73 f250 high-boy headers help

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Apr 28, 2001 | 05:06 AM

73f250

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Joined: Apr 2001

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73 f250 high-boy headers help

I have a 428 in a '73 F250 and when I placed the motor in the truck
some time ago was talked into replacing my one piece tube headers with a set of
Hedman alum. Coat headers. What a joke! These headers on the passengers side are
a slip tube type and have caused nothing but trouble, leaks and noise.

I was told Hooker had a one piece design, but
when I contacted their tec support I got some very strange
answers. The tec support said the headers they made for my truck would only go on the
16 bolt FE heads. I thought these heads only came on Mustangs & Cougars! Are they crazy or what?

Anyway does anyone know of a good one piece header. What I mean
by one piece is 4 seperate tubes all welded together at the
flange and collector, none of this slip tube crap.

Or would I be better off trying to find a set of cast iron 406 or 427 headers & will they fit my truck? Thanks

Apr 28, 2001 | 05:17 AM

karljay

Cargo Master

Joined: Jul 2000

Posts: 2,281

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From: Northern California

73 f250 high-boy headers help

Welcome aboard! I have the same engine in my 73 F250 and it came with Hooker headers. I think they are super comps and they DON'T require special heads. They take 2 bolts per runner one top, one bottom and they are the one piece design. I'd ask them about #HOO-6808.

As a side note, they aren't too fun to install. I oblonged the holes to raise them 1/8" to match the ports then had to remove the motor mounts to get them in. It's all worth it, just don't forget some kind of starter heat shield. I am able to remove the starter without completely removing the header.

Tell us a little about your truck, mods, cam, intake, tires...

Apr 28, 2001 | 08:03 AM

jowilker

Fleet Owner

Joined: Jun 1999

Posts: 24,552

Likes: 74

From: Creedmoor, North Carolina

73 f250 high-boy headers help

Jerry, I think I know what you were running into. The 428 has a different head from the 390, right? There were no 428 engines offered in Ford trucks, therefore there is no application for your set up. They can offer you headers for a 390, but they wont bolt to your engine.

Your problem comes up here regulary. Guys have known truck models & known Ford engines that they have installed in there trucks but because that setup was not offered from the factory the aftermarket folks don't make parts to fit.

Hope this gives you some insite. :-)

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

[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group

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Apr 28, 2001 | 01:51 PM

dinosaurfan

Cargo Master

Joined: Aug 2000

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From: SW Michigan

73 f250 high-boy headers help

Jerry73f250, it sounds as if the tech did not know what he was talking about. Most headers for the ford FE have slots for some of the holes, like my JRs do, and they bolt to any FE head. If you get some that don't you can grind them oval like Karl did. If you want to 4 to 1s get hookers like Karl has, if you like triYs Stans is ready, and if you like shortys get them from Sanderson. You should pity that tech at Hooker, probably some underpaid kid who was not even born when FE fords were in their prime. DF

Apr 28, 2001 | 03:01 PM

dave186

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73 f250 high-boy headers help

I have Dynomax headers on my truck, and they have the slip fittings. They werent very tight when I got them, but I took my expander tool and made them fit tight, I also put a bit of this exhaust goop I got at a muffler shop on them. Its not leaking yet, and I dont think it will.

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

Apr 28, 2001 | 03:26 PM

FE427TP

Posting Guru

Joined: Oct 1999

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From: yes

73 f250 high-boy headers help

>The 428 has a different head
>from the 390, right? There
>were no 428 engines offered
>in Ford trucks, therefore there
>is no application for your
>set up. They can offer
>you headers for a 390,
>but they wont bolt to
>your engine.

A lot of the head castings were the same between 390 and 428's the difference would be if the engine came from a Fairlane or
Mustang since they had tighter engine bays so they needed 14 bolt castings. You could probably have gotten away with just saying you had a 390 to get the headers. For a Truck Tri-Y's are probably the way to go.

Apr 28, 2001 | 05:11 PM

pto dave

Junior User

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 89

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73 f250 high-boy headers help

-I run the Doug Thorley wheelwell headers. Kinda co$tly but they work great. Been on truck for 10 years no problems. They also carry lifetime warrenty. Good Luck!!!

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1972 Ford F-250 4x4 Dana 60/14 Bolt
4.88's, detroits, 40" Hawgs, rear PTO
winch, 390 c.i., N.P. 435, Dana 24
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