1952-59 Ford HELP!!!!! Issues with clearance of headers on a 302 Swap

Hey everyone, so far I have been progressing nicely on my car, but tonight we decided to put the new headers on, now as I traveled through this site and many others when it came to discussing the 302 swap it said Mustang Shorty Headers fit perfect etc etc......

I purchased I brand new set of shorty mustang headers, they look beautiful but they will not clearance the factory '55 Steering box and are verrrrry close to the A-Arms. Anyone have any idea why this would be?

If anyone has pictures of there swap with headers that the can post so I can see the clearance I should be having etc that would be excellent. Or maybe I just missed a post saying of some sort of a modification I should be doing for them to fit right

The car was originally built back in the late 70s and had the 302 stuffed in it back then, so I'm wondering if maybe the motor mounts are wrong or something so lots of pictures of your setups would help me alot. Trying to get the car back together and running for my local clubs show in mid June so working on a tight time limit

Thanks in advance

 

The Mustang "shorty" headers are the early Mustang 1965-70 HEDMAN 88400, not the Fox body headers that you have they are listed here (SAVE this file this is the place to find "what fits") http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?do=discuss&group=&discussionid=18186 You are in luck as Jeg's has them on sale now: http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stor...0&Ne=1+2+3+13+1147708&searchTerm=Hedman+88400

 

Here's a link to my swap. Hope it helps.

 

i had a 351 in my 55 and it really was tight..i shaved a little off the A arm. and i didnt use headers. i used early 80's truck manifold and it worked. some guys just pound a dent in the header to clear things..though it's not the right thing to do it'll get you out of bind if it's possible

 

does anyone make ceramic coated mustang headers like this style? not a fan of the ugly black

and I'm not even sure thats going to make that much of a difference in fitment, I am going to take some pictures of the mounts and see if someone can identify them

 

Here is the same header coated: http://www.jegs.com/i/Hedman/500/88408/10002/-1?parentProductId=

 

thanks Jeff

here is a picture of the driver side mount in my car, can anyone explain to me how this is set up and if it needs to be redone I gotta start thinking about it as my time is running thin

 

Is there an extra plate welded to the backside of the cross member that the motor mount is now sitting on?

 

it looks like it goes through it but I really can't see where its welded

 

We used this thread when mounting my engine. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/media/albums/289-302-351w-swap-mounts.41498/ Be sure to READ the notes below.


I'm not using the stock steering box but this should give you an idea of the clearance using the method above with Anchor mounts and Hedman Hedders.

 

my biggest issue is i'm not sure what they used when they installed my engine, it was done in approx '79 from what i've been able to figure out.

I want to buy a set of the hedman headers but now i'm nervous that even if I do that that I'll still have the clearance issues

I talked with my dad about it and he was saying when they put the '302 in his old 56 wagon that his motor sat a couple inches higher then my motor does now

 

From what I can tell in your pictures, the height of yours is where mine is sitting. However, yours appears to be more forward than mine so I think that is where your real issue will be. The lower and farther back you can get the engine to sit, the better.

 

i've got about 1.5-2 inches from the firewall to the back of my heads

 

That measurement is about right on the drivers side,additional clearance can be had using the later fox body Mustang mounts previously many had used 70's F-150 mounts with about 1" or more of spacers added to clear the steering box.So go ahead and order the HEDMAN's if you need the clearance swap the mounts or add the spacers and you are good to go.

 

Great thread. I'm working on putting a 302 in a 56. I have 79-93 fox body headers, which from what I see won't work without steering modification. The Hedman headers you guys have recommended seem to be the ticket to avoid clearance issues with the steering but the part number is for automatic cars. Has anybody used these headers in a car with a T-5?

 

Dos Cincos, what steering box are you using?

 

Right now, just the stock steering and worm gear.

 

I've got a t5 in my 56 but I'm using a hydraulic throw out bearing. No clearance issues.

 

Stig, nice, and your running the Hedman headers as well? side bar question, did your 56 originally come with a manual? I'm working on that too and my car was/is an automatic car. What mods did you have to do to make the T5 work?

 

Yes, Hedman headers. Mine originally had an auto but the guy I bought it from switched to a 3 speed OD. I had to make a Trans cross member. I used a Trans mount for a 60-64 Galaxy.
Not sure if this answers your question.

 

nice! just curios, did you use a cable or hydraulic set up? I've got a big ol brake booster taking up space on my firewall so i'll have to go back to manual brakes to make room for the cable.

 

Hydraulic.

 

The pictures above were taken when I had the GM 605 box in there. The box was way to twitchy so we went back to the stock 55 box. Still have the headman headers installed and there is plenty of clearance.

 

Dos Cincos, that's awesome news, thanks for sharing. A buddy of mine offered me a smoking deal on these really pretty stainless fox body headers, but I'd rather not mess with my steering, guess I'll have to tell him no dice. Thanks for the great help.

 

Not trying to beat a dead horse here, has anyone used the Hedman Headers on GT40P heads?

 

Do the GT40P heads have oval exhaust ports like the ones on the bottom ? If so the 88400's will not work .

 

If you have not bought the GT40Ps don't,the gains are minimal and if you are thinking of a better camshaft this really opens up a whole new can of worms. Read this entire article: http://www.fiveohinfo.com/performance/gt40-gt40p.html It will set you back a few bucks to upgrade them. So what do you do if you are on a budget? http://www.mre-books.com/ford/engines/cylinder_heads.html However I will disagree on the valves the Chevy 305 valves give you better meat to work with: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-1-840-I...305-/321573479508?hash=item4adf45e454&vxp=mtr 1965 Heads will give you adjustable rockers and a higher compression ratio. Now if you have a little more money to spend there's always this and all of these will work with the headers. http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/ccrp-1302-six-budget-ford-heads-that-work/

 

Another thing you should know about a 302 swap: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/media/albums/289-302-351w-swap-mounts.41498/ Be sure and read the text and the updates.

 

Jeff, yep, GT40p are the oval port. I hate to s**** them, they're ported, decked and have roller rockers, not to mention I got a smokin deal on them. Back to power steering drawing board

 

Maybe not,these are new to the market a little pricey but fit the same applications as the 88400's but for GT40P heads. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Small-Block...40P-/271014972300?hash=item3f19c04b8c&vxp=mtr These did not exist several months ago.