So I put a set of C6AE-R heads on my 74 F250 after going crazy on trying to get my headers to stop leaking I did the research that should have been done before putting the heads on. I guess I inherited my dads mentality of step 1: throw away the directions, step 3: pull the directions back out of the trash.

Ok so I've learned that the C6AE-R heads are from a 66 FE (352 if I remember correctly) and that the exhaust port in relation to the bolt holes were moved by 1/4 inch in later later heads. And what this means is that I must purchase headers for a vehicle that is specific to what these heads were put in. Is this correct?

I would love to know from anyone who is running these heads on a later model car or truck, what type of experiences you have with them and what type of headers you are running and how they have worked for you.

Thanks in advance
Adam

 

I'm not running headers, yet.

Here's a bump for a good question!

 

Cant imagine any port location on a header vs logs ins't a plus. But weld them up and port/tool them to match and walla. Me thinks no off the shelf header is going to be a plug/n/play that matches 100%.. I have these heads on my 66' IIRC and same scenario, two sets of headers and one is a decent match the other is WTF off.. one set of gaskets on the headers shows top is way off from port.


JMO..

 

What brand of headers do you have? Did they seal the ports on your '74?

What is confusing to me is that the C6-R is supposed to have the higher exit exhaust found in newer heads.

 

I agree with Redmanbob that you may need to do some grinding. If you have had them on and fired the engine you should have crush marks and scorching to help see where the don't match, and that would be your grinding guide.

One thing I found was that when I did the restoration on my 60 I had headers put in when the cab was off - it was done miles from my home so I had a mechanic that worked with the body guy do it, and bolt them up to the 360 that was in it. He told me the usual crap about buying special bolts for the headers that prevent them coming loose with a special clip.

They started leaking the minute I fired it. I drove it that way for a few weeks until I got my 410. When we pulled the 360 it turned out that they had the gaskets on upside down and none of them sealed to the ports and headers. The crush marks and soot told the story. Being basically a monkey he had tightened the headers so much that they had bent the flanges, but not surprisingly couldn't get them to seal.

We bent the flanges flat, doubled the gaskets on the headers, and put them on upside right this time with the same bolts but no clips. Nice tight seal and it has been about 8 months.

 

Ok Thanks guys I'm about to pull them back off and inspect the way the gaskets are sitting on there and I will let you know what I come up with.

 

I've been fighting this same issue on my '65 for the past few days....have tried umpteen number of different gaskets, trying to find something that will match up to the headers on the truck. I have no idea what headers they are, they came installed on the truck when I got it. But everything I've tried is WAY off from the ports on the headers.

I measure the port openings on the gaskets that were on the truck, and came up with roughly 1.25"x2.0" inches. Mr. Gasket lists a gasket for the 429/460 that has that port size, but the bolt pattern is way off.

At this point I'm really tempted to just get some copper sheet material and cut my own gaskets...

 

Im running flowtech headers on my 65 4wd. I am running a 352 with a 40 overbore and what I believe to be the same heads you list. If i get a chance to check after work tonight I will let you know. Anyway no problem with the header mounting flange bolted right up. Only problem was with the collector on the drivers side was about 1/4 inch away from the front drive shaft. The exhaust man fixed that when he put the new system on it a few weeks ago.

 

Or is it just the gasket that is bad? puttster

 

I have these same heads on my 66 f1 and I am lookin for some headers for my truck.... so this is some great info! However I do know that these R heads are sister heads to the 428 cobra jet heads....So this may make a difference in finding the right gaskets...