I am looking for headers for my '75 F-250 4x4. I already have the JC Whitney kind. They hang too low (below the frame). Is there anyone using headers for FE engines in a 4x4 that don't hang below the frame?

 

Try Summit Racing or P.A.W. The PAW catalog has them for $139.00, although I can't testify to their quality.

 

I'm running a set of hookers made for the '76 4x4. They installed O.K. but one of the tubes just kissed the starter. Not a show stopper, but still a bummer. I loosened it and squeezed a small dent in the offending tube. If they ever leak, that'll probably be the spot. The headers I have are the flangeless type. I recommend having a good muffler shop install nice thick flanges. Slip fitting the pipes on to the headers makes for a leakey joint.

Installation tips:
Taking the tires off really helps. You can get at a lot of the bolts thru the fender wells.

You may need to loosen or remove one of the motor mounts. I forget which side.

The headers will snake up from the bottom of the truck.

Whichever headers you buy, use Doug Thorley gaskets. They're thick enough in all the right places. The Mr. Gasket ones suck.

I used this stuff called Never-Seez on the gasket and bolts, but I think any hi-temp anti-sieze compound would help. Opinions differ on this one.

IMPORTANT! Retorque the bolts several times at regular intervals.

 

Do your headers hang below the frame, even if ever so slightly?

 

I was about to get some of those JCW headers for my 75 4x4, exactly how far do they hang? I dont want them to hang to far, or i wont get them.

 

The bottom of the pipes are just about even with the back of the leaf springs. That works out to about 5" below the frame. Looking at it, it seems pretty much impossible for the headers not to hang this low due to the cross member under the front of the tranny.

The header flanges are just back of this cross member and the pipes are bent to go up from that point and be protected by the frame. The muffler is tucked up nicely so as not to be vulnerable and the single pipe out of the muffler runs over the rear axle and dumps out behind the rear wheel. I just had this done a couple of months ago and I'm pretty happy with it. It may not look cool having only one pipe, but it performs better than the dual-all-the-way setup I ran for the last 14 years.

If you're really interested in the setup I have, let me know and I'll shoot some pictures with my digital camera and email them to you.

This picture was taken with the old setup with two pipes in front of the rear wheel.
<a href="https://www.ford-trucks.com/pictorial/big/1976_f250_2.html">https://www.ford-trucks.com/pictorial/big/1976_f250_2.html</a>

Good luck.

Jim

 

I feel the JC Whitney headers are too low for me. It's hard to tuck the mufflers up with the headers hanging so low.