I've used Sanderson headers on a few projects, I think you'll be pleased with the quality.

 

It's a hard thing to pin down exactly. Everyone seems to have had a different experience due to the different brands and differing quality of the headers, coupled with some of the changes in the design of these trucks over the years (I.E. 4X4 vs. 4X2, power steering vs. manual steering, Bendix vs. Saginaw steering boxes, auto vs. manual trans, etc...)

One of our members (fastmover) has a truck that's sitting in my yard at this very moment. It's a '70 F250 4X4 with a 390, and he's got the Sanderson block huggers on it. Excellent quality and good fit, he had to do no massaging of tubes to fit them. The only points I see are:

The factory finish is burning off, in my mind it would be worth the extra bucks for ceramic coating which would not only last longer but reduce underhood temps;

The #3 tube comes down very close (1/4 inch) to the back of the starter. He has a starter heat shield in place but we've had to manuver it a bit to cover the very end (where the end bushing resides) to keep the the bushing from getting too hot and failing prematurely, and if the starter ever fails the pass. side header will have to come off to get clearance to remove the starter.

Lastly, Sanderson recommends using no gaskets and instead sealing the headers to the heads with high temp Permatex. After one year, they're leaking a good bit and need to come off so we're thinking about trying the dead soft copper gaskets.

These are all pretty common issues with most brands of headers and are simply the price you pay to have headers on the truck. For most people, the benefits outweigh the negative aspects, and it's certainly an improvement in exhaust flow over having those restrictive log-type manifolds on there...

 

New FE owner and so far I love it. I was glad to come across this. I am also interested in going to headers on my 68 2 wheel drive. I have a 390. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

I have not installed headers on any FE, BUT I have installed them on (I-line/6) and 302s
351w many,many times, and I think no matter what motor installed I think you will always
have a problem with the tranny crossmember being right in line with the headers, and if
you go over it or under it it, the header pipes still rattle on it! Here is the way I ( Solved ) it.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=79912&width=2



Wally Womack

 

Don't forget to use good quality fasteners on your headers...Stage8.com is a great place to look and their product works!