Topic: '66 mustang - new headers

[wannabridin]

hey guys.  i'd like your opinions on headers for my '66 Mustang.  currently has the factory iron manifolds, true dual exhaust with an h-pipe and cherry bombs.  sounds dang good, but there's still a slight exhaust leak because of the angle off the manifolds.  i'm thinking about a set of ceramic coated tri-y's from mustangs unlimited.  they're only $300!!  that includes the gaskets and hardware!  i want to keep the technology original for the most part, ie if it wasn't available in '66, then i don't want it.  tri-y's were what Shelby used on his GT350's and K-code's, so they obviously have something going for them!

i feel that this would be the best bang for the buck!  other car stats are, 289, edelbrock 600 4V, very mild port work (ie getting the ports cleaned up a tad), stock iron heads, edelbrock performer aluminum intake, T-10/top loader 4 speed, i don't remember the rear end gears, it's been QUITE some time since i installed the rear end; 9" though i believe.  thanks guys!

[KeithTurk]

Headers on a street car can be problematic.... ( damn bolts keep backing off and causing exhaust leaks )

Buying someone's ceramic coatings can be good and bad....they are obviously getting the bulk rate... but the workmanship can reflect that at times too....

Best of all if you have to do any whittling on them to get them right....  dings ( I've never installed a set without a hammer being involved ) can mess up the coating...

Okay those are the down sides..... the upside.... free flowing exhaust is one of the easiest ways to boost both the performance and Looks of any engine...  So hell yahhh.... I'd go for it...

Keith
( I loved my K code 66 fastback... but it's been gone a long time)

[BLUE71TURBO]

 No problems with loosening header bolts anymore ........http://www.summitracing.com/search/brand/Stage-8-Locking-Fasteners/Product-Line/Stage-8-Locking-Header-Bolt-Kits/?autoview=SKU     

[KeithTurk]

Your Avatar is a picture of Cam Donald at IOMTT isnt' it...

#$%*en bolts by the way.... seems like I'd seen something like it along the way... but I've never used them....looks like they would be a really good way to limit several issues with Headers on the street...

K

[wannabridin]

ya, i've heard about the stage 8's before.  probably be "cheap" insurance eh?  and in order to avoid ceramic coating dings, just use a dead blow hammer and some padding.  but i agree, they're not exactly a custom fit.  but i'm pretty sure they work with the 4-speed.

http://mustangsunlimited.com/itemdy01.asp?T1=9430RC+01&Category=&catkey=EMUSTANG

they say some clutch clearance will be needed, so i guess it's just a matter of trial and error...

[BLUE71TURBO]

ya, i've heard about the stage 8's before.  probably be "cheap" insurance eh?  and in order to avoid ceramic coating dings, just use a dead blow hammer and some padding.  but i agree, they're not exactly a custom fit.  but i'm pretty sure they work with the 4-speed.

http://mustangsunlimited.com/itemdy01.asp?T1=9430RC+01&Category=&catkey=EMUSTANG

they say some clutch clearance will be needed, so i guess it's just a matter of trial and error...

  And a torch, busted knuckles,bandaids and a dog to kick. 

[dave500]

tubular headers?we call them extractors here in australia,ive never had trouble with leaking gaskets,nip them up again when cold,and when hot now and again,you might need 12 point bolts in certain positions,or an allen head or a bolt with an undersize head,ive ground down a cheap ring spanner for my odd hard to get onto bolts,this set went on in the 90s,never had a leak,they finish into a three bolt flange that has never leaked either.

[Retro Rocket]

Show some bloody decorum Dave, you can't put a friggin Holden{chev} in a Ford thread.....

Mick

[dave500]

yeah, but at least you can take a photo of the clearance we have with these cars.i didnt even have to undo engine mounts to fit these!

[Retro Rocket]

yeah, but at least you can take a photo of the clearance we have with these cars.i didnt even have to undo engine mounts to fit these!

Try an SL/R then....    They are a real bastard to fit extractors on, zero clearance....   Fun car though....

Mick

[KeithTurk]

The Headers on the Camaro right now gave me Fits....  it had the Huge Blower on a 555 low deck motor then we stuffed our 572 crate motor with a Vortec blower on it and it's a Tall deck block.... .100 difference in height I'm told....  but I had to massacre the freaking headers to make it happen.... 

Just to take the bell housing out I had to lift the motor and remove the left side headers....   What a Mess....

Oh I was going to talk about sizing..... you don't need big tube's and most likely don't want them as they often steal a ton of torque to aid in higher RPM hp..... ( or so the story goes )....  we've make over 1000hp using a set of 1 3/4" headers.....  my point is....who cares how big they are.... small can be good...

[wannabridin]

oh i have no plans on running any big tubes!  some people seem to think the shorty headers are the way to go, but they don't aid the firing configuration and low-mid range torque like the tri-y's do.  JBA makes a really nice tri-y, but hell, it's 8-900 after ceramic coating!  FPA makes the best around, but they're around 650-700 with ceramic coating.  about $300 is all i can afford, and i've heard from enough people that the ones i linked to, or ones very similar to them, will work just fine.  i just might have to "massage" them in there...

[dave500]

toranas are tight mick,but as you say fun with the light weight,i was having a gander under the bonnet(hood)of my work mates v8 commodore,a vt i think,,woah,ive still got most of the skin on my knuckles,i like the hqs for that very reason thanks.,and the meager ADR rule 26 .

[dave500]

oops,back to ford stuff,umm the middle picture is a 351W i rebuilt for a mate,we rode dirt bikes a lot then so it was a tow motor,stock heads with holley vac 600 on performer and tube headers, and a sig erson TQ20,electronic ignition,it towed three bikes with camping gear and three blokes like it wasnt.

[wannabridin]

so i found these tri-y's http://www.thermaltechcoatings.com/images/DCP_2946.JPG from thermal tech coatings.  i figure the coating would be pretty dang good coming direct from a well known coating company.  and the price is pretty good too!

[KeithTurk]

I get a bit lost around small block Fords... but the right side of that set of headers looks fairly spark plug friendly... how bout the left side???

I've had to build a special plug wrench for every set of headers I've had on the car...  they just take special angles some times.....   

How are these that way?   I'm guessing they have done this enough to have solved all those issues.... but have a look anyway....

K

[wannabridin]

well no way to REALLY tell until i get them and put them up to my block to fit...  i've never read about any problems with headers and spark plugs on the 289's, so i'm not 100%!

so just a little update too.  i decided to go ahead and clean up/detail the engine bay as much as possible when i do this!  this means taking all the old hoses and crab and replacing them with new ones, as well as shortening my spark plug wires.  now this is something i've never done, any advice?? 

i might grab a set of chrome valve covers, or just re-paint mine to match my color better.

[Don R]

If you want new wires there are custom cut to fit sets. Might require you to buy a crimp tool.

[wannabridin]

ya i've seen those, and i guess in the past my problem was that i didn't have the proper crimper, so they'd never stay on...