302 V8, headers or not
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302 V8, headers or not
Here is what I am thinking with my 1980 F-150 302. I want to rebuild the motor with just a mild build, maybe a better cam and I know I want a 4-barrel to replace the 2, but not anything bigger than a 600 cfm. I really am only looking for something I can take out every day and drive and since it is a 2 wheel drive, it isn't a off road truck and it won't be a pulling truck (I have nothing to pull!). This is just a drving truck that won't kill me on gas mileage. So do I want to put headers on it or just run a nice dual exhaust with a set of Flowmasters? Will the dual exhaust without headers make the motor breath enough to not choke the carb?
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
The carb will run fine with the stock exhaust system. I have run headers before, and I personally think they are not worth the hassle. They make it difficult to get the starter out, they get in the way of the tranny if you need to work on it, and they take away ground clearance. And if you don't get a expensive set, they will only last about 5+ years if you drive where they spread salt on the roads.
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 566
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From: SC
I like headers. I used carry a motorcycle to races with my F100. On back to back 1000 miles trips with no other changes but adding long tube headers, 2 1/4" duals, and Flowmasters I saw almost a 2mpg gain. May not sound like much but every little bit helps. And proof enough that the exhaust modifications did my truck some good. My truck is also a 2wd but has a 351W. I've failed to notice any loss of ground clearance. My starter is in fact a bit tougher to change but still a lot easier than the one in my 5.0 Mustang with factory exhaust.
True enough the cheapos don't last as long. My Hedmans have been holding up OK for about eight years now. Still solid (so far), but boy are they rusted ugly.
Back when, I asked my exhaust guy to route the duals to give me as much room as possible to R+R the transmission. Glad I did. Been having problems and I've got the AOD out for the second time in two weeks. To clear the headers I have to tilt the transmission a bit to one side when letting it down on the jack. No biggie.
Keep in mind this is just my experience with my one truck. No doubt there are any number of folks out there that have had who knows what problems.
True enough the cheapos don't last as long. My Hedmans have been holding up OK for about eight years now. Still solid (so far), but boy are they rusted ugly.
Back when, I asked my exhaust guy to route the duals to give me as much room as possible to R+R the transmission. Glad I did. Been having problems and I've got the AOD out for the second time in two weeks. To clear the headers I have to tilt the transmission a bit to one side when letting it down on the jack. No biggie.
Keep in mind this is just my experience with my one truck. No doubt there are any number of folks out there that have had who knows what problems.
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