Does anyone know of a commercially available set of bolt-on shorty headers, short of breaking the bank, that will fit my 1988 E250 with a 351 windsor in it? The headers would have to have the port for the EGR valve as required here in California in order to pass smog. Any help would be appreciated.

 

i haven't come across any shortys for the vans that are cheap. the long tube models can be had for a decent price though. Hooker and Hedman full length headers are about $200. although it may be possible to search them out under the mustang category. lots more possibilities open up. especially when shortys are what you want. search summit and jegs.

 

If I'm not mistaken the EGR gas is supplied to the EGR valve through a port in the cylinder head it's self and not from the exhaust manifold. I have a 1988 E-250 with the 351 and I don't remember an EGR tube coming off the exhaust manfold. If I'm correct and your California version is set up the same way then going with any kind of headers should work. You will have to come up with a "Y" pipe or modify the stock one and keep the catylitic converter to be legal.
Here in Illinois I do have to have the van tested every two years. They run the van on a set of rollers and test the exhaust. If the engine is in good condition and running normally and the cats are functional then I can pass the test. Putting headers on would only effect how soon the cats heat up upon start up as they would be a bit further down stream in the exhaust system.

I have thought of doing this my self and could only find long tube headers listed for the E- series vans, no shorties! I have a cracked RS exhaust manifold now but since it doesn't leak I won't replace it until it does. At that time I may just go with headers.

 

My 1988 E250 definitely has a port on the right side exhaust manifold, right in the front of it, that the EGR valve tube screws into. Here in California the vehicle has to pass the same sort of emissions test as you described plus a visual. If you have a set of headers with the emission port on them, there must also be a decal on the firewall showing the issued certification that these headers do indeed comply with the smog emission standards. I have a 460 in my bigger RV with the Banks kit on it and the appropriate decals on the firewall which the smog guy inspects every time I have it smogged and he is always inspecting the catalytic converter because he thinks I have gutted it as it has "the rumble" of a gutted converter he says. I haven't gutted it yet and it is 20 years old and still passes smog so I don't have any plans to do that. Anyway, the little van with the 351 does need a set of shorty headers but must have the EGR port on the right front header pipe to accept the EGR tube. Hedman makes that exact header for F series pickups but there isn't enough clearance to fit their header into my van, I have tried it. I need some more side clearance in order to make them fit.