what headers to use
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what headers to use
I have a 1980 F250 an was looking to buy a set of headers for my new motor its a 408 stroker with 302 heads on it... sayin that I know long tube better specially for torque but don't know what size or make don't want a real expensive pair either
thanks
thanks
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From: Virginia
Is this a 351w block? If so, I would find some shorties and put on it if you think you need headers. You will have to look at the later model trucks to find a part number for a shortie. They make long tubes, but I don't like how they fit and hook up underneath the truck.
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From: Virginia
Well, you need to plan carefully how you are going to route the exhaust. The long tubes come out low on either side of the tranny. You will see them when looking at the truck from the side. If this is a lowered 2wd truck they will limit your ground clearance.
Once you come out of them with pipes, you need to make a quick decision, either bring both over to the pass side, the one will cross under the tranny, and then bend both up between the frame and the tranny on the pass side, or take the driver's side under the frame on that side and then point it up on the outside of the frame, and do the same with the pass side, going under the frame and then pointing it up.
In each case you need to reverse what the headers did, and get the exhaust up high beside the frame. If you leave it low and hook into the mufflers, and run it on back, it looks horrible when looking at the truck from the side with all that pipe and the mufflers showing.
Just saying, you need to think about this for awhile, and then find a shop willing to do it. I had a 1980 with long tubes on a 351w, and no shop in my area would touch it, since it is required to have a catalytic convertor on it.
Once you come out of them with pipes, you need to make a quick decision, either bring both over to the pass side, the one will cross under the tranny, and then bend both up between the frame and the tranny on the pass side, or take the driver's side under the frame on that side and then point it up on the outside of the frame, and do the same with the pass side, going under the frame and then pointing it up.
In each case you need to reverse what the headers did, and get the exhaust up high beside the frame. If you leave it low and hook into the mufflers, and run it on back, it looks horrible when looking at the truck from the side with all that pipe and the mufflers showing.
Just saying, you need to think about this for awhile, and then find a shop willing to do it. I had a 1980 with long tubes on a 351w, and no shop in my area would touch it, since it is required to have a catalytic convertor on it.
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its a 4wheel drive forgot to mention that
it has duals now an don't need cats either an both pipes are run over passenger side an then cross over in the back
just wondering make an size of headers to go with for best for 4wheel drive shorties are hp i want torque
it has duals now an don't need cats either an both pipes are run over passenger side an then cross over in the back
just wondering make an size of headers to go with for best for 4wheel drive shorties are hp i want torque
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From: Centerpoint, IN
I would go with shorties of I was you. I put long tubes on my 400 and it looks ridiculous from the side but there was no way around it. The driver side is a B**CH. It has to go past the front driveshaft weird and then go across the tranny pan. But that's on a 400 with a C6 so I don't know on your application but I would definitely look and see if you have room to make it not look stupid, the collectors go back farther than you'd think.
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From: Northeast, OK
I would go with shorties of I was you. I put long tubes on my 400 and it looks ridiculous from the side but there was no way around it. The driver side is a B**CH. It has to go past the front driveshaft weird and then go across the tranny pan. But that's on a 400 with a C6 so I don't know on your application but I would definitely look and see if you have room to make it not look stupid, the collectors go back farther than you'd think.
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From: Centerpoint, IN
Cole - Could you take some pics and PM me with them? Or, if you have them in your albums, which is an even better idea as it is once for all, then please point me to them. I've hoped to go with headers on my "stroked 351M" but what you describe doesn't sound like fun. Thanks in advance.
EDIT:Now that I see the link from chris, I went to that thread and mine is like his. Except I have a C6 and there is a lot less room.
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From: Northeast, OK
However, I'm going to have to compare the height of the ZF vs your NP435 as I think the ZF goes a lot lower. Luckilly I have both transmissions so's I can check.
Thanks. So you welded your own exhaust? I did that on Rusty but I'm hoping to have a pro do it on Dad's.
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From: Centerpoint, IN
Yeah I have this crazy obsession with doing everything to my trucks by myself and not letting pros do it at all... I don't know why I guess I'm just stupid like that.
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Been there, was that. But at 66 I'm starting to realize that time is limited and if I want to get a lot done I'll have to hire some of it out.
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From: Centerpoint, IN
Yeah, at 17 I'm just cheap and do all the labor myself 
Sometimes I even pay more to do stuff myself because I have to do it a second time. But I want to know how to fix/do everything on my trucks in case something breaks.
Sometimes I even pay more to do stuff myself because I have to do it a second time. But I want to know how to fix/do everything on my trucks in case something breaks.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Indian Falls, New York
I would go with shorties of I was you. I put long tubes on my 400 and it looks ridiculous from the side but there was no way around it. The driver side is a B**CH. It has to go past the front driveshaft weird and then go across the tranny pan. But that's on a 400 with a C6 so I don't know on your application but I would definitely look and see if you have room to make it not look stupid, the collectors go back farther than you'd think.
Here's a picture I took of the clearance issue with a stock manifold, from what I'm unsure. It isn't rubbing anymore despite how it looks, there's a 1" dent in the pipe right where it appears to hit.
Shorties is about the only thing your going to be able to somewhat easily use. You've only got about 2" of pipe that needs to be bent before you hit the driveshaft and then go down and cross over.
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From: Virginia
The 351 isn't any better with a C6. The mid 70s Windsor I have in mine has 302 heads on it from the 60s and we had to use stock manifolds from a car/truck because there was driveshaft clearance problems, and it still has clearance problems. Had to put a dent in the pipe to clear, and then cross under the transmission and run side by side dumped just before the rear axle. Seems that's the only way you can run duals on these trucks.
Here's a picture I took of the clearance issue with a stock manifold, from what I'm unsure. It isn't rubbing anymore despite how it looks, there's a 1" dent in the pipe right where it appears to hit.
Shorties is about the only thing your going to be able to somewhat easily use. You've only got about 2" of pipe that needs to be bent before you hit the driveshaft and then go down and cross over.
Here's a picture I took of the clearance issue with a stock manifold, from what I'm unsure. It isn't rubbing anymore despite how it looks, there's a 1" dent in the pipe right where it appears to hit.
Shorties is about the only thing your going to be able to somewhat easily use. You've only got about 2" of pipe that needs to be bent before you hit the driveshaft and then go down and cross over.
I had a 302 and I swapped in a 351w. I already know the bolt pattern on the 302 and 351w heads were the same, so I thought I could just use the 302 exhaust manifolds on the 351w, and then just cut the y-pipe so it could be wider because the 351w is a taller/wider engine. Didn't work very well. The angle of the 302 exhaust manifolds is different from the 351w manifolds. It never would line up right, and that's when I quit and came in and looked up the part numbers. Sure enough, a 351w takes different manifolds than the 302, and of course it takes a different y-pipe also.
So I went with headers, which ended up being a another whole can of worms.