Hello everyone,

I do not have much of an update on my project due to the fact that my tranny ended up needing a complete rebuild 500 $ later...

While the tranny is out, I'm having the 351w "freshened up" right...

Well, now I've decided to put an Intake Manifold, Stage 2, Dual Plane, Aluminum, Natural, Square Bore intake manifold, a Carburetor, 600 cfm, Square Bore, 4-Barrel, Electric Choke, Vacuum Secondary and a Hydraulic Flat Tappet, Advertised Duration 279/297, Lift .490/.475, Thumper Cam...

Not planning on breaking the sound barrier or anything, just trying to get a reliable nice sounding weekend driver.

So the only thing left is which headers would compliment AND FIT my application?

Stock front end with no front end modifications are being done at the moment (hopefully none will be needed in the future either).

Your thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated while I scrubb away at the surface rust...

Paul

 

I got the Sanderson SBF block hugger. Good fit and appearance.

 

I found a set of "blemished" shorty headers on ebay for $73.00

I don't expect the chrome to hold up forever, but here's what they look like:

 

Old Dan, how do those headers work with the steering box? My 302 had a similar angle, and ran smack dab unto the box. I had to get some long tubes to clear everything. Should have gone with block huggers, but that's a different matter entirely.

 

Nothing that couldn't be cured with 3 U-joints, a hiem bearing and a new steering column. I started with dowls to mock it up to check angles....it works pretty well. I have to pull everything out, paint it, and finish welding the angle bracket for the heim bearing. The folks at CPP were pretty helpful with all of the parts....they seem to know their product line pretty well.

 

Yeah, you have a completely different front end setup than mine. I just kept the stock steering and am going with the Toyota box. Your engine bay is looking real nice. Good work.

 

I'm in the same boat I want headers too, but the steering box is close to the manifold as it is; I would hate to buy some and have to pay restocking fees when they don't fit if they take them back. I have a 302/toyota box.

 

Hi Bacagrizz,
Are you referring to these..?
Sanderson FF4 Small Block Ford 351W Blockhugger Header Set
They seem a bit pricey - without the coating! Are you happy with them? Worth it?
Paul

 

Summit Racing SUM-G9063 - Summit Racing® Block Hugger Headers - Overview - SummitRacing.com These are the ones I was looking at. they're pretty inexpensive and I'm cheap/poor, seems a win win. I might go with these a bit down the road anyway, I'm having some tie rod clearance issues with the long tubes. Either that or a custom tie rod is in order. We'll see how it looks when I put the MF tie rod drop kit in and lower the truck.

From my experience and what research I've done, the simplest way to go with a 302 is to use block huggers. Your miles may vary...

 

Mine are the FF2.



No clearance issues with steering rod. Flaming River column with MII rack and pinion.



I got the coated ones to reduce the amount of heat under the hood.

We'll see how they work when I get the engine back in the truck and get it running again. It's at the builders right now and they, believe it or not, do not have a 5 bolt SBF bell housing to connect it to their engine dyno!!

 

I was looking at those yesterday,they look like they will hit the axle though...

 

One of the things I like about the FF2 is they go straight down from the rear cylinder and would have cleared the straight axle if I had left it in. In the photo of the top down shot you can see where the crossmember is to the left of the collector. It occupies the space the front axle was in prior to installation of the crossmember.

They are designed for the 53-56 F100 with the SBF and the piece that bolts to the collector has a nice angle to the rear on it.