what headers, if any to use

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Jun 29, 2024 | 10:11 PM

dremtofford

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From: pine city washington

what headers, if any to use

i have an 88 f150 4x4 with a 5 spd manual. what headers if any can I use to exhaust my truck? i have heard the stock exhaust is crap and my passenger side has a crack in it.

Jun 30, 2024 | 08:03 AM

jas88

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From: Greater Austin, Texas

Perhaps you could tell us what motor you have in your truck?

Jun 30, 2024 | 08:16 AM

dremtofford

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From: pine city washington

What headers

I have a 5.0 liter 302.

Jun 30, 2024 | 12:52 PM

Hit Man X

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From: North Texas

Well there is quite a bit wrong with a 185hp 302 in these trucks. Exhaust is lame, camshaft is hilarious, and the heads flow like crap.

I prefer full length, but no clue what fits your 4x4. Good shorty would be better than the brick manifolds, but do not expect much power gain with stock camshaft. I bet the headers, high flow cat, and good muffler would free up maybe 20rwhp...but probably closer to 15 due to stock camshaft. It will sound a ton better and breathe and ton better. Probably would use BBK or JBA shorty, the bargain ones I have no experience with and may or may not bolt up easily.

Jun 30, 2024 | 01:13 PM

'89F2urd

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I've installed many flowtech headers (the same exact header is sold under many names/brands, all identical) and they are solid. Be prepared to torch the drivers side collector and bend it away from the front driveshaft.

As hitman said, the 5.0 is anemic AF so anything you can do further than just headers would really get some pep....but, it'll always be a short stroke turd to some extent. You will gain some pedal feel though with long tubes.

Jul 2, 2024 | 06:19 AM

TexasGuy001

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If the motor is stock and staying stock, I'd just replace the manifolds. Its a 180 horsepower motor either way. Save the headers for the built motors with heads etc. And cheap headers usually just cause headaches. My buddy is going back to manifolds after headers started leaking in multiple places after a few years. Doubt headers are worth more than 5-10 hp on a stock motor if that. They made very little difference on a friends F150 5.0. A good high flow cat to replace the factory cats is a good idea and will probably help more.

Jul 2, 2024 | 05:39 PM

Mauser48

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When I rebuilt the 302 in my 95 f150 a few years ago I used bbk shorty headers and also put on some GT40 heads. Rest of the engine was pretty much a stock rebuild. I didn't really notice any power difference. If you don't have the engine out of the truck I wouldn't bother trying to get the manifolds off in the chassis. Truck also had 35s. Even with 4.88s the truck was a dog.