Well it seems my path is heading down a v-8 conversion, I am very excited about this , getting the Mav/comet pieces from Chuck, going Satuday to check out a front sump 302 out of a 79 "stang . I ran across this on Craigs list. Guys what do I need to know about headers to know if they will work for my Comet? here's the add in Craig list, what questions sould I ask, any one have a part number for summit headers? Seems a great deal for $50 here's the ad "here is a new set of Ford Summit Headers. these headers are brand new. Never installed! These will fit a variety of Ford cars. Mustangs,Torinos,Mavericks,etc. These cars can have Ford 289,302 or 351 engines. These come with Gaskets,bolts and collectors.50.00 or offer.Call Dan @515-707-3153 "
Well never mind those guy just called me back they are sold. what kind of headers work for Mavs? another ad on there has a set for $25 and says they are fairly short. From his description he doesn't seem to know what kind or what application they are for
hooker 6901s seem to be the choice. summit sells the bare steel ones for $160 i believe. i didnt think 79 mustangs would be front sump, there fox bodies right? dont they all have the dual sump pan ?
The guy is telling me it is a front sump pan, I'm going to look at it Saturday So if it is front sump it'll be deep at the front and shallow at the back right, what is a dual sump? is that deep at the front then shallow then deep at the back ? If it turrns out to be a dual no problem, cause I orginally planned to buy what I need for a front sump set up.
Would it be a 255 in the 79 Mustang? I've always been told there are no good to try and fix up, better off starting with a 302. ?? I once worked with a Ford mechanic that put a cam and an intake on his 255 (Mustang Pace Car), and it was a dog, he ended up buying a junk trade in just for the engine, swaped his parts onto the 302, and it was alot better.
You need to do a search on headers. They have been discussed on here a lot. Headers that say they fit a variety of cars do not fit a Maverick usually. I have the Hooker 6901's. Others have some by Hedman and Doug Thorley makes shorties. I sent 2 sets of Summit headers back to them. I could not make them fit. Good luck.
Dave, Jamie, brought that up too and Googled it and said those were in 80's and 81's but not 79's That makes sence to me because they had 302's in 78, however, HMM I wonder if the Pace Cars had the " New" 255, before regular production Stangs got them in 80 and 81??? Is there a way for me to tell? Without pulling the intake off? I'll check a mustang site maybe they can give the low down too
Just talked with a Ford Dealership right now their parts guy looked this up on Microfilm and in 79 no 255 was available, but he also says it was unavaible in 80 which I've heard here that it was in 80 I will keep on checking.
More searching I found this http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1979-1980-1981-ford-mustang-specifications.htm Seems both Motors were available
I would make sure, is it that hard to find a 302 around you? there a dime a dozen here, I've got 4 in the garage, not counting the 2 in cars.
Just read this on the 255 Can someone tell me what they mean here by "The only externally visible cue was the use of an open runner intake manifold with a stamped steel lifter valley cover attached to its underside" Here's the whole quote In 1980, an urgent need to meet EPACAFE standards led to the creation of the 255 cu in (4.2 L) version, essentially a 302 with the cylinder bores downcored to 3.68 in (93.5 mm). Rated power (SAE net) was 115-122 hp (86-91 kW), depending on year and application. Cylinder heads used smaller combustion chambers and smaller valves and the intake ports were ovals whereas the others were rectangular. The only externally visible cue was the use of an open runner intake manifold with a stamped steel lifter valley cover attached to its underside, giving the appearance of previous generation engines, such as the Y-Block and the MEL. It was optional in Fox chassis cars including the Mustang and corporate cousin Mercury Capri, Thunderbird, Fairmont, and standard equipment in the Ford LTD. Poorly received thanks to its dismal performance and mediocre fuel economy, it was dropped after the 1982 model year, and is considered one of the worst modern Ford engines.
Hmmm, from what it says the intake is open, so there would be air flow going under the intake runners, and the lifter valley is covered by a stamped steel tray. If you can go take some pic's of it, we should be able to tell by them, as long as the intake is original.
Is this saying then that the intake is sort of a " bridge and under it is a peice of metal covering the Lifters?
