I am hoping to put a 351w in my 77 Maverick, I have been reading on here about doing this but i am hearing so many different responses to the question im kinda lost. If i cut out the shock towers and use a set of tubular automotive headers will it fit? the car is an automatic and ive heard that the headers hit off the tranny and all sorts of other stuff. Can i just cut the towers and run manifolds easier? If its going to be too much work im going to just build a 347 stroker and put a bottle of nitrous on it for extra go. All you guys(and girls) have built both motors so any advise would be great. The biggest prob i see with the 351 is the headers but i read that tubular automotive headers are made for a direct replacement, also heard that running 302 headers fit well, o well ill shut up now..........just please help... jim
Tubular has some small tubes, Hedman also uses 1.5" tubes on their swap headers. Hooker makes a swap header with 1.75" tubes. The standard LT 302 header is 1.625". I doubt very seriously the 302 headers will fit. They do swap to 351s on larger cars, but we have such a small engine compartment. You do not have to cut or remove the towers to get a 351 with headers in there. You just need the correct headers. The manifolds probably WON'T fit at all. They are bulkier than headers. Unless you remove the towers of course, but to go through all that trouble, it seems backwards not to use headers since they make so much more power and you will have tons of room without towers. Personally, I would leave the towers alone and use the Hedman swap headers if this is just a nice street car. Good luck Dave
Do you know where i can buy the hedman headers your talking about? How about summit? Are they a universal job or they made for the mav? Have you put a 351 into your maverick? The reason im so hell bent on the 351w is i alreaddy have a good block and id hate to have to go out and waste more money on a 302 block since i allready have it. Jim
I put a Cleveland in mine. I have seen plenty of Windsors too though. The Hedman parts (there are a few) are listed for Maverick. The Hookers are listed for 65-66 Mustang. My experience is that what fits a 65 Stang will fit a Maverick. The Tubulars are listed for a 65-66 Stang as well. I don't have the catalog in front of me, but I don't think they are specifically for Maverick. I may be mistaken though. Dave
