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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

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Old Jul 5, 2012 | 10:02 AM
  #1  
Alcaeus's Avatar
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Headers

I was hoping someone could help me with header choices.

I've got a 1982 f100 with a 1985 302 and we swapped in an m50d 5speed standard tranny.

I'm not sure if I should use headers for an early 90's truck because of the tranny or if I should use an early 80 set for the rest of the truck.

Anyone else with this swap work it out? We want to go with headers that bolt to the stock exhaust if possible.

Also I'm getting custom dual exhaust run out to the back so does it matter what headers I get? Anyone running longtube headers and still doing emissions?
 
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Old Jul 5, 2012 | 12:07 PM
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I put factory ford fox body mustang shorty headers on my '86 F150 with a 302 and just bought a weld on bung for the O2 sensor and welded it into the exhaust pipe. I went with these because I found a set for $10 and the manifolds fell apart when I took them off. I rewelded them on the outside and ported the welds off the inside of the headers.
 
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Old Jul 5, 2012 | 04:43 PM
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The mustang headers didnt dump too far back? They look like they might be pointed right at the firewall
 
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Old Jul 5, 2012 | 05:57 PM
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I have little shorties too, there is plenty of room.. even with a cat behind each one. The ends come out below the firewall level, since the 302 is so short.
 
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Old Jul 5, 2012 | 08:37 PM
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Ah yes, the 302. I have BBK shorties on my stroked 351W. Of course, the 351 block is taller, so I had to trim the firewall just a bit on the drivers side to provide clearance on that side. It happens.
 
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Old Jul 5, 2012 | 09:37 PM
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Nope, theres plenty of room behind them, I didnt trim anything to install them. The tightest fit for them on mine was at the cross member area because the headers had the tubes the went to the air cleaner, but it all clears and is a great solution to cracked manifolds. I didnt know if they were going to work when I bought them, but for $10 I figured I could take a chance. I'll get a pic tomorrow.
 
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Old Jul 7, 2012 | 12:43 AM
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There is a set of bolt on shortys available for the 87+ trucks that fits the stock y pipe, I believe there is even a summit racing branded cheap version.
My 81 F100 years ago had a set of mustang shorties on it's 302, they fit just fine.
 
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Old Jul 7, 2012 | 06:28 AM
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I've got the Summit version, and they do dump to the stock y pipe location. Great option if you can only do your exhaust one section at a time.
 
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Old Jul 20, 2012 | 09:30 AM
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Just an update guys.

I ended up getting some ceramic coated Foxbody mustang headers. They gave plenty of room and were pretty easy to install. The old boy has got headers and dual exhaust with thrush welded mufflers and high flow cats now.

Sounds great and has a bit more pick up too!
 
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Old Jul 20, 2012 | 03:01 PM
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did you have any trouble getting around the clutch linkage? I have a 302 that had a 3 on the tree but has been converted to a floor shift and I have heard that headers hit the clutch linkage. or is that only the case in long tube headers?
 
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Old Jul 20, 2012 | 03:43 PM
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My truck was also three on the tree originally.

I've converted it to a 5 speed floor shifter and went hydraulic.

I can take pictures of the area if you would like.
 
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Old Jul 20, 2012 | 10:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Alcaeus
My truck was also three on the tree originally.

I've converted it to a 5 speed floor shifter and went hydraulic.

I can take pictures of the area if you would like.
yeah that would be great! i'm wanting to convert mine the a 5-speed too. did u use the m50d? if so what all did u have to do to make it work? i'm not certain but i think mine already has a hydraulic clutch. also what headers did u use? thanks
 
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Old Jul 21, 2012 | 11:26 AM
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Here are those pictures I promised. Not the best but they should tell the story











 
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Old Jul 21, 2012 | 11:44 AM
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Originally Posted by v6lightning
yeah that would be great! i'm wanting to convert mine the a 5-speed too. did u use the m50d? if so what all did u have to do to make it work? i'm not certain but i think mine already has a hydraulic clutch. also what headers did u use? thanks
I did use an M5OD. I got the tranny brackets from a truck in the junk yard and pulled the clutch master and hydraulic line from the same truck. The M5OD uses an internal slave so you will have to get that as well.

My Firewall didn't have the dimples where the holes needed to be drilled for the clutch master so I took a piece of paper and drew a template of the holes on a junk yard truck and transferred it to mine.

Also if you have a mechanical clutch now the end of your clutch pivot/arm thing under your dash will have to change so pull that also from the JY truck. You want to get a trans tunnel also if you can find one.

The neutral safety switch wasnt necessary in my truck but you should probably in stall it. I helps the clutch return anyway.
 
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Old Jul 21, 2012 | 01:52 PM
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thanks for the good info it should help me tons!
 
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