10's. I didn't gain a thing switching to the 3.55's. I think the convertor is the culprit. I'm going to switch to an RV/Towing convertor and the 2.72 gear set for the C-6.

 

hear is one for ya 84 f-350 4 door 8 ft bed with 142000 on it with 750 edelbrock carb and headman headers it will run 15.9 in the quarter if i get a good rt and i can get 10 mpg if i behave myself

 

Ok, here is what I have compiled so far. I have the rearend...just not completely put in yet. I have the 460 and C-6...also not in yet but ready to go with a Holley 750 on top. I have yet to find the proper headers to fit. I think I will have to have them custom made. Most likely going to cost me in excess of $300. But the headers are all thats holding me up right now. I'm hoping to get better than 12 MPG going accross country towing my 67 mustang behind it. Then I want to race it and I hope to turn 13's, although14's would be fine also. I want those times BEFORE I open the NOS bottle.

 

I got a 97' f250hd 4x4 460 EFI 5spd 3.55's daily commuter/ tow toy. Not pulling average 14-16 city driving like a sane person, 10-12 if not. I have managed to get almost 18-19 on the hwy driving a steady 65mph cruise. As for towing it seems to always average 12-14 city or hwy, it's been that way since new currently working on 120,000 plus with only one major tune up.

 

I've got an 88 f150 2wd 302 AOD extended cab long bed bone stock(mods on the way)averaging 15-16 mpg

 

1986 F250/460/C6/3.73. On a fresh rebuild, and the carb still a little screwy, I get around 11 MPG, fairly hard driving, in town and on highway.