I have an 89 302 5.0L with shorty headers on it and I have an 83 351W with regular headers on it (NOT HEADS) and I was wondering if I can swap from the 351W to the 302?

I know you can swap heads but I need to know if the headers can do the same.

Thanks!

 

I believe they will bolt up, but dependant on what vehicle these motors are in/coming from, they might not bolt up to the Y pipe in youre vehicle.


Rich

 

I intend to modify the piping back from the headers...I just want to make sure the headers themselfves can be swapped. They are both Broncos

 

I dont think so. the engines have different deck heights...

 

What does the deck height have to do with the headers??

 

um yeah?

 

We're talking "V"8 engine here. The 351W "V" is taller, so the top points are further apart. On the engine, this means the exhaust ports (that the headers bolt to) are positioned about an inch and a half higher up and further apart. The header designers are well aware of this and design their parts accordingly.
That said , if you're willing to make pipes to mate to the headers instead of trying to reuse stock stuff, the odds are good you can make them work. This is a chance that one might hit the steering shaft or something we can't foresee. This is what you have to deal with when trying to use parts in applications they weren't designed for. Might work just fine, might turn into a complete screwup, more likely somewhere in between. Anybody actually done it who can say for sure?

 

Ok thanks a lot for the input. I almost thought the same thing because although the heads can be swapped I didn't think you could swap the headers. IO have awesome 3" pipes on my 83 and want to swap them to my 89 (351W to the 302) and my 302 has shorty headers. Thanks for all the help!

 

The shorties will fit. 302 - 351W

The long tube ones will not.