I have a 74 F250 4x4 with a 360 motor and I can not keep exhaust manifold gaskets in the old girl. The motor has about 10,000 miels on a rebuild so I am sure that the heads are not warped. Last year I had both stock exhaust manifolds plained and did not help any. I only put around 2000 miles on the truck a year and just curious what you guys think about running headers? I have never ran them before but have not heard many good things about them, but these may be easier and cheaper to put these on rather than finding stock manifolds and having the same issue. The gaskets seem to rust/deteriate after 1000 miles. Oh ya along with headers I can't keep mufler on her and the studs where the exhaust bolts on to the manifolds just rust up so quick.

LMC truck has headman headers for $249.00 Is this reasonable?

Chris

 

Puting headers on my 360 was the best thing I ever did. Hedmans are good. That price seems high for plane hedmans. Should be about $150. If you have rust issues then get the headers coated and use stainless bolts.

 

V10 man; Thanks for the advise; Any ideas where I can find Headman headers for $150.00. What did you like most about your headers instead of your current stock manifolds? GHow was installation? What I would like is that if I have to replace the exhaust pipes I wouldn't have to worry about getting the pipes bent to alighn up to the stock manifolds.

Chris

 

I put a set of Heddman Headers, non coated on my 76' 360 and ran that truck for 20 years. I think I only replaced the gaskets at the heads once. The doughnuts down at the end of the collectors were replaced a couple of times but that was probably because I loved to off road it whenever I had the chance. The headers never rusted out either. That brand is tops with me.
Dan

 

From header back what ar you running, singles or duals, stock or add-on replacement pipes/muffler, and what type muffler.

IMO- Headers by themselves aren't going to do much if all else is stock set up. Not only the rest of the exhaust, but your intake & carb all work together. Aftermarket headers will (I think) be easier to work with than cast OE, do get stainless bolts, be sure to use anti-seize.

BTW- correct spelling is Hedman, in case you're doing an internet search.
Shouldn't have any trouble finding them. Unless you're pricing coated or stainless (if available) your price seems way high.

When the gaskets fail, is it just the exposed portion between ports, or are they failing at the seal areas at the ports? Seems really excessive.

Consider getting and putting in a heat shield also, between header and starter. Fit tends to be pretty snug and will produce more heat around starter.

 

Chris, dude I"ve got a75 F-250, 390,and the same problem,gasket blow out..

 

This is one source: http://www.pawengineparts.com/ Summit racing should have them too. The headers really improve flow. The stock manifolds are just a dumping ground for the exhaust. You will need to do some work to get the exhaust to line up with the headers. I'd recomend 2.25" or 2.5" dual system.

 

FWIW: My beat up engine was double gasketed on the exhaust manifolds and it is one of the only things on my truck that does not leak

 

I am currently running 2 1/2 duals from manifolds back. Up here in NY things rot fast and what I have been doing is buying just the curves that go off the exhaust manifolds and run them down to where the front of the cab is and then run like a 6 ft pc on both side to a pair of I want to say 22 inch long glass packs. This way I can just replace the sections as need be.

The motor is all stock and 85 % of the interanals were replaced. The point of the heaeders isn't really for perfomance it is just so I don't have to keep replacing mainfold gaskets. Ford I think recommends 15 to 20 lbs of torque on the exhauset manifolds. Most of the time the bolts come loose but when they don't it appears that the gaskets jut rust away. Now all of a sudden after a year the new bolts are so freaking rusted up that I have to pull the heads off the turck to get the broken grade 8 bolts out. WTF

But I am going to use stainless this time and put a lot of neverseize on the bolts. But it is a sweet running truck. I feel it has more nuts then my 02 with a 5.4.

Also the intake manifolds leaks oil like a siv, Can anyone recommend a sealer to go on the back and the fronts of the intake manifold? I have used RTV black and Copper and not much luck.

Chris

 

ChrisY ON MY 390 , 75 F-250, the way I"ve done the INT. is after cleaning it good i use a punch {small} then with a hammer i pick the gasket area ( on the block )about one inch apart use a good glue on both gasket and INT.then put the gasket on let it dry good and then put the RTV on both ends and across the top, install your manifold and tighten it ,I"ve had good luck with mine. TNT

 

Thanks TNT for your response. The issue I have is that the gaskets rust. THe mainfolds seem to stay pretty clean but I am not sure if it is a heat issue or what but the gaskets just seem to deteriorate. Actully I may have the same problem if I decide to do the headers, but i got to try something different. I have tried Felpro gaskets and other well know brands and no luck. The heads are coming off this weekend so I can get the broken bolts out that I torqued to only 15 to 20lbs.

Chris

 

there is a note on the headers that says they do not fit a camper special, or trucks with a front sway bar. is this true? has anyone tried this? i have a 73 camper special with a 360. Am i SOL for headers?

Thanks
Joe

 

73GreenF250,
Is this note on all brands of headers?
If you haven't checked around yet, you may have to do so, it's a very tight fit for headers that are designed for non-camper special anyway as it is.

 

well i know the hedmans say this, and thats why i asked, i dont know of any other headers for the 360, if you do, clue me in and i will check around. i dont really see how the sway bar would get in the way, but oh well. does anyone make shortie headers?

 

Just start checking online suppiers, if Hedman says they won't work, there's a reason. Hedman is not (by any means) the only builder of 360 headers, probably the most reasonbly priced though.
Have seen shorty headers, they can be a pain, think about where the donut ends up for when you have to work on it.