Hot Rods Fenton Headers on a 40 Mercury

I have Fenton Headers on my 40 Merc with a stock frame and am having trouble routing the left pipe without cutting the frame. I am pretty sure that this has been done before, but in searching all of the flathead forums, I can't find any reference to this.

My muffler shop wants to run the pipe under the frame by the wishbone. I don't like this idea as the pipe will be hit by the wishbone. He says he can't route it through the frame as the clutch pedal will hit it.

Can anyone post photos of the left side pipe at the front of the frame?

Thanks

 

These should fit 1928-1948 & 1952-1953 cars, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Fenton...ars-/181764407516?hash=item2a5200c0dc&vxp=mtr

 

I guess that I did not make myself clear, the headers fit the block and do not interfere with the steering gear, the problem is routing the left side pipe around the clutch pedal.

 

My advice would be to find another muffler shop...He is trying to tell you,diplomatically,that he does not want to work on it...or maybe not even know how ..

 

I agree that he doesn't know how to work on it, but the other muffler shop wanted to cut the frame. The Ford and later Merc chassis are different in this area and mine seems to be the only Merc without modifications to the frame in my area.

 

nore than likely,all that is needed to0 be cut,are the oval holes in X member..I has to do this on a 36 also..no big deal...Just make ovals a little longer...

 

I don't want to cut the frame. I would go back to stock exhaust first. I repaired the frame many years ago as the bottom of the cross member had been removed. This is the same solution the muffler shop that wants to cut the frame suggests.

The oval is plenty big in the Mercury frame. The problem is that the clutch pedal interferes with the pipe.. The header outlet is very close to the cross member and has to make a sharp left turn just as it enters the oval in the cross-member. The clutch pedal has less than 1/2" clearance to the left frame member and goes almost to the bottom of the frame when depressed. The brake line, gas line,speedometer cable and tail light wiring are all in the area where the pipe would go.

If I could see a couple of photos of how someone installed duals on a stock frame, I might be able to solve this problem.

 

btt

 

I have them on my '47 with 1 3/4" pipes....not sure if the frames are the same (hole size and location). Wow that's all I have, I could get more if you need them but it might be the end of this week.

 

Thanks for the great photo. I am not sure how close the frames are to each other, but I see that the brake line is routed different.

If you can, I would like a photo from the top and another after it enters the frame.

Thanks again. Your photo is a big help and I appreciate the effort to get it. Here is a photo of my Merc.

 

That is a super clean Merc...........I've been dreaming of a '39 convert (My Grandpa had one in the 40's), but for now it's just a dream. I'll take some more this week or weekend.

 

Thanks for the compliment and the photos. I have had this car since 1975 and restored it twice. It is mostly stock, with just a little "hurry up" under the hood and the dual exhaust.

 

Find a shop that is does muffler work ,rather than one that takes orders.

 

My 38 with Fentons has the clutch side routed through the oval cutout without any modifications. Find another shop. If you are anywhere around Houston I can direct you to a real muffler man. g

 

The car is at my moms house and I didn't make it there this weekend, but I have to go after work tomorrow night I'll get some more pictures.

 

Ok, hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the pictures. They are great and show me everything I need to know.

There is a difference between your frame and mine in that you have more room left of the clutch pedal and the frame. My clutch pedal comes within 1/2" of the left frame rail when depressed. I will take these photos to my muffler shop and have him try a smaller pipe from the header to the muffler.