Help installing headers
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Canada
Help installing headers
OK guys I finally got those Flowtech headers and I am trying to install them in my '72 302. Last night I managed to jack up the engine and get the passenger side header in and bolted to the engine. When I lower the engine they are jammed solidly in between the cross member and the bellhousing where it sticks out for the starter. Any suggestions on how I can get clearance? How much clearance is enough?
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 12
From: SW Michigan
Help installing headers
Sedric, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here, but do you have the right part# of headers ? The 302 in a truck is a very small engine with lots of room all around. If something is jammed somewhere it would seem to me either you don't have them on right or they sent you the wrong ones. Sorry. DF
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Canada
Help installing headers
Sorry guys, I took another look and they were just hard against the cross member.:-X11 There was about 1/2" clearance to the bellhousing. I managed to move them up a little by jacking them up with a piece of 2x4 and my floor jack and by prying with a long bar. They now have about 1/8" clearance to the X member. They are clear of everything else too. Now I can finish of the rest of the piping and I should be good to go.
Thank for the help.
Thank for the help.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Help installing headers
The instructions that came with my Dynomax headers (360, 1974 F-100) said that they were designed to work with the original motor mounts and that if the mounts were worn there may be clearence problems. That might be your problem.
Good luck!
Mark
Good luck!
Mark
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Calgary Canada
Help installing headers
Yah, my instructions said they recommend new motor mounts. So do the motor mounts compress and the motor sinks down over time? 
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 2
From: Gainesville, FL
Help installing headers
Sedric,
Glad to hear about your progress. Don't worry about those motor mounts. Worry about your exhaust. If you've got to bend'em, then bend'em. Did you get a heat shield for your starter? They make a insulating wrap for the starter that's supposed to help. I have a 76 F100 w/302 and headers and I go through a starter every two years until I shielded it. I had a small block C6 and had to bend my headers a little also.
My Way is the Highway
KingFisher
Glad to hear about your progress. Don't worry about those motor mounts. Worry about your exhaust. If you've got to bend'em, then bend'em. Did you get a heat shield for your starter? They make a insulating wrap for the starter that's supposed to help. I have a 76 F100 w/302 and headers and I go through a starter every two years until I shielded it. I had a small block C6 and had to bend my headers a little also.
My Way is the Highway
KingFisher
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