Performance upgrade
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: Kingston Springs tn
Performance upgrade
So to start I know this is probably the wrong section to post this in. But it is a bullnose. 1982.
I have a 351w that was rebuilt and bored .030 over, about 25,000 miles and 30 years ago. When the truck was rebuilt it was a totally stock rebuild. It runs great. It only has a two barrel carburetor on it.
So so a few weeks ago I bought some gt40p heads from a junkyard.
My question is does anyone have a full write up on what headers and plug wires I should use? I've seen several different posts on mustang forums but not as much truck stuff.
The truck is 4wd also. I would like mid length headers at least.
Trying to start slowly buying all the parts I'd need here pretty soon.
I have a 351w that was rebuilt and bored .030 over, about 25,000 miles and 30 years ago. When the truck was rebuilt it was a totally stock rebuild. It runs great. It only has a two barrel carburetor on it.
So so a few weeks ago I bought some gt40p heads from a junkyard.
My question is does anyone have a full write up on what headers and plug wires I should use? I've seen several different posts on mustang forums but not as much truck stuff.
The truck is 4wd also. I would like mid length headers at least.
Trying to start slowly buying all the parts I'd need here pretty soon.
Last edited by TheProfessorofTOOL; Apr 9, 2017 at 06:56 PM. Reason: Information missing
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,876
Likes: 4,116
From: Angier, NC
First we will need to know how you plan to use the truck.
If you are going to use back n forth to work on paved roads you would build it one way.
If running on the street pulling heavy loads it would be built another way.
Running off road low range lowish RPM a 3rd way.
Full race mud truck a 4th way.
Right now we don't know how to guide you.
Dave ----
If you are going to use back n forth to work on paved roads you would build it one way.
If running on the street pulling heavy loads it would be built another way.
Running off road low range lowish RPM a 3rd way.
Full race mud truck a 4th way.
Right now we don't know how to guide you.
Dave ----
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: Kingston Springs tn
First we will need to know how you plan to use the truck.
If you are going to use back n forth to work on paved roads you would build it one way.
If running on the street pulling heavy loads it would be built another way.
Running off road low range lowish RPM a 3rd way.
Full race mud truck a 4th way.
Right now we don't know how to guide you.
Dave ----
If you are going to use back n forth to work on paved roads you would build it one way.
If running on the street pulling heavy loads it would be built another way.
Running off road low range lowish RPM a 3rd way.
Full race mud truck a 4th way.
Right now we don't know how to guide you.
Dave ----
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,876
Likes: 4,116
From: Angier, NC
I cant say on the wires as I am not into the v8 stuff enough to know/learn at this time.
Long tube headers hang low and get smashed/crushed. I think you have more issues with them sealing to the heads than short tube headers.
I would also say the long tube work better on the upper RPM band to pull gasses out than what you do on a street motor.
Yes you could go smaller tubes to have them work better in the lower RPM range but then suffer in the upper RPM if you need to run there for a little bit.
Just my .02 and I have a set of shorty headers to replace long tube on a classic car I am working on because of the above other than maybe RPM.
Dave ----
Long tube headers hang low and get smashed/crushed. I think you have more issues with them sealing to the heads than short tube headers.
I would also say the long tube work better on the upper RPM band to pull gasses out than what you do on a street motor.
Yes you could go smaller tubes to have them work better in the lower RPM range but then suffer in the upper RPM if you need to run there for a little bit.
Just my .02 and I have a set of shorty headers to replace long tube on a classic car I am working on because of the above other than maybe RPM.
Dave ----
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: Kingston Springs tn
I cant say on the wires as I am not into the v8 stuff enough to know/learn at this time.
Long tube headers hang low and get smashed/crushed. I think you have more issues with them sealing to the heads than short tube headers.
I would also say the long tube work better on the upper RPM band to pull gasses out than what you do on a street motor.
Yes you could go smaller tubes to have them work better in the lower RPM range but then suffer in the upper RPM if you need to run there for a little bit.
Just my .02 and I have a set of shorty headers to replace long tube on a classic car I am working on because of the above other than maybe RPM.
Dave ----
Long tube headers hang low and get smashed/crushed. I think you have more issues with them sealing to the heads than short tube headers.
I would also say the long tube work better on the upper RPM band to pull gasses out than what you do on a street motor.
Yes you could go smaller tubes to have them work better in the lower RPM range but then suffer in the upper RPM if you need to run there for a little bit.
Just my .02 and I have a set of shorty headers to replace long tube on a classic car I am working on because of the above other than maybe RPM.
Dave ----
Trending Topics
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,876
Likes: 4,116
From: Angier, NC
Are the GT40 heads used on Mustangs only?
If so then that might be why it is hard to find anything to fit other than that and just make do to fit something else.
How you going to hook pipes up to them? Will the car Y pipe fit or just going to make pipes to fit them?
I have to do that on my shorty headers as they are for a Jeep and I am using them in a car replacing long tube headers. For the close out price of half what they normally went for I could not let them go. Even if they don't work I can still sell them for what I got them for.
Sometimes you got to do what you got to do!
Dave ----
If so then that might be why it is hard to find anything to fit other than that and just make do to fit something else.
How you going to hook pipes up to them? Will the car Y pipe fit or just going to make pipes to fit them?
I have to do that on my shorty headers as they are for a Jeep and I am using them in a car replacing long tube headers. For the close out price of half what they normally went for I could not let them go. Even if they don't work I can still sell them for what I got them for.
Sometimes you got to do what you got to do!
Dave ----
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Gaston, OR
In my experience BBK headers fit these heads well, but I've only worked with them on Mustangs. I only had a fitment issue once with some unmarked shorty headers, and I swapped them for BBKs and it fit fine.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
dirtmister16
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
8
Aug 14, 2013 12:02 AM
FordFETruck
Small Block V8 (221, 260, 289, 5.0/302, 5.8/351W)
17
Nov 24, 2012 03:22 PM
calazo
Performance & General Engine Building
6
May 28, 2004 12:19 PM