So I attempted to install some Summit long tube headers I purchased for my 78 (400) today to no avail. There is just no way they will clear the steering box and even if they did they still hit the cross member. Is this common on the 2 wheel drives? I have been to the muffler shop twice to try and fix the leaky flare on the drivers side and would love to just slap some headers on it and not have to worry about it any more. Any suggestions of some headers that will slide right in without fit issues?

 

Not sure about the 400's but my 2wd hit the cross member so I cut the bolt hook up braket off (it was the one thats not fixed to the header it slide back and forth) i cut it off and welded the collector on. Now my buddy spencer had to cut a little piece out off his crossmember when he had his 77. But you could see if you could get fender well exit fenders. If they make em for 2wd

 

I found other posts posts where other people had similar problems with those headers so I went with Hedmans on my 2wd/FE combo this week. Hedmans and Hookers have always worked well for me and these most recent ones were no exception. Were you able to get them in position at all? Did you lift the engine? Are you sure you got 2wd headers? 4wd ones would cause the fittment issues you are having.

 

i have a leaky flare on the driverside too i have been looking at the headman and hookers here lately. im leaning towards the hookers since there ceramic coated though. i know a few guys on here have had to trim on there crossmember to get some of the aftermarket headers to fit.

 

My truck has a 302 in it, but I had to use hedman header collector extenders to get the tubes routed up over the transmission cross member. The extenders are pretty much just a kinda S bent pipe with a collector end on it.

 

After checking the item list on summit it appears that I bought some 4wd headers. So I guess I will go with the Hedmans 89260. Anybody got theses on their ride? Only thing I dont like about the look of these is the ball flange. This is the problem I have with my manifolds now. Hopefully these will put them in a place for a straight shot exhaust.

 

This will be my first experience with their ball and socket flanges since all my others are older flat flange type. The idea behind that type of flange is that you can angle the pipes aft the collector to make routing easier. They provide two sets of socket reducers that match the ball well so I don't expect any problems but I won't have the truck running for a while so be able to give you a report any time soon.

 

looking for a flareside 1976 f100 bed

 

and what does that have to do with the current conversation???

 

I wondered too, but I just assumed it was a mistake, since it was only their second post.