im looking at getting some headers for my 1978 f150 4x4 short bed. the motor thats in it is a 1977 400. im looking at headman headers that are on broncograveyard.com. they say that they are "fender well exit only". i am unsure of what this means and if they will fit on my truck/motor. and what's the difference between short tube headers and the longer tubed headers???

 

Hedman Headers, 351M 400

probably cheap headers?? but those are the ones im looking at

 

"Fender well exit" headers are routed outside the frame rails through the fender opening as the name implies, if your truck is not lifted it may create some clearance issues with the tires on lock-to-lock turns.

 

Headman's have that "stupid" ball flange collector. I'd try to find something else. They are nothing but trouble.

 

ONE TRUCK HAS THE BALL MOUNT NO PROBLEMS OTHER THAN HAVEING TO LOCKTIGHT THE BOLTS AS THEY KEPT LOOSENING UP EVEN WHEN LOOSE THEY DIDNT LEAK THE OTHER SET HAD FLAT MOUNT 3 HOLE GASKETS BLEW OUT 3 TIMES UNTILL I USED THE THICK SOFT ALUMINUM GASKETS I ALSO HAD TO USE THE SOFT HEADER GASKETS BETWEEN HEADER FLANGE AND ENGINE DUE TO THE HEADERS WARPING AND LEAKING TO EACH HIS OWN I GUESS BOTH ARE HEDMAN ON 460 ENGINES BUT FOR THE PRICE COMPARED TO HOOKERS I CAN LIVE WITH IT

 

are there a way to get different type of headers then bc my truck is not lifted--as far as i know neways

 

I owned a set of Hedman's; once.

They are cheap headers and just like so much else in life "you get what you pay for".

To me, a vehicle with an exhaust leak just sounds awful and the implication is the owner is either a lousy mechanic or doesn't take pride in his rig.

If you are going to go to the time, trouble and expense of putting headers on your truck, get some good ones.

 

Bought some headers from L&L Products. Very impressed.

 

I dont believe the Hedman Elites are "cheap", in quality or price.

"Hedman Elite Hedders are made with ultra heavy 14 gauge aluminized tubing and utilize a bulletproof 3/8'' flange. A thermal coating is added to resist the intense heat and adverse elements common to engine compartments"

I kinda like the ball flange, no leaks so far for me anyway. I thought the ball flange was a Ford OEM design?

To each his own I guess.

 

are hooker super comp 18 gauge headers good to go with or is edelbrock better?

 

Riderman,

I don't know how long Hedman has been producing their "Elite" line. The Hedmans I bought, as I previously mentioned, were cheap and poor quality.

I had done a complete frame-off build up on the truck and wanted to install the headers when the engine and transmission were in the frame and nothing else. I wanted to do this because I didn't want to scratch the powder coating on the frame, paint on the engine or the coating I had paid to have done to the headers by another company.

I can't think of a more opportune time to install headers. Well even with that the left header didn't fit. (I don't recall what it hit.) I called Hedman and they insisted the truck's frame was bent. [There were no issues with that frame. It was perfectly straight.]

When a customer calls with concerns about a product and a manufacturer refuses to accept the possibility of a manufacturing defect I don't call that good customer service. I prefer companies that bend over backwards to help their customers, and willingly pay more to do business with them. Conversely, if I know a company has poor customer service I won't buy from them. In the Internet era, one can do a bit of research on who to avoid.

Maybe Hedman realized there are too many people like me out there with negative experiences with their products and decided to upgrade their product.

To finish the story of the headers... I lifted up the rear of the transmission and removed the transmission crossmember. I then lowerd the transmission and engine below the point that it would normally be. I was then able to bolt the headers on to the cylinder heads. I put a block of wood between the headers and the part of the truck that was the interference point and jacked up the rear of the transmission and in the process bending the headers so they would fit. I removed the block and installed the crossmember.

 

mmm thats intresting i have never had a problem with 460s 400 302 all 2wd mind you is your truck 2 or 4 wd? mine all slipped in from underneith

 

It is true, you get what you pay for but atleast Hedmans are made in the states instead of over in some chinese or japanese factory.

 

Go with the L & L ive had mine for 10 yrs still great worth a few bux more

 

they dont make em for a 351M though do they?