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I’m going to have a new exhaust system put on my 1965 F-350 with a 352. The old one was rusted badly and was taken off and scrapped by the previous owner. I’m planing on doing just a simple true-dual setup with a set of Brockman mellow tone steel-pack mufflers. I’m thinking about swapping out the manifolds for a set of headers and was wondering if I could fit a set of shortys on it without having to pull the engine out? Is a set of headers even worth the trouble?
Thanks!
Here is a thread that addresses your question. Pay attention to the part about broken manifold bolts. 1966 F-250 Header install question - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
Is it worth it?? A set of headers will increase HP and torque but only at the mid and upper RPM. If you are just going to use the truck for ordinary truck stuff and your engine is stock, you really won't gain much if anything. They will change the sound some. They WILL put a lot of heat into your engine compartment with your starter being the part that will suffer the most. Your choice of mufflers is going to be loud. Whichever way you go a simple crossover pipe will increase HP. If you go with headers do spend the money for the coated ones or you will have ugly rusty headers in short order.
Last edited by Crop Duster; Mar 22, 2026 at 04:09 AM.
Here is a thread that addresses your question. Pay attention to the part about broken manifold bolts. 1966 F-250 Header install question - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
Is it worth it?? A set of headers will increase HP and torque but only at the mid and upper RPM. If you are just going to use the truck for ordinary truck stuff and your engine is stock, you really won't gain much if anything. They will change the sound some. They WILL put a lot of heat into your engine compartment with your starter being the part that will suffer the most. Your choice of mufflers is going to be loud. Whichever way you go a simple crossover pipe will increase HP. If you go with headers do spend the money for the coated ones or you will have ugly rusty headers in short order.
Thank you for pointing me in the right direction. I thought there was a thread somewhere that covered that, I just couldn’t find it. As far as mufflers go, what would you recommend? I don’t want it to be loud and obnoxious, but I want a good sound. Are the longer mellow tones like the 36” overall still pretty loud?
I used those same Mellow Tones on my previous 59 F250 with a Y-Block. First, I started with what I consider the very best headers, from Sanderson.
But neither my wife or kids wanted to ride in the cab of that truck, and honestly, I couldn’t take it either. Too loud, and rumbled and shook the cab.
I then switched to a set of Ram Horn manifolds, with the Brockman Mellow Tones. It sounded really nice, much less restrictive than the stock exhaust.
When I eventually get to working on my truck, I was thinking of a set of Sanderson Camper Special close fitting headers, and ether wrapping them for a vintage look, or going coated. But I have no interest in loud, only with letting the 360-390 whatever is in there, breath a bit more. What are Ram Horn manifolds, and are they available for an FE motor?
I appreciate the replies! Sounds like I’ll be sticking with the stock manifolds and going with the 36” mellow tones. Is it worth running the exhaust the full length of the truck? I was thinking of having the exhaust dump to the ground just behind the cab.
Last edited by OldFerd352; Mar 22, 2026 at 12:12 PM.
Reason: Better wording
When I eventually get to working on my truck, I was thinking of a set of Sanderson Camper Special close fitting headers, and ether wrapping them for a vintage look, or going coated. But I have no interest in loud, only with letting the 360-390 whatever is in there, breath a bit more. What are Ram Horn manifolds, and are they available for an FE motor?
Never heard of ram horn manifolds for an FE. Here they are on a Y-Block:
I appreciate the replies! Sounds like I’ll be sticking with the stock manifolds and going with the 36” mellow tones. Is it worth running the exhaust the full length of the truck? I was thinking of having the exhaust dump to the ground just behind the cab.
Earl, you and I both are learning things here... I have the original style exhaust manifolds going into a single exhaust that stops just before the rear axel. Not the original style exhaust, but what the pre-previous owner threw on there for what I suspect was a quick sale.
Furthermore, my truck is largely original in that I don't have any modern sound deadening material in the cab, and it is loud. In fact, I tend to where ear buds with sound cancellation when I drive and listen to a few tunes. Not actually legal in Virginia I believe, but I hope to not go deaf, and I am pretty sure the cops will be more interested in the faster moving traffic than me, so I hope to go unnoticed.
Picture of my dad riding in "Lucy" at 88, driving across the Chesapeake Bay bridge/tunnel Oct of '24.
Last edited by The Dassler; Mar 22, 2026 at 01:58 PM.
I appreciate the replies! Sounds like I’ll be sticking with the stock manifolds and going with the 36” mellow tones. Is it worth running the exhaust the full length of the truck? I was thinking of having the exhaust dump to the ground just behind the cab.
I would at least come out in front of the rear tire, better still just behind the rear tire or out the back. If you dump straight down just behind the cab eventually everything behind there will be covered with exhaust grime.
Earl, you and I both are learning things here... I have the original style exhaust manifolds going into a single exhaust that stops just before the rear axel. Not the original style exhaust, but what the pre-previous owner threw on there for what I suspect was a quick sale.
Furthermore, my truck is largely original in that I don't have any modern sound deadening material in the cab, and it is loud. In fact, I tend to where ear buds with sound cancellation when I drive and listen to a few tunes. Not actually legal in Virginia I believe, but I hope to not go deaf, and I am pretty sure the cops will be more interested in the faster moving traffic than me, so I hope to go unnoticed.
Picture of my dad riding in "Lucy" at 88, driving across the Chesapeake Bay bridge/tunnel Oct of '24.
Does yours have the stock style muffler or something else? Lucky for me the carpet I ordered came with some sound deadener.
Does yours have the stock style muffler or something else? Lucky for me the carpet I ordered came with some sound deadener.
Not sure what was stock, but both down pipes are run into a single muffler (maybe a flow master) and then drop out just before the axle. With wind noise, and the exhaust, my watch frequently reminds me of the dangers of prolonged exposure to excessive or loud noises.
For my 66 F100 2WD with a 352 and a C-6, I put a set of Hedman headers, an H pipe and two Flowmaster 40 series and ran dual all the way out under the bumper. When standing behind it, it has a nice rumble but not loud in the cab. I haven't noticed exhaust build up back there, but my truck doesn't get washed all that much either.
I appreciate the replies! Sounds like I’ll be sticking with the stock manifolds and going with the 36” mellow tones. Is it worth running the exhaust the full length of the truck? I was thinking of having the exhaust dump to the ground just behind the cab.
IME, especially with my older trucks, it IS worth it to take it all the way out behind the rear tires, I prefer to turn them out behind the rear tires instead of straight back, had them like that on one truck, loading stuff in the bed with it idling was no bueno, seems like exhaust just surrounded me. Having it dump out anywhere under the truck tends to make it echo through the truck...
I prefer coming out behind the back tires. Not a fan of dumping on the ground before the rear axle. The reasons already listed are true(noise, grime).
In my old age, I like nice quiet mufflers, although I do appreciate the sound of long glass packs, for about 1/2 hour or so.
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