f150 headers
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Venetia, PA
f150 headers
Thinking of putting long tube headers on a 4x4 f150 with a 302. Will long tube mustang headers fit or do I have to buy the truck headers. Im looking at the black painted headers on summit but I can find mustang headers on ebay for cheaper. Also, will my 302 generate enough heat to burn the paint off of the summit headers or will the high temp paint hold up?
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I have a 302 in my 94 with a set of truck shorty hedders. The high temp paint will be gone within the first ten miles of driving. If you can afford it i would suggest getting a set of coated hedders, I kinda wish i would have to keep the under hood temps down. As for the mustang hedders im not sure if they would work for you or not. Just remember when you put hedders on your vehicle to expect leaks. I don't know why but i've had two sets on my pickup and they both started out leak free and after a while started leaking pretty bad.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Venetia, PA
Well I would guess the leaks are from rust holes. I know painted headers burn the paint off and rust through. I was just wondering if the high temp paint works but i guess not. Ill just splurge on the ceramic coated truck headers. Thanks 4 ur help.
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Nope no rust on em. Headers were maybe four or five months old when they started leaking bad. I have tightened and re-tightened every bolt. I dunno mebbe my local exhause pros just doesn't know how to flare the tip of the pipe to attach to the coupler properly
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The 1500* paint holds to headers. So does stove pipe paint you can get at the local home improvement store. I'd say wrap 'em.
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FTE Legend
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Don't try to use mustang longtube headers on a truck.. the pipes are shaped very different and won't clear the fame rails. The only high temp paint I have seen last any amount of time on exhaust parts was a the stuff from PJ1. It's rated at 1400 deg F and you'll find it at snowmobile or motorcycle performance shops. New headers will have an oily film that needs to be removed before the paint will stick.
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Elder User
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Originally Posted by ac700wildcat
I have a 302 in my 94 with a set of truck shorty hedders. The high temp paint will be gone within the first ten miles of driving. If you can afford it i would suggest getting a set of coated hedders, I kinda wish i would have to keep the under hood temps down. As for the mustang hedders im not sure if they would work for you or not. Just remember when you put hedders on your vehicle to expect leaks. I don't know why but i've had two sets on my pickup and they both started out leak free and after a while started leaking pretty bad.
If properly installed and torqued right to avoid warping them, they shouldn't leak. On the other hand, they will change the resonance of the exhaust pretty drastically. The exhaust itself is jam up and tight, but all the heat shields on the body are buzzing at low RPM. Until I had the headers installed, the truck was always so quiet you couldn't hear it running. Now the heat sheilds drive me nuts. If I'm doing 40-44 mph in 4th, it's really bad. At first, I thought it was the muffler or cats, but got under it with it idling, and found out it was the sheilds on the underside of the cab and bed. If you put headers on, expect some new noises to get used to.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Norman, OK
Originally Posted by Calf_roper_John
The 1500* paint holds to headers. So does stove pipe paint you can get at the local home improvement store. I'd say wrap 'em.
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2006
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look for thick flanged headers. headers tend to leak because the mating surface touching the head gets so hot...then cools....gets so hot again...then cools everytime to start and drive your truck, (then turn it off and let it sit and it gets bone cold). so with all these heat cycles the flange simply warps and the gasket cannot do its job properly, so with a big enouf gap the gasket blows out. manifolds don't have this problem because they are just one big log casting, and they are usually a true fit to the head with no gasket required (dead ***** straight basically). to prevent warping you could keep an eye on your manifold bolts and torque them down often. you could also try different bolts, and different gasket types. my headers just started to leak a bit 2 weeks ago... but they have been on the truck since the spring with no problems thus far.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Bend,OR
well if you ever plan on going with an SAS then long tubes wont work. you will also have some fitment issues as well. get headers that are ceramic coated, this not only keeps underhood temps down but is also a performance gain. gibson,jba,edelbrock,bbk and bassani all make great shorties that perform very well. also if you live in cali most longtubes wont pass emissions
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