Greta buy welcome to FTE

 

What a beauty!

 

RockAuto FTW!

^^ This.

You've heard about the fluids, plugs, wires, timing, fuel, etc. Don't leave out a change in the gear oil. Grease all your zerks. Check out your U-joints. They're easy to maintain and a PITA to change on the side of the road. Run some Sea Foam or other fuel system treatment through it if the gas has been sitting. (Do this AFTER you've drained off the old fuel, though. Don't try to burn the varnish that's in there now.)

Power/Performance upgrades... intake is a big one... I have an Edelbrock 3771 (love it) and it's California-legal. I also run a Carter AFB carb which runs a lot better with my setup than the stock Motorcraft 2150.

You've heard from two other guys to do headers. I'm going to call BS. They're going to flame me. I'm right. They're wrong. I say this because I have the long-tube Hedman 89210s installed and I've noted a few things (all of them AFTER I spent the time, effort and money installing them):

1. Zero appreciable power gain at low RPMs where your truck will spend its life.
2. Much more noise in the cab - and it's not all pleasant.
3. You will have to re-route your starter wire, transmission cooler lines and oil dipstick.
4. You expose your starter & brake proportioning valve to a great deal more heat.
5. You will need to either tighten the stupid header bolts every 10 minutes or purchase a $60 set of locking header bolts.

If that sounds like a lot of work for zero net gain (here's where the header advocates really get p1ssed off but they can't document any improvement in the < 3,000 RPM band to argue with me), that's because it is. Stick with the stock manifolds and run a nice exhaust from there. Skip the headers. Flame on!

 

What! No headers??? Are you crazy man? Just kidding! I did tons of research when I was doing my engine swap, and came to the same conclusion as mentioned above...for me, headers were a definite NO!!! I use my truck as a daily driver, not a mudder, dragster, etc; it's a daily driver that may on occasion get floored, just to teach some little rice burner a quick lesson (which typically teaches me a lesson to not get on it to often, due to the love my 351W and 4bbl carb has for fuel)...if your going to keep your truck as a daily driver, then stay with the manifolds, and spend the extra money on a great exhaust! I have manifolds on mine, with 2 1/2" pipes with Flowmaster 40 series mufflers...the only bends in the exhaust is where they come out of the engine bay, and where they go over the the rear axial...then I have tips on them...

 

LOL! Exactly. It never ceases to amaze me that some people are unable to grasp the concept that headers are not ALWAYS better. If it's not that, it's that I'm running the WRONG headers... see, whatever you have, you should have the other kind. I run long-tube, but if I just had SHORT-tube... that'd make all the difference. I made up a story about having short-tube and a guy tried to tell me that I should have gone LONG-tube... 'cause that'd make all the difference. Tools.

Anyway- yeah. These 335-series engines aren't built for high-RPM operation in stock form. We're rarely hitting 3,500 RPM in these old things, so there's virtually zero gain for all that work.

 

I researched long and short tubes...even talked to the guy that ran the exhaust...(which a couple of his guys race on the weekends) they all concurred that if I wasn't going to be racing or mudding that headers would be much more of a hassle and detriment to the truck, than a help...and really and truly the "extra" HP (2-3) would never be noticed...but if I was racing and trying to shave a sec or a few mili-secs then I would benefit from headers...but if your getting to the point where your trying to shave seconds or mili seconds, your in the wrong vehicle for that!

 

Wrong vehicle, wrong motor, wrong everything! hahaha

 

I'm chomping at the bits to get mine back (been at the trans shop)...guy is waiting on one part to come in...supposed to be ready later today, so probably won't get it until tomorrow....so ready to drive it again...it's been a few months...(didn't have the funds to rebuild it, or the time for me to do it...thank you tax refund)...

 

Progress report for everyone that has shared their knowledge with me! New air breather, fuel filter, PVC valve, rotor, cap, plugs, wires, wiper blades, and brakes. Tightened the steering pump (belt was slipping), cleaned the carb, soldered the board in the dash (entire dash was out), added washers the the clutch arm (wasnt engaging gears) 2 oil changes with Lucas. 2 tanks of gas with seafoam, replaced blown fuse (heater works now!), putty knifed my entire underbody. Saturday a friend of mine (77 highboy owner) will be replacing rear leaf springs (4 broken leafs, I busted u bolt) and Monday I will be getting a new set of Hercules 285 75 16's ($640 mounted and balanced!!!) everyone's input has been invaluable!!! Between FTE and my new bible (Haynes) I fell like I could repair anything on my new pride and joy! Words can't express just how thankful I am for all the advice. Thank y'all so very much!!!

 

Awesome!!! How bout a video of her running? Pics are great, but videos are soooo much more exciting!

Word of Caution...the more you read on this sight = the more you ideas you get = more things you want to do / actually will do to your truck!

I get like a kid on Christmas Eve when reading threads like yours! So exciting!

 

That's great news! Bring on the photos/videos! Reward the advisors with a little truck ****.

^^ what he said.

I always get either jealous or a little bit proud when people "catch the bug." I love seeing another old Ford rollin' around with an owner that loves on it.

 

Not sure about where you guys live, but I've noticed more and more of the ole 73-79's riding around town here in Central AL...got my eye on two...(but don't tell the wife)...one is completely factory w/ac...'76 Ranger I believe...Carport kept...original owner...still trying to talk the deadbeat son into selling it to me...

Again, it's a dangerous and slippery slope...once you take the first step (which you have), it's a quick, fast, slippery slope...leads to fun, anger, and ultimately satisfaction!!!

 

"new bible (Haynes)" FYI there are alot better books to get in your Ford reference library, IE actual Ford factory manuals on CD......

Chilton is a great starter book like Haynes, but the factory books go into way greater detail.... torques, break down diagrams, wiring, vacuum lines.

And glad to hear its all working out for you.

 

I just wanted to say my piece about headers real quick.

The only reason to install headers would be if you need to move more out and the only reason you need to move more air out is if you are moving more air in. and in order to do that some work need to be done to the top end i.e New cam porting and a valve job to make headers worth their while in these trucks while headers not inherintly a bad thing and you will change the exhaust note becuase they move more air without the accompaning upgrade they are pretty much just an visual. upgrade.

Said my bit if yall wanna argue with me on it please do it in PM's I will be more than happy to have it out :P