Hey dexracer, welcome to FTE! Have you ever ran your truck through the 1/4? If so what is it doing? We seem to have similar setups so we can exchange some info and maybe both improve out times. I'm going to the strip tonight. I just got done putting 3.70 gears and a spool in the back. Man did it make a difference.

 

got my headers after waiting all day for them to come in. started putting them in. after fighting the darn things for an hour, i decided to read the instructions. after reading and finding i needed to jack the engine up it took about four hours total to install both sides. i still have the mufflers and pipes to hook up. i thought ( due to cash flow) i would use the pipes i have already that exit the rear of the truck. i'm going to get a couple of turbos and use 2 1/4" pipe from the collector to the muffler, which will be located at the back of the cab. then use the existing pipes ( 2") to exit out the rear. will i still get a decent sound even though i'm using 2" pipes?

i can also see where the starter will be a pain to change.
i guess thats just part of the price we pay to have something different.

 

I think the sound is primarly from the size of the pipe and size of the mufflers. Going to a smaller pipe should get a higher note. Pretty easy to change later if you decide you want a different sound.

You mentioned the starter and I thought I'd remind you to run some kind of heat shield. Even if you have to make one from a coffee can. I've heard about using a roofing shingle too, but I got the Therm-Tec blanket for $20 and also made a steel backing plate for the back of the starter because it's just too close to the header.

I had a brand new one give out 20 miles from home and it NOT FUN.

Get/make a heat shield!

 

Karl, I can tell you that a shingle won't work. They will melt and burn. I see guys using them in the fire barrels in the winter time.
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In the cool still quiet of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

does anybody sell fenderwell exit headers for the FE in 4x4 73-79 trucks?

 

xericx

Summit has headers for 67-77 352-390 4WD, part number HED-89180 for $150. They are Heddman Headers. I dont think they are fender well exit though.

 

Thought I'd toss my 2 cents in on this. I just purchased my second set of headers, this set is Jet Hot coated Dyno Max, 1st was std aluminized Blackjack or equal (cheapos) in 5 yrs they had turned to crap. So new ones were in order. Looking forward to having them look good and run cooler for a long time.

Headers are the 1st and best improvement you can do to the FE Motor. This engine takes in more fuel than it exhausts so getting rid of burnt fuel (exhaust gas) is high priority. Thats why the best cams for this motor have dual profile, i.e. more lift on exhaust side.
One of you savvy gear heads ought to design & sell some good ones that solve the starter problem.

Starters and Headers. Yes indeed what a painful topic. If you only knew. I have had a starter quit when in a line of 50 cars for a ferry 60 miles from home!!! I ruined an entire weekend one other time replacing one. (and did a #####ty job to boot-a couple months later the nose piece broke off and fell into the flex plate and ... yucky noises, engine had to come out to find problem, etc.) So what do you do? In past 2 years I have had a New Napa stocker and it's worked better than any previous. But, I have purchased and will be using a Hi Torque smaller diameter starter from Summit (or Jegs I can't remember) in near future in hopes that it will be less of a headache. But I'd never go back to cast iron headers or stock exhaust because of starter clearance. Hell, I'd sell the damn thing first. The CACWBY in WI, getting closer every day.

 

i've got them on and can tell only a slight increase in preformance. i still have 2" pipes that run out the back and make several bends getting there. i do how ever have on order a set of purple hornies and an exhaust pipes 2 1/4" that comes straight from the headers, turns and dumps out just in front of the rear of the rear wheel ( which to me isn't far since it's a swb truck). hopes this increases preformance some. i also have a new starter and heat sheild to put on when the weather breaks.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 14-Jul-02 AT 02:47 PM (EST)]I should have added something about exhaust, because as just pointed out small exhaust doesn't help much even with headers. I have 3" exhaust and a crossover (exhaust pipe type) with medium quality free flow type mufflers.

 

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 16-Jul-02 AT 09:11 PM (EST)]Doug thorly makes a set of fender well headers for a 73-77 F250 high boy 4X4. I have a set I bought about ten years ago I think they are headmans. Their in a 74 F-100 4X4 with a 428 CJ and they are inside the frame and they have clearence to remove the starter. Leadmic.