Hey guys, hope you can help me here. I am trying to take off the old rusted headers on my 77 F150 4X4. I have disconnected the power steering, the starter motor, and the front drive axle. I can't seem to get the damn things off!!! Do I have to disconnect the power brakes and the clutch also? I deffinetly do not want to as I am doing the work in an apartment building parking lot with no aid of power tools. Also, the passenger side header wraps aroung the motor mount (split into two pipes on either side). Is this normal? Do I have to disconnect the motor and lift it to put these things on? I know this should not be this hard, but I am having a tough time about this and I do not want to start disconnecting other stuff just for some damn headers. My dad says to take the truck back to stock exhust, but I don't have the money to replace everything. It already has dual exhust, and the rest of it is pretty good. I am stuck here in Hawaii (home is Washington state) without any buddies to help, and am doing this all on my own. No power or air sucks! Any help at all will make my year! Thanks-Ricker
p.s. I am also sure the headers I bought won't fit. (flow tech) They are the only ones checkers had in stock without having to order for 4 weeks away. I know headers have been covered a lot in this forum but any advice you can give is appreciated. Thanks

 

bigricker! Listen to your Dad! Buy new or junk yard parts and put it back the way it was. Later, when you get home, and have air and power do the header thing, well....not, headers suck! Anyway, listen to the Old Man!
William in Atlanta

 

Thanks William, yea I called the old man last night and he told me to lift the motor and disconnect the clutch to get the headers out. He also suggested I take the thing to a muffler shop, which supprised the hell out of me because he has always done work himself. Just to get the thing on the road for now I am going to replace the headers because a junkyard (the only one with F150's on the island) wants $150 for the stock manifolds and I still have to change the exhust from dual to single. Too much money for me now as I would have to get the thing towed to a shop (another $150). Still looking for a response as to which headers to buy though.
Thanks again,
Ricker

 

Rick , when you get to be a father with a son your age, you will understand. :-)

I can relate.

John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page

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66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

Get a hack saw and cut those babies off. Then get stock manifolds to put back on and have the muffler shop plumb them to your current exhaust. FORGET HEADERS! Just look at the trouble your having and you will see why!

Nathan

 

what engine do you have? Is the truck 4x4? I have Dynomax headers on my 390 4x4. you dont have to jack up the motor, just remove the clutch linkage and the starter. If I had more money, I would have got Hookers. It all depends on what you want from your truck. If you dont care about performance, stick with manifolds. If you want any sort of performance out of your truck, you need headers.

Dave
http://www.davesmonsterpit.com/dmp31.gif

 

>what engine do you have? Is
>the truck 4x4? I have
>Dynomax headers on my 390
>4x4. you dont have to
>jack up the motor, just
>remove the clutch linkage and
>the starter. If I had
>more money, I would have
>got Hookers. It all depends
>on what you want from
>your truck. If you dont
>care about performance, stick with
>manifolds. If you want any
>sort of performance out of
>your truck, you need headers.
>
>
>Dave

I dont agree! I went from stock manifolds to headers to stock manifolds (when the headers rotted off!) and never noticed a difference in HP, tourque, or mileage. Maybe if I was trying to knock a 1/10th of my 1/4 mile time, but for general driving/towing, no difference. I must admit, though, the headers looked cool!

Nathan
>http://www.davesmonsterpit.com/dmp31.gif

 

Thanks everybody for the responses. It seems like the consenses is to put the stock manifolds back on. I like the idea of hooking them up to the dual exhust with the aid of the muffler shop. I will disconnect the clutch and remove the starter motor, and then cut the old headers off with a hacksaw. I guy I know is going to let me borrow his battery operated sawz-all so that should save some time and arm strength. I will also try to get some stock manifolds and put them back on. Dad said he would send them to me as he has a "few extra" lying around. Um, performance is not as important to me as just getting the thing on the road. (the truck is in my ex-girlfriends parking lot and I have to deal with her every time I go to work on it) Thanks again for all the help.
Ricker
p.s. I just found out the shop won't take the headers back, only for exchange so I guess maybe a new carb?
thanks.

 

On a stock engine, you wont notice much of any difference with headers, but as soon as you start doing things to the engine, thats when you need them. On my truck I gained almost 2mpg. They also sound a lot better. I bet if you looked around you could find someone that would come take the headers off for you if ya gave em to them.

Dave
http://www.davesmonsterpit.com/dmp31.gif

 

The motor is a stock 351M, with everything stock except for the headers. I do not plan to do anything with the motor as it works fine and has plenty of power for a shortbed 4X4. I will call my Dad and get him to send me some manifolds (I hope). Then I can get to work on the studs that broke off in the heads. Pretty bummed out right now though.
Thanks everybody for the info.
Ricker