I'll post pics of this tomorrow, but I Wanted to throw this out there ASAP to get some ideas... I am nearing the end of my SBF swap into my 1957 Fairlane. I picked up some aftermarket shorty headers..typical shorties you see for around $200 - wide tubes, etc.. When I dropped the engine in today, I quickly realized that the passenger side header will hit the upper control arm and the drivers side header will hit the control arm and the manual steering box. Has anyone run into width issues in a SBF swap with the headers? I need to find some narrower headers ASAP. For some reason, I'm thinking I've seen some where the tubes come straight up and then work their way back, but I'm not sure. I'll also look for some stock Mustang GT headers and see if they are narrower.
have you tried the block hugger type that are all over ebay for about $150 i have a couple pairs on my early broncos and they fit real nice and its tight in there,nice thick flanges too. have them on a shoebox , but it does have a camaro clip. dont know if that helps or not
This may be of no help, I'm not as far as you on my car but... - Are your ebay shorty headers, the mustang shorty headers? I've been told they should fit. I also bought mine on ebay, this is what I got... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...STRK:MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=140139918480&rd=1 - What are you using for motor mounts? maybe you need spacers.
Mine are very similar to those - probably the same general type. I bought them because they are usually the most universal for fitment purposes. It's real close, but they are just a little bit too wide and hit the control arms. I am using a motor mount kit from Opie. He's sells these conversion kits on Ebay and the quality is fantastic. It's a triangular base that bolts to the original 223 mount location and then a flat plate that bolts to the SBF block. Nice n' simple. Based on slddnmatt's recommendation, I found some block huggers on Ebay and at Summit and may try those. Also, if anyone wants some unused SBF shorty headers, I am about to list them for CHEAP in the classifieds!
I had similar fit problems putting headers on my 66 Galaxie with a 352. I can't imagine a SBF being that hard in a 57. If you need another pair of eyes, let me know. I drive to Plano a couple of times a week anyway. Hate to see you buy another set of headers with no guarantee they will fit. Surely someone makes a header that is KNOWN to fit for such a conversion instead of guessing what might work. Maybe shorties aren't what you need if the collector is hitting somewhere.
Hey Dave, holler if ya need a 'gas-wrench' to adjust the fit........and holler if ya need a hand with anything, I'm right down the street. Later -
Thanks, Ken. For the most part, the engine swap is going well. I've had this minor setback and the "bolt-on" motor mount swap kit isn't very bolt-on! The engine mounts are great, but it's not allowing the tranny crossmember to line up with the trans pad. Of course, the kit said you just redrill some holes in the crossmember and roll. It's not too bad, though. I just need to cut out a plate and it should be fine. Hell, if this stuff was easy everyone would do it!
I've done a little research and came up with a few options that I am considering. Any feedback would be appreciated. 1. Block Huggers Pros - run very close to the block, good clearance cons - dump straight down - might hit motor mounts 2. Small pipe Tri-Y Pros - small tubes at the heads should provide good clearance Cons - LONG - so there's more opportunity to not fit 3. Explorer 5.0 headers Pros - tubes overlap and appear to provide extremely tight clearance, super cheap used Cons - crappy performance
Look at some Headman headers for a 66 Mustang I think that was what I had in my 57 Fairlane 500. It was 1970 so I may be wrong.
I'll check it out. I measured tonight and there is 5 inches of clearance from the head to the upper control arm on the passenger side and about 7 inches on the drivers side. It's CLOSE.
This may be of little help, but I thought I would throw it out there any how. You may want to try mustang SBF headers for a 351 W into a 65-66. I remember when I was a kid, i had to buy a set of these to run headers on my 66 with a 351W. They fit well, but were full lenght. I believe that Hedman offers them in shorty lengths as well. They hugged the block pretty close if memory serves. Rob
Raise that engine up an inch and youll gain two-three inches of clearance at the heads. Oh yeah, rasing the front up an inch would only change the carb angle maybe a degree, so that shouldnt be a problem. Only worry you might have would be the valve cover hitting the Master Cylinder. Can you take a picture of the whole engine in the bay?
I'd try some 86-93 Mustang Shorty Headers. They exit a lot further back and should clear the control arms, but I'd be worried about the gear box. Summit has them for under $150 new or you can try the factory Mustang headers to see if this will work and you should be able to find a set of those dirt cheap as most people throw them out.
Well the passenger side I believe is being weighed down by that menagerie of alternator pulleys and doohickeys! Id vote raise the motor up as well. Had a similar situation, went about it the hard way (like you are) by trying to find the right "needle in a haystack" header that would clear it. Raising the motor an inch would have helped me from the get go! Doh! Worst that can happen is it still doesnt clear, BUT even with going back to square one, you now have more clearance reguardless! Good luck!
Dave, I just took a quick measurement of my headers placed against the block (motor is out of the car). Pass. side - from block to widest part of the header is exactly 5" Driv. side - from block to widest part of header is only 4.25" Not sure if this will help but... Maybe you can try these headers with a spacer as mentioned. The steering box may be a whole other issue. I picked up a 59 steering column for my 57 as I've been told it'll make more room for the header - we'll see.
That funny as hell! I just told my wife that someone would give me shit about my alternator setup if I posted these pics. I'm assuming the easiest way to raise up the motor an inch would be to add some thickness to the motor mount plates that are bolted to the block? They are just flat steel plates, so making them thicker would be easy.
2 down, a few more to go! I tried the tri-y headers today from Dallas Mustang. No dice. They would fit fine from a width standpoint, but they dive down too soon and hit the engine crosmember. On the drivers side, I'm going to have issues with the steering box for sure. That side might because they dive down further back, but its TIGHT between the bell housing and the steering box. I am tempted to just try a different brand of shorty headers and see if they work....or try the uglier than hell 5.0 Explorer headers....or go custom. Tonight's project is to raise the engine and inch and see what that buys me for clearance.
check out sanderson headers. they have all kinds of applications. i checked it out but couldnt really see anything for you, but im new to this anyway. hope this helps alitle
Problem solved! I found some of the Ford Hi-Po upgrade stock exhaust manifolds (reproductions) from Dallas Mustang. They were an upgraded manifold with bigger ports than the small stock ones for the late 60's to early 70's Mustang. They fit like they were MADE for this application and have a pretty cool old look to them as well. I'm glad I got a mini starter because that probably would have caused some issues.
I'm glad you found a solution! Didn't see this thread until just now, but I had to use the "heat wrench" as BigKen mentioned to make Ford Motorsport shorty Fox Mustang headers fit the 302 in my '57 Ford Custom. The upper control arms and steering box are a real BITCH!! Malcolm
Glad you found a set that fit. I was going to suggest you try pinto and mustang two 302/351 conversion headers. Those are built to fit really tight spots. Looks great by the way!!
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