I'm doing a 351W Swap and I need Headers or Exhaust Manifolds for the swap. If anybody has any parts they would like to sell that can help me would be greatly appreciated. I know I can go to Criets Restoration $$$ but I'm trying to keep the cost down. I don't want to cut the towers if I don't have to. Thanks Stan
Break out the sawsall or blue wrench Grumpy ! It's going to be a ' Tight Fit ' .. and you will more than likely have to perform some surgery on the shock towers .. OR remove them completely !! Not a lot of room for a 351 .. Headers are another factor you'll have to deal with . I wish you success !! Cometized (Chip)
If the budget doesn’t allow for swap headers your relegated to using factory manifolds. I think the 302 manifolds will give you a little more clearance than the 351’s.
AFAIK, the 351 exhaust ports are a little bigger than the 302 ports. You can put a 302 exhaust gasket up to your heads and see if there is a port mismatch. I’m guessing there would be very little. I do have a set of 302 manifolds from a 73 Maverick, just let me know if you think they will Work for you.
Stock 351 heads have little if any difference from 302... Late 351 used same heads as HO 5.0, early versions('69-'71) were similar to late GT-40..
Years ago I used a set of Ford Motorsport 302 headers on the Mustang with a 351W. They fit very well, but since they were made for a 302 they really hugged the underside of the car. The fellow that did the exhaust had to cut the rear collectors and turn them downwards a bit to clear some of the undercarrige, but I did not have to use the cheesy power steering lowering bracket, nor did they ever scrape on any speed bumps. The ports are nearly identical between all the Windsor based blocks, 260, 289, 302, 351. We currently have some 69 351W heads on the Comet with a late 80's 5.0 H.O. short block and the factory 302 exhaust manifolds.
