Hi im new to the forum..i have a project its a 1970 maverick grabber it has a 351w with minor upgrades.. As of late i have been having issues finding a header to fit my build.. I have read at least 5 posts on here but cant get a definitive answer on what will work or has the least amount of modifications.. Shops in my area want $1000+ for custom set.. I have tried 302 stock manifolds but the driver side manifold hits steering box.. There is a set of summit racing brand long tube headers for a 351w swap into an early mustang that some say worked and some say dont.. Is there anyone with some tips or tricks to either make the stock 302 manifolds fit or a set of headers i can modify too fit?
Thare are folks hr w/ that engine. Try asking mavman72 he has 351 send him pm. He may be able to help you.. Also. Lee Richart has similiar setup, both members on this forum. Gud luck!
wish I could help. I know on the 302 you have to lift the engine on the driver side and install the header from underneath. MAYBE that will help good luck
Thankyou everyone for the welcomes ive spoke to mavman and hotrock through pm already i believe ones was using summit brand but i cant find the number..
And Franktf mentioned before that he used Hedman 88300, had to slightly modify the towers near the engine mounts.
Crites has been making these for years, but they were special-order, so expect a wait. I did my swap in the mid-1990s and got frustrated waiting for them to start mine ... 9 weeks before I cancelled the order, and my car was my daily driver back then. I had collected three sets of headers, 2 new and one used set of Blackjack headers for a 302 1968 Cougar (probably same part as Mustang). The used set was the closest to fitting. My exhaust guy took 1 inch out of each pipe next to the flange to account for the added width of the engine. The first and third pipe on the driver side exit at such an extreme angle that you have to start bolting that header with the inside bolt in those positions and draw the header up to the head with them. Small-head bolts and ignition wrenches are the rule here. After all that, the arm on the steering box will create its own space by denting the header (that happens a lot with headers on these cars, even with a 302). The driver side header requires picking the motor up an inch or so to slip it in front underneath. (common with most headers) The passenger side drops in place from the top if I remove the valve cover on that side. My car has the shock towers cut very much like yours. It helps when doing plugs ect, but is of little use for the headers because they exit right toward the upper A-arm. You also may want to notch the tower around the oil filter or use a shorter Mopar filter. Mine was close, others have reported no problem there, might be a difference due to taller motor mounts? I did my swap in the days before stroker kits were easy. If this motor needs more than bearings in the future, I plan to change to a 331 stroker. Fits much easier and you can get much better headers right off the shelf.
I decided to go with crites rather than wasting more time and headaches.. Spoke with them yesturday and looks like he is still working on small block headers till next week so they will be delivered 2 weeks out from now.. $480 shipped to my door step
