Hello Everyone,

I'v finally completed the disc brake and powersteering conversions on my 66 F-250 2WD. I've never installed an engine before and need guidance/ advise on headers to consider for this setup. I have been doing some reading about various headers including original cast iron shorties and the cast iron headers with longer collector tubes. I'm also of course considering aftermarket/custom headers. I also read some favorable comments about the FPA Tri-Y.

These are issues I think I need to consider.
Torque / HP performance
Durability / Rust
Exhaust Leaks
Starter damage due to heat & proximity of header tube to starter
Heat in the engine bay in general
Difficulty of install / clearance

Have I overlooked any pertinent issues?

Which headers sould I consider with this engine?

Here are the specs on the 428.

Block Casting Number C6ME
Date code 5J24 (10-24-65)
Bored over .0030 no sleeves
Oil Galleys drilled to 15/32
Hardened screw in galley plugs
New freeze out plugs
Deck surface was trued up.
Solid lifters
Pistons 9.5:1 (expect 9.8 compression with truing of block deck)
Miladon 5 QT reproduction oil pan (front sump)
Millings (sp??) high volume oil pump
ARP oil pump driver
1U Crank
Main and rod journals turned to .0010 under stock
Detroit balanced flywheel
Stock piston Rods shot peened and balanced
ARP Bolts

Heads - C6AE-6090R
Stainless valves 2.02 intake, 1.56 exhaust
Hardened exhaust seats
New springs retainers and locks
Exhaust ports drilled for multiple bolt pattern

Ford Motor Sport multi-index roller chain

Holman Moody Cam
C3AZ-6250-AA
526 lift
298 duration (intake and exhaust)
Solid lifter valvetrain.

Intake C6AE9425H
Police Cruiser (Dual Plane)

Carburator - Reconditioned Holly 750 single pump
Manual choke vacuum secondaries.

This will at least initially be bolted to a MX cruise-o-matic.

Rearend is a 4:10 gear.

I'll add a Petronix elecronic ignition.

Thanks in advance for your help.
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66, you're going to be limited somewhat by what fits the truck without lots of work. The cast iron long tubes don't fit the trucks well, IIRC, they were intended for a galaxie. The cast iron shorties can be made to fit. Both of the cast sets are exspensive. Headman 89100s fit most of the trucks fairly well. You do have to watch the how the ex port matches up to the header's primaries. The early ford FE heads had a 1/4 inch higher exit as compared to the later heads like the D2s. The C6s are all over the map. I have seen some with the low ports, some high, and some kinda in the middle. And all of those with the same C6AE-R casting. I think it might depend on what they were intended to be installed in, and when in the year they were made. If you have an offset you can deal with it by ovaling or slotting the bolt holes in the header. some come that way when you get them. You just have to look at them and check the match is all. In a pickup, it is easy. In a mustang, it is harder.

DinosaurFan

 

dinosaurfan,

Thank you for the guidance. I did not realize there were differences in the exhaust port height locations for C6AE-R heads. I'll check out the Headman 89100s. There is a passenger side 1964 427 Ford cast iron header COAE-9430-R on ebay. The guy is local and he does not have the drivers side header. I'm heistant about pursuing this because I think it will be difficult to find the matching drivers side header. I also don't know anything about how the shorties compare from a flow standpoint to aftermarket units.