I found a set of shorty headers that I'd like to get for my 86. They are listed as 87+ and designed to bolt to the factory Y, I already have a true dual exhaust and redoing it really isnt in the budget right now. I'm thinking these will fit just the same, Am I right? I can post link to said headers if needed, But I dont wanna get roasted for being tight. lol

 

These are the ones I'm looking at, Cheap and probably not the best I know. I'm open to others within the same price range that may be better,

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Performance...!US!-1&vxp=mtr

 

In my opinion if the header replaces the stock manifolds and a stock Y pipe is to bolt up to them then I would think the pipes you have should bolt up to the headers.
Dave - - - -

 

Go to a autoparts site that sells 302 exhaust manifolds (many of the local stores do). Plug in your truck and see what the part number is. Then plug in the later model truck and see if the part number is the same. If they use the same manifolds, then they should fit. The only thing that might go wrong with this plan is if the later model manifold has a spot for the oxygen sensor. If it does, then of course it will have a different part number and mess up the research.

 

Think is he wants to use shorty headers that are listed as a stock cast manifold replacement and bolt up to the factory stock Y pipe.
Now if I understand right the OP has replaced the Y pipe with duel pipes that bolts to the stock manifolds.
So even if he is using duel pipes being they bolt to the cast manifolds and the headers replaced them he should be good.

The AMC car guys went thru this using Jeep shorty headers as some of the cars & v8 Jeeps shared manifolds. Most of the guys were running duel pipes, not Y pipe, and they worked.
I have not gotten that far yet on my AMC car project so the headers sit in the trunk for now and yes I have duel pipes hooked to long tube (holey) headers on the car now.
Dave ----

 

Both left and right have provisions for o2 sensors.

 

Well the Y is still factory but was cut before the merge into one, But yeah you got the idea. What I need to know if 87 up will work on my 86.

 

Then what Franklin said is what I would try, looking up the manifolds to see if they work on the years you are looking at.
Dave ----

 

He said the later manifolds had extra holes in them for the O2 sensors, so the part number thing would not work. I didn't know if the factory put the O2 sensors in the manifolds or the y-pipe. I don't see why they would not fit though, he is just going to have to try them, and send them back if they do not fit. The only thing I have ever seen as a problem with headers on these trucks is if they are manual or auto trans.

 

I meant the shorties I found have o2 provisions on both headers. Not the manifolds, Sorry I shoulda been more clear. And these supposedly bolt to the factory Y so I dont see a problem trans wise or anything like longtubes.

The o2 sensor on mine is in the manifold, Only one on the passenger side. The headers I posted have o2 provisions on each side. I'll have to plug the drivers side and I planned on adding a heated o2 on the passenger side. I looked at some long tube headers and they are listed as 80-96, so I know they will fit but will they bolt to my factory Y or did that change in 87? I cannot find any reasonably priced shorties for the 80-86 that are listed to bolt to the factory Y.

 

The Speed Density EFI engines had a single O2 sensor in the Y-pipe from '86 to '95. The '96 (and some CA '95) trucks that had a Mass-Air EFI system (and OBD-II) had three O2 sensors, one in each manifold and one down near the pre-cat. None of that should matter for manifold fitment though, just plug the holes for the O2 sensors if you are not using them.

 

Ok, I did it. I looked up on Autozone a 1986 f150 4x4 with a 5.0 engine. The exhaust manifolds for that engine are;

Dorman 674-152 (left without heat valve)

Dorman 674-153 (right)

Dorman 674-155 (left with heat valve)

Then I plugged in a 1988 f150 4x4 with a 5.0 engine. The exhaust manifolds for that engine are;

Dorman 674-152

Dorman 674-153

So the later engine uses the same exhaust manifolds. Since the headers you want to buy replace the exhaust manifolds, they should fit correct?

 

Thank you, I dunno why I didnt do that. If the manifolds are the same then there should be no difference in the Y itself. Although mine is 2wd I dont think that will matter But I'll look to make sure,