I have a 351W with a C6 in a 54 Ford Customline. I need a set of hugger headers that will fit the engine and help stay away from the steering box. If you have any ideas, or suggestions I'm willing to listen. If you have done this yourself, and have pictures and a part number I would indulge that as well.
Not "hugger" headers as you requested, But I just came from a friends shop who transplanted a 302 into a '63 Sudie wagon and he used factory headers from a '90 Lincoln. Nice, close to the block, dumped at the firewall which would help your situation, and more than readily available cheap.
Normally the factory manifolds would be great, but I had to take those off because they were on the steering box causing it to burn the gear oil and screw the steering box gears up.
What about a set of 302 huggers, will they fit the 351W? I know the 351 is taller and they wouldn't go down as far as intended, but will they fit the angle of the 351 head? I don't want to get something and have an exhaust leak.
Hedman header that fit a SBF early Mustang will work . The problem is getting past the steering box . They headers must exit close to the firewall to work . The Hedman headers WILL WORK ! Come over to the 52 to 56 Ford group and we have all the informations for that set up and anything else you might want to know . There are a GREAT group of people there and TONS of great knowledge too ! Just tell them Jim sent you ! See you there ! Retro Jim
I did Sanderson block hugger headers on a 472 Cad big block in a 50 Buick Senanette and it worked just fine. We had to use a different oil filter location is all. Good luck, Rags
I have the headman header and they are causing problems with the selector rod for the gear shift. I have the column shift and I don't want to change that, so I'm looking for alternative headers.
You didn't read my response completely...I said Factory HEADERS. Just like the Fox bodied Mustangs of that era, the full sized cars sometimes used tube headers that were shaped a bit differently than the Fox body stuff. I have some experiance with 302s and 351s in '49-'51 Fords and know the steering clearance issue well. I think these would help.
You're right I must have misread your post. Is this something that can be picked up at Oreilly's or some place like that?
If you don't mind that I heated one of the pipes and hammered it down a little to make clearance for the original column shifter. Also they no longer have the gaskets since I had to take them off and it tore off the paper on the gaskets.
The Fox body "shorty headers" will work in a 1949-51 Ford no problem.In a '54 Ford with a 302 no way Jose! they hit the steering box and the A-frames,found out the hard way.
Wrecking yard.... That's what made me think of these! these have a slightly higher centerline than the Fox body stuff, are a bit smaller diameter and dump just a bit higher and are a bit narrower than the Fox stuff. Truly the most compact 302 / 351 headers I have ever seen. I wasn't aware they existed untill yesterday.
Yeah I guess knowing the model car it came out of would narrow things down and make it easier for the junkyard hunt.
I feel like I'm running into uncharted territory here. I guess I will just get all the measurements for the space available and the angles and call Jegs or JC Whitney to see if they have anything that will match those specs. I will post any positive findings that I obtain.
i honestly don't know what model, I honestly couldn't even tell you what models Lincoln made in '90... I would hit hit Lincoln section and lift hoods until I saw something compact and looks like it would fit. Pretty easy to know it when you see it.
You really don't want to use those ****py header that Ford made for the Mustang . Have you ever seen them before ? They have to be the worst headers I have ever seen . They don't have an even air flow at all . the tubes are round , square and rectangular in many places . Looks like someone have a set of headers and took a hammer to them to make them fit ! Do you have a picture of the problem you are having ? Is it just a very close almost fit or just way off ? Could you raise the engine a 1/2" or so to make them work ? Sometimes that just might work . Have seen many guys do that before with washers . You might also consider use the early Mustang exhaust manifolds too . They have a very close fit with a rear dump at the firewall . I have used them before in some Kustom engine fits on Fords before with good luck . I have a 55 and going with a 302 in mine . I am going to be using a set of try Y headers with some mods to where the collectors go . Do you think you might be able to alter some long tube headers to fit ? The reason I say long tube is so you have extra lengths of tubes to weld with . Just a thought . Retro Jim
I had to drop the engine with new motor mounts months ago so that the long tube Headman headers would fit under the toe boards. The main issue that I have to deal with is the column shifter being able to connect to the C6 since I'm not willing to change to a floor shifter. I really like the column shift since its not a common thing now days. I will have to look at the early mustang headers to see if they will fit. I can take pictures today since I will be over there to get all the measurements. This way you can see what I had to do for the column shifter to move past neutral.
OK then , can you dent the header in a little for the linkage to move ? Can you cut the tub that the linkage is hitting and move it some then re weld it ? If it's that close you should be able to make the headers work . Long tube header from an early Mustang will not work . I have them already . There is nothing wrong with a column shift at all ! I am considering using mine with my C4 trans . Retro Jim
sorry for being snide, it seem like like the only parts auto zone, oreilly's, local mom and pop auto parts has any more is shoes, pads ,points, oil. everything elce, you gotta' scrounge or buy at a specialty house. good luck to you.
I don't know Jim, these weren't the typical ****py Fox bodied Mustang headers that I have seen a million times before. They certainly would not be flow making champions, but as far as being compact and fitting a tight area they would turn the trick. They weren't nearly as ugly either! I asked my buddy if he had made them and he laughed a bit and said "nope, '90 Lincoln". I just cataloged them as handy to know problem solver stuff.
This image is the shifter in Neutral being stopped by the #3 header pipe. This is how it looks now since we heated it up and hammered it down a bit. The shifter flows through fine. The collector where all the pipes meet up is now a huge problem. Uploaded with ImageShack.us More pictures to follow after I work all the details out with the dimensions between the engine, frame, steering box, and firewall.
This shows you from the front of the engine going back, labeled 1 through 4 pipes respectively. I show the measurements that I was able to get for all the distances to parts that matter. Hopefully this gives a better impression of the space that I'm dealing with. Also the angle of the head in relation to the upper control arm bracket is 35º So with all the information that I have, can anyone that knows about them tell me whether or not a shorty header with the collector dropping straight down the center will be good or bad and why? Also will the collector be too large and interfere with the steering box? Oh yeah what is a fox body header?
If it clears the parts , then you are OK . I have had headers that are with-in 1/8th" from parts before . The only problem with that is the heat . I would wrap the headers where it is close to parts that don't do well with the heat from the headers . Looks like the header is already bolted up so anything that is close just use a hammer or big pry bar to adjust the tubes for clearance . As for the dent with the shifter , that won't hurt anything . Now where is the collector at compared to the frame ? The pictures did help ! Thanks . Retro Jim
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