Truck headers?
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Germantown, MD
Truck headers?
I want to buy some headers for my truck. My manifolds are ugly, rusty, and potentially cracking. I've found some decent long tube headers by Flowtech, Headman, and Hooker that are fairly inexpensive. I would really like to buy a pair and bolt them up, but I was under my truck today thinking, "how the hell will i route my exhaust!!" lol. I suppose I could make it work, but it could get a little challenging to connect the long tube headers to my existing true dual 2 1/4" system. Routing the driver's side to the passenger's side would be the biggest issue. I guess it would have to go accross under the trans pan??? Has anyone done this? I would love to see some pictures of how this is done to save me some trouble.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Dryden, ON, Canada
This is how I pulled it off on my 460:
Since it's my wheeling truck, I was more concerned about getting it up out of the way than flow, the stock system on it ran under the crossmember.
This was a dynomax kit for a 302 that I adapted to the 351W in my 81 F100, with their 302 headers, it's a bolt on kit. Don't mind the baked on oil... That engine was TOAST... LOL
I really didn't much like that routing, but it is a direct bolt on kit, and does fit.
Since it's my wheeling truck, I was more concerned about getting it up out of the way than flow, the stock system on it ran under the crossmember.
This was a dynomax kit for a 302 that I adapted to the 351W in my 81 F100, with their 302 headers, it's a bolt on kit. Don't mind the baked on oil... That engine was TOAST... LOL
I really didn't much like that routing, but it is a direct bolt on kit, and does fit.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Germantown, MD
Hmmmm interesting. Thanks for the pics and quick response!! I now have improved confidence about making it work. It'll just take a little time. I wonder if the headers will provide any noticeable power increase or difference in sound.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Jacksonville FL
I have the Flowtech LT headers(from summit racing) on my truck and love them. Havent had 1 problem with them. I will be getting my new exhaust done this weekend (2.5" true duals with flowmaster 44s). Yes there will be a power increase and sound too.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Germantown, MD
Oh awesome, those are the headers I was looking at. I'm going to buy those! Then I'll just fabricate a system to connect to my headpipes. Your signature says you have true duals with glasspacks. Do you have the LMC kit like I do? I'm just curious, what does "low five oh" mean? I know the stangs 302s were called five ohs...
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
Those pipes hanging low from the headers looks pretty crappy when you look at the truck from a distance. But there is nothing else you can really do. I ended up re-routing my duals under the frame on each side, and then turning the exhaust up and running it along the outside of each frame rail, and turning it out in front of the each rear tire. It sounded good with turbo mufflers till I went to have it inspected, and the guy made by put a catalytic convertor in each pipe. Speaking of which, good luck getting anyone to put duals on these trucks. I had to make it myself out of elbows and lengths of pipe from the auto store, because no muffler shop would put duals on it around here, it is illegal.
Now I am a happy man with duals, and legal too, with my diesel. No catalytic convertors on that model.
Now I am a happy man with duals, and legal too, with my diesel. No catalytic convertors on that model.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Germantown, MD
Nice. Yea, it will definitely take some time to make a nice system. The headers shouldn't hang any lower than the front trailing arms, which are probably the lowest point on these trucks. The advantages would out weigh the disadvantages, at least for me. After the headers, I'll remove the upper intake and port match it to the lower intake. I might put in slightly bigger injectors while I'm in there. Then, I'll look into better, no emission heads (GT40 heads or early '90s heads), and an SD friendly cam (either aftermarket, or an RV cam or something).
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(a 1980 f-250):
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Germantown, MD
Oh my god I just looked at your gallery because I read your signature and got curious... Your flareside is f***ing beautiful. WOW! I would love to have a nice street 4x2 flareside like that since I already have my 4x4 off road style truck. That's awesome. I bet that thing can move!!
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,052
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From: Jacksonville FL
Oh awesome, those are the headers I was looking at. I'm going to buy those! Then I'll just fabricate a system to connect to my headpipes. Your signature says you have true duals with glasspacks. Do you have the LMC kit like I do? I'm just curious, what does "low five oh" mean? I know the stangs 302s were called five ohs...
Low five oh is because my truck is lowered with a 3/5 drop and it has a 302 aka "five oh" and thats what my license plate says.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Germantown, MD
Whoa, whoa whoa! What about the O2 sensors??? My truck has EFI, I'm going to need O2s. Could I thread them downstream into the header collector, or the reducers? The manifolds have the O2s right at the downpipe flange. Would mounting the sensors that far downstream impose a problem with the functionality of the sensor and it's output signals???
