Ford Shorty Headers
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 132
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Ford Shorty Headers
I went to my local junkyard today to pick up a wiper arm and ended up coming home with a set of shorty headers with the Ford emblem stamped on them. 
I didn't know Ford made headers. I just thought they were an aftermarket sort of thing. They came off a 88 Bronco.
There's a nice amount of surface rust on the outside but the inside is not rusted a bit. I can barely make out a "AA" at the end of the serial number on one of them.
Are these any good or should I have just left them there?
I didn't know Ford made headers. I just thought they were an aftermarket sort of thing. They came off a 88 Bronco. There's a nice amount of surface rust on the outside but the inside is not rusted a bit. I can barely make out a "AA" at the end of the serial number on one of them.
Are these any good or should I have just left them there?
New User
Joined: Feb 2009
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You're lucky all right. I've been looking for a set of headers for my '81 FWD and can only find one set that will work for my 351W. Unfortunately, they are Doug Thorleys and they cost around 600 bucks. My misfortune is that I live in California and with all the smog laws I've been unable to find anything legal but that one set of Thorleys. If anyone knows of any headers that will go on an '81 with a 351W and are California legal I'd sure like to know about it. With the whole truck not being worth all that much a 600 dollar set of headers is out of the question.
Senior User
Joined: May 2008
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Do you have an O2 sensor on your truck? If not you should be able to use any headers as long as keep your air injection. You can weld on a bung if you need O2 sensor. Reuse or replace your cat and you're in business.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Liverpool, NY
Ya could also try a wire wheel on a dremel(that's what i use) or a bigger wire wheel on a high speed drill.
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New User
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First thing is that I don't know if I have an 02 sensor or not or where it would be located. Does anyone know if my truck is so equipped? My truck is a 1981 F150 FWD with a 351W. I'd sure like to be able to use some less expensive headers than the Thorley ones. But this is California and I have heard that you can only put on headers that have the okay from the Air Resources Board. These have a number on them saying they are okay. I wanted to replace the entire exhaust system including headers but for some reason my truck doesn't have anything that is California legal except the Thorleys and I have checked with Summit and other places too. It would be nice if I could do it with any headers with an 02 sensor put in but I think that is not the case. It's a real pain dealing with Calif. law. I was hoping someone in the state would have the same truck as me and would know exactly what would be legal. The last thing I want to do is put in a new system and next year when I go for a smog check to find out it won't pass. Thanks for the info though.
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Joined: Nov 2008
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From: McKenzie River
A Ford p/n set of headers should be CARB compliant, 81 should not have 02 sensor. With a Ford P/N on the headers it would be very difficult for a inspection to say they were not OEM on your truck.