I'm looking for advice regarding the exhaust on my 71 F100...

I've got headers coming from my 302 engine and they are just way too hot. The exhaust pipes run close to the transmission/starter and Its gotta be killing my transmission during the insanely hot phoenix, az summers because i can feel the tranny slipping in stop and go situations after those pipes get good and toasty.

Currently there is no heat shielding material to speak of...I would much rather go that route instead of going back to stock exhaust, but would shielding be enough?

Thanks

 

Some sheilding would do a lot. Just some flat steel bent up with a suitable air gap between the header and the shield will do quite a lot -- take a look at a muffler shield on a later model vehicle. Also think about having your headers coated with a ceramic coating by one of the companies that specialize in it.

 

What about that multi-purpose stuff they sell in the LMC catalog for heat and sound...or would that just melt off?

 

You can get a roll of header wrap from Jegs or Summit Racing. You wrap the headers with this and it will keep your engine compartment cooler.

 

Pauly, I passed on posting the first time by, because my opinion is pretty biased. Headers are loud and they are hot. IMHO they are starter killers and not needed for engines not turning over 5000 rpms. There are starter heat shields, I have a blanket type on mine, but I'm not aware of much more to help.

Everybody ought to have one set in his lifetime. I have mine on now.

John

 

thanks for the info...im going to shield my starter and wrap the headers up.

 

May I suggest that you look at insulation for the floor rather than wrapping the headers for the heat control. I have reservations about actually wrapping header pipes, because of the extreme heat to cold ratio that can occur there.

My 2 cents on that issue.

John

 

if your trans is slippin i dobt its caused by header heat.try a trans cooler and a fluid/filter change.stop and go traffic will heat it up a whole lot more than a header will unless your line are sittin rite on top of the header

 

x2 biggest trans cooler you can fit will help more than the header wrap. Add to this, there is NO header manufacturer that will warranty a set if they have been wrapped. Tried it once, 390 in a 68. Headers lasted about a year before there was a hole burned in one of the tubes. What kind of fluid do you run in the trans??

 

L&L fenderwell exit header or some other kind of fender exit headers might do the trick if you dont mind replacing the headers and changing your exhaust a little. I have heddman hedders, rugular frame exit, no ceramic coating, no wrap or heat shield and have never had trouble so i dont really know whats goin on but a good heat shield should do the trick if you dont want to change up headers

 

I have learned to always use studs into the head with headers, and, when first installed, torque to spec in the proper sequence, let cool, torque again, repeat one more time, and forget about it.
I also found that these connectors, as with the ball and socket type collectors, work well. 2-1/2" MARMAN ASSY-304SS - GBE MANDREL BENDING You can get them in stainless or steel.