Hello all. I have a 66 f100 with a 352. I recently purchased flow tech headers. I wanted better gaskets and ordered now what I believed to be metal heat shields. Do I still need to use regular manifold gaskets along with the heat shields?

 

bphirt1,

Do you have a photo, manufacturer name and/or part number of what 'metal heat shield' it is that you bought? If so, please share it, as I do not have any idea of what it is you're referring to......i know header flange to cylinder head gaskets, I know header collector gaskets, I don't know 'metal heat shield'.

BarnieTrk

 

Ford did not install exhaust manifold gaskets on these trucks (nor FE Passenger Cars except 406/427), just stainless steel heat shields.

C1SZ-9448-F .. Right Heat Shield / C1SZ-9448-E .. Left Heat Shield

1961/67 F100/350 352 / 1968/76 F100/350 360/390 / Misc: 1961/71 FoMoCo FE Passenger Cars.

 

Heat shields were meant for the factory exhaust manifolds. I am not aware of any headers that call for use of those factory heat shields.
Course, I could be wrong. Just never heard of it.

 

Ahh, yes, I remember them now.

Now as I recall, there are some aftermarket styles that are thin steel types and sandwich between the manifold and the cylinder head and have a small 'flange' at the top to protect the wiring, whereas the OE style heat shield bolted on to the OUTSIDE of the manifolds, again to hold/prevent the wires from resting/touching the exhaust manifolds.

As The Masked Rider indicated, typically header manufacturers do not say much, if anything, about installing the heat shields with their product.

There are many opinions on what is the best way to install headers, including NOT to install them. A quick search on the FTE forum will give you much to read on the subject.

Based on my experience, I would closely inspect your cylinder head sealing surface looking for serious pitting or burned gouging on the sealing surfaces. If you have any significant pitting, it would be best to have the heads re-surfaced. For a low-budget repair, I would first recommend you try using some good-quality, high-temp sealer and a set of quality exhaust gaskets and new header bolts. Make sure the cylinder head surface is as clean as possible and run a oil-lubed tap or new Grade-8 bolt in & out of all the bolts holes to clean the holes of any rust. With a smear of sealant on the cylinder side of the gasket and some nickel never-seize on the new bolts, install the gaskets & torque the new bolts in a similar manner you would the OE manifold; top inside, lower inside working your way to both ends. Once installed, allow the sealer to cure overnight. When you start the engine, don't rev it, let it idle for ten minutes, letting the engine warm fully, then shut the engine off and allow it to cool. Once cool, re-torque the header bolts in sequence again. For the next two outings, drive it normally - no high revs, then once its cool, re-torque the bolts again. Now, hopefully, the leaks will be sealed for a while.

Ensure you've tied your spark plug wires back in a fashion to keep them from being within an inch of the headers or they may melt or burn if allowed to even touch the header pipes. I would also suggest you consider installing some sort of a head shield to protect your starter from the higher heat it will receive since the headers will be radiate much more heat than the cast-iron manifolds ever did. Also ensure the heavy-gauge wire running to the starter can not touch a header pipe. I used some aluminum foil tape on the wire, which provides some heat protection.

Good luck! -- BarnieTrk

 

The factory heat shields, like the aftermarket types, fit between the cylinder head and the exhaust manifold, do not bolt to the outside of the manifolds.

I've never heard of or have seen any such thing!

FE valve covers have tabs on them for B8Q-12297-A wire separators, these slip onto the tabs, retain the wires in place.

B6A-12297-A wire separators were used on the wires before they reached the valve covers.

Pic from 1949/59 car parts catalog showing these parts.

 

I want to thank you all for the good advice.

 

Bill,
This is similar to what I was thinking of:

Ford FE Big Block Heat Shield for 352 360 390 428 See Various Apps 4440 | eBay

I'm not recalling exactly what FoMoCo called this part, maybe not a heat shield, maybe a 'heat stove' or 'heat riser' or something like that...

BarnieTrk

 

This is C8AZ-9A603-A preheat tube for 1968/72 F100/350 360/390 / 1969/72 F100 302 // 1968/70 Galaxie/LTD 302/390/428.