Hey guys, I've read this forum for years, but this is my first post:
I have a 1972 F100 4x4. I bought it with the original 360 already gone. So I've built a 351W and dropped it in. And I have taken an AOD and a BW1345 out of a mid 80's Bronco and put that behind the Windsor to make a nice daily driver for winters and hunting here in Colorado. Everything is fitting great, but now I'm trying to find some long tube headers. I'm sure I can't be the first guy to do this, but I can't find any information online about this swap. Have any of you tried this combination, or do any of you know of some long tube headers that will work with my combination? Thanks for any help you can give me!

 

I've done a number of swaps and header mods over the years. Hopefully somebody replies here with a perfect fit for you but if not here is what I can share with you. Although you said you want long tubes the Mustang shortys are just about a guaranteed fit and would be really easy to live with as far as exhaust leaks. Assuming that's still not an option, the next suggestion is to find the closest set of headers that match your combo; IE the oldest F100/150 small block/4WD set you can find (hopefully late 70s/early 80s). Ordering them from a Summit or Jeg's will let you try them out and send them back if they don't fit correctly.

I can say every set of 4WD headers I've dealt with had challenges on the driver side to get around the transfer case. Probably the best results I've had was to get a mandrel bent exhaust pipe kit and do the fab work myself to snake it around, I was never happy with what an exhaust shop would do bending up pipes.

I was lucky enough to find a nice set of ceramic coated headers from Summit for my big block setup, but I was custom building motor mounts and I just mocked up the headers first and made them fit. They came with a flanged collector and this has been really nice - no blown collector gaskets. Also if you're so inspired I sourced a bunch of OEM hangers and bracketry from the boneyard - they are really heavy duty and durable, but you'll need a sawzall to get them.

If you can find a ceramic set of headers I would strongly recommend it, I've been very happy with how mine handle the heat and don't cook everything near them, plus my floorboards aren't hot when going slow. I also have had good luck with a good quality set of composite gaskets at the heads; forget the copper or aluminum sets.

 

If going shorty, I recall BBK 1515 headers were installed by a fellow FTEer.