Help! The headers I bought off ebay that were supposed to fit my 390 in my 1971 F100 do not fit! They interfere with the crossmember that runs between where the radius arms mount to the frame. They will not bolt to the heads when I try to run them over or under that crossmember.
What headers will bolt in to a 1971 F100 with a FE engine and power steering? It used to be a 6cyl if that makes a difference, but I don't think it does, unless the crossmember below is different on a 6 cylinder truck.
Looks like I will be in the market and these headers are heading to ebay.
2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2wd 4.8 ls auto
2002 Toyota Sequoia 2wd 4.7 auto
1985 GMC 3/4 ton 2wd 350 automatic
1979 Chevrolet C10 350/TH400 14 bolt "Big 10" (DD)
1971 F100 2WD LWB 302 T18 3.70 9inch PS PB
1970 VW Type III squareback cut into pickup dual carbs
1967 Ford F100 LWB 352 3.03 9inch
1967 International Travellall Panel truck
1966 International Scout 800 4X4
1964 Chevrolet C10 on 1986 4X4 frame 350 700r4
1958 Chevrolet DelRay 235 3 speed
1954 GMC rat rod project Scout frame, inline 6, T90 4X4
1953 Chevrolet Tin Woody
1946 Hudson BigBoy Pickup-ratrod project
Just buy headers from Summit racing. How do you know if the E-bay person even knows what an FE is.
Frames are the same no matter what engine. They only differ between 2 and 4 wheel drive. Now also how is your rubber engine mounts?
Old Fords Rule Was a Ford Service Tech
71 F250 with Shell Car 390 NP435 Dana 60 3.73s, PS, PB, 750 EC VS Holley Accel Points Eliminator.
98 Volvo S70 2.4T Auto 71 Service manuals Volumes 1,2,3 and 4 So ask away. My Gallery Spark test
ive put a few sets of headers on these trucks and have had to rassle that cross member every time!
the bigger the collector you have the more clearance issues you're gonna have with the crossmember.
the current set im running (on a 302) has 3'' collectors and man was it a pain, i bet i got out from under that truck to give up at least 4 or 5 times, just to get back under it and try and try again. finally coming to the realization that cutting clearance in the cross member was the only answer. after that they went on but it was still tuff for the exhaust shop to get pipe on'em. if you have smaller collectors you shouldn't have to alter you crossmember, make sure your collector ring is turned to give you the most clearance you can get.
a couple of ??'s
what brand are the headers?
do you have the motor loose from the mounts and raised for extra room?
what a post.
i am going to do headers soon also, so i have been thinking of doing a post on headers toget you guys opinion on whats out there.
i have seen this discussion before but cant find it. a local guy had headman on his and they looked good.
i have a 360 in pearl now but have plans of a 390. not building a big horse motor so not interested in the facts of witch flow better for big hp.
From the tiny bit of knowledge I have about FE's you need to use different headers for different heads... Maybe thats the problem why they wont bolt up...
How much did you buy them for? What brand? Wanna ship them to Canada?
im not sure if the cross members are different between the v8 or straight 6. if they are you could be running into that problem. i know on the 80's broncos the engine mounts were different between the straight 6 motors and v8. it would be something worth looking into.if you dont get them to fit with out modification.
Fattz7duce wrote:im not sure if the cross members are different between the v8 or straight 6. if they are you could be running into that problem. i know on the 80's broncos the engine mounts were different between the straight 6 motors and v8. it would be something worth looking into.if you dont get them to fit with out modification.
The crossmembers are not different, The engine towers are.
Old Fords Rule Was a Ford Service Tech
71 F250 with Shell Car 390 NP435 Dana 60 3.73s, PS, PB, 750 EC VS Holley Accel Points Eliminator.
98 Volvo S70 2.4T Auto 71 Service manuals Volumes 1,2,3 and 4 So ask away. My Gallery Spark test
$10 says you got the wrong headers. 4x4 headers are different from 2WD headers, and come down from the heads in a different location, meaning that 4x4 headers will hit the crossmember on a 2WD every time.
Fattz7duce wrote:im not sure if the cross members are different between the v8 or straight 6. if they are you could be running into that problem. i know on the 80's broncos the engine mounts were different between the straight 6 motors and v8. it would be something worth looking into.if you dont get them to fit with out modification.
The crossmembers are not different, The engine towers are.
if i remember correct the straight 6 bolts to the cross member directly and the v8's have the towers either way no matter. i just wanted to let him know there could be differences.
There is a frame support bracket according to my 71 service manual but it does not show it. If the motor mounted with a mount only the oil pan would never fit.
Old Fords Rule Was a Ford Service Tech
71 F250 with Shell Car 390 NP435 Dana 60 3.73s, PS, PB, 750 EC VS Holley Accel Points Eliminator.
98 Volvo S70 2.4T Auto 71 Service manuals Volumes 1,2,3 and 4 So ask away. My Gallery Spark test
Right on Cheap is leaky gaskets after gaskets till the head is fire tracked.
Old Fords Rule Was a Ford Service Tech
71 F250 with Shell Car 390 NP435 Dana 60 3.73s, PS, PB, 750 EC VS Holley Accel Points Eliminator.
98 Volvo S70 2.4T Auto 71 Service manuals Volumes 1,2,3 and 4 So ask away. My Gallery Spark test
Only problem i had mounting mine was trying to bolt the pipe to the colector. We had to use the victor wrench to make adjustments. I used flowtech headers.
and man was it a pain, i bet i got out from under that truck to give up at least 4 or 5 times, just to get back under it and try and try again. finally coming to the realization that cutting clearance in the cross member was the only answer. after that they went on but it was still tuff for the exhaust shop to get pipe on'em. if you have smaller collectors you shouldn't have to alter you crossmember, make sure your collector ring is turned to give you the most clearance you can get.
