I currently have headman headers on my 79. They are trash, do not buy, they are terrible:

Right now the Powesmaster mini starter died and I cannot even get they out without pulling the header on the passenger side. Worse they use these lamo oval port manufacturer specific gaskets... I am really done with these things.

I would like to go back to the stock exhaust system , which I think is available from Walker, but I need to give back to stock style headers. Does anybody know if somebody makes tubular versions of the stock manifolds?

Thanks

 

What engine?

 

Small block ford.... 5,0ho motor from a 1991 mustang with stock heads

 

Consider shorties from Doug's, Patriot, JBA, or Sanderson.

 

Do you have part numbers for the shorties? Is there a good exhaust system out there that will work with these headers? Do they work with a factory system? What is the best factory system out there as for fitment?

 

I just put BBK on my 351w today I had massage one of the head pipes to clear the steering box, but other wise they have plenty of room. With a 302 you should have more room. They came off a 93 5.0 mustang and My truck is an automatic I heard they don't work well if you have clutch linkage.

 

Don't forget that a mini starter is always an option. Hedman headers are junk quality.

 

I just bought a set of Flowmaster long-tubes for my 1978 4X4. I didn't install them yet, but they look identical to the junk that's in there now.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-f250-4x4.html

 

What's the complaint with Hedman? I've had a set on my '79 going on 6 years now with no problems. There is quite a bit of surface rust, but I would have expected that by now anyway. No leaks, but hopefully I'm not jinxing myself by writing this post.

 

Hedman has several different "levels" of quality. Their base headers are made from 18 ga tubing and 3/16" thick flanges. Something that thin is almost guaranteed to leak.
Most quality headers have flanges at least twice that thick (3/8") and some are ½" thick (my personal favorite). The tubing is at least 16 ga and can get as thick as 14 ga.
If I was going to design a set of headers, I would go with ½" thick flanges, 14 ga mandrel bent tubing and everything made from 409 stainless steel along with ball style collector flanges. They would never leak and would outlast the truck/car.

 

It is extremely difficult to mandrel bend stainless steel like that. Try phoning an exhaust shop and saying you want mandrel bent stainless pipes. They'll laugh at you. Ask me how I know.

 

Don't have to. That's why I have the system I have now.
This is for the Pumpkin, my long term project. I wanted the exhaust system to be a stock looking dual exhaust, but I wanted it made out of 409 SS. I looked for about six months and couldn't find anyone that could do both the pipes and mufflers so I divided it up. Heartthrob said they could bend the pipes but couldn't make the mufflers, Waldron Exhaust said they could fab the mufflers but couldn't bend the pipes.
The bottom line is, the exact system that I have now except made from 409SS instead of aluminized steel was going to run a little over $1,300.00 and there was a 4 month lead time.
The Heartthrob system I got in a week and half and, including the Walker mufflers that I bought separately, ran me right at $230.00. Big difference.
I went with the aluminized steel because I just couldn't reconcile the price difference for the small (very small) advantage of the stainless.
I work with stainless quite often in my work and understand why it's more expensive and difficult to work with.

 

I too ran hedmann headers for years. Never had any problems. Main thing to me was after running them initially for a little while I retightened the bolts. Then about once a month checked them. Sold the last truck I had with the headers being installed for about 8 years. Surface rust as stated above, but no rust through. Of course we dont salt the roads down here in Florida. I have a set of them in my shop I have had for about 12 years now never been installed. Debating on putting them on the Bronco.

 

On the headman's: I hate the fact they use oval port flanges at the head, and you cannot get parts store gaskets for them... this time I lucked out, the gasket was fine when I unbolted the header.... but the fact they did not initially fit without cutting off the end where the collector flange was to clear a factory crossmember, and the fact I have to pull them to drop out a mini starter. Seems like a lot of fuss for a 302 in a truck.... I already have the mini started sent in for rebuild..... quality of construction is fine. Had them on the truck for five years now and they are ok... not the worst when it came to squaring of the header at the flange ports at the head. Had worse with Hookers, so that was good when it came to design. Clutch linkage was good too.... bad thing is this starter side. It is annoying. Seems like something could be 1/4" out of the way and it would be no big deal with the mini starter.

mikeo0o0o0: Question: Are you using the stock heartthrob system configuration? I am very interested in this because I know that I have to address my exhaust system pretty soon too and I was considering trying this product and wanted to know if the piping fit well into the truck.

 

Yeah, mine is an off the shelf kit #8141500. This is for an FE and comes without mufflers.
I can't comment on the fit, I haven't installed it yet. I do see one problem I'm going to have. The flanges that bolt the pipe to the manifold, the original pipes are 2", the heartthrob pipes are 2¼". I'm going to have to fab new ones, off the shelf flanges, either 2" or 2¼" won't fit. If you're running headers though, that won't be a problem.
I'll let you know how it fits once I get it installed.