Headers on 79 F100
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Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 447
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From: Jacksonville IL
Headers on 79 F100
My manifolds have gone to the dogs and so bought a set of headers from Summit racing. They are the Summit racing brand that cost about 100 bucks. After much cusing, spitting, (first time header installation), I was able to get them on. But now, I see that the transmission shifter linkage may hit the pipe once it is bolted on to the header. Did anyone face this problem? Any suggestion on how to fix this? I am thinking of getting a piece of flat rod, cutting to length and dril holes on each end to remedy.
F100, 302, engine, C6 tranny, 2WD.
F100, 302, engine, C6 tranny, 2WD.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Arcade, Georgia
Take it from me...that will not work if you want to continue to use the 1st and 2nd gear selections. I had my headers installed with my dual exhaust at the same exhaust shop I have been using for ten years or so. When I asked about this problem to the owner, he solved it fairly easily. He got the truck up o operating temperature and then drove it about ten miles more. Then he pulled it into his bay and with it up on the lift, he put a long pry bar between the header (just in front of the collector) and moved the bottom part of the header away from the engine about a quarter inch. Thats all it needed. He guarantees his work for life, so I'm good to go. 
BTW... Mine is a '74 F-100, 302 and an FMX Automatic.
BTW... Mine is a '74 F-100, 302 and an FMX Automatic.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Montana Territory
Thats what I did too... you could also put up the pipes and weld them all up and then take them down and take a hammer to the pipe and it will move just enough to allow the linkage to move. Don't try cutting the overhang on the linkage, thats what I did first and now I have no adjustment if I ever have to change out transmissions.
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From: Jacksonville IL
Just curious why the first gear and second gear selection wont work. It seems that the only issue is the overhang (for adjustments). I don't want to ruin the linkage just in case shortening the linkage don't work and so wanted to work with a spare.
Fleet Mechanic
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From: MA
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Senior User
Joined: May 2005
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From: Jacksonville IL
Mine are sitting on crossmember. But I haven't drawn the header bolts tight yet - maybe that will lift them up some. Regarless, they don't seem to be causing any grief.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Montana Territory
I have a similar truck, but with a 400 motor, and I used the Hooker competition headers, and mine rest about a 1/4" away from the crossmember on the driver's side, the passenger side cleared fine, but took some creative tube bending to clear the crossmember. It would have been easier to go below the X member, but I like to keep things clean. I used 14 ga 2.5" aluminized tubing.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: East Flat Rock NC
If you have ever delt with the headers banging on the tranny crossmember here is what I did to fix that issue! Whether you run your pipes above or below the tranny crossmember they rattle on this crossmember.
I know that you are talking about the radius arm crossmember, But the tranny crossmember is an issue too.
Here is a link to my modified crossmember
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=79912&width=0
Wally Womack
I know that you are talking about the radius arm crossmember, But the tranny crossmember is an issue too.
Here is a link to my modified crossmember
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=79912&width=0
Wally Womack
Last edited by Pro-Street/StateTK; Jun 21, 2007 at 07:26 AM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
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From: Montana Territory
Thats pretty sweet... A little easier trick might be to take the crossmember and put it in a vise and heat the angle a little and bend it the other way and just flip the crossmember over. I thought about this, but I have a pretty neat hydraulic tubing bender that worked very well for putting the bends in the tubing. This way you are leaving the crossmember hanging down a bit, but its still not as low as the front I-Beams, so you still have plenty of clearance.
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From: Jacksonville IL
Is it an issue for the header to be touching the cross member? I don't think the crossmember is on the way, but the header is just touching it.
Although, I have another issue - the header flange to tighten down the reducer is touching the tranny pan. this may prevent the flange to be tighten down. the header also seem to be touching the bell housing on the passenger side. Anyone face this issue? Thinking of sanding down the flange a little to clear the pan.
Another issue - there is one header mount bolt (the ones that bolts the headers to the heads) right in the middle on both side that does not seem to want to go in at all !
Although, I have another issue - the header flange to tighten down the reducer is touching the tranny pan. this may prevent the flange to be tighten down. the header also seem to be touching the bell housing on the passenger side. Anyone face this issue? Thinking of sanding down the flange a little to clear the pan.
Another issue - there is one header mount bolt (the ones that bolts the headers to the heads) right in the middle on both side that does not seem to want to go in at all !
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Montana Territory
Welcome to life with headers... they never fit like they should...
There aren't any issues with the headers touching anything (unless it melts) except that it will rattle, not a little rattle either, like a megaphone for all the little engine noises.
There aren't any issues with the headers touching anything (unless it melts) except that it will rattle, not a little rattle either, like a megaphone for all the little engine noises.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2005
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From: Jacksonville IL
I ended up calling summit racing. They said that the headers should not touch the crossmember. They think that my motor mount are not good. So, I bought a couple from the local parts store and try them on. They said to shim it a bit if it still touches the crossmember. So, trying that on today.
As far as the hole that does not line up to the heads, I think I will have to drill it out a bit.
As far as the hole that does not line up to the heads, I think I will have to drill it out a bit.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2005
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From: Jacksonville IL
New update: Got a new pair of motor mount and a new tranny mount. Motor mount did not help at all. Tranny mount helped very little. Ended up shimming the tranny mount by almost an inch. It gave me good clearance on the driver's side. Ironically, my engine is more leveled now then it ever did !
The passenger side still have issues - the flange is still hitting the pan and the side of the header where the reducer goes in is still touching the crossmember. Driving me nuts right now !
The passenger side still have issues - the flange is still hitting the pan and the side of the header where the reducer goes in is still touching the crossmember. Driving me nuts right now !