are there headers out there to fit my car or what?for some reason i can only find headers for 71-73 maverick 302.help....i need it.
Josh, Welcome to the board. Yes, there are several header manufacturers that make headers to fit your car. If you have power steering and plan to go with a full length header, you will need to buy a special bracket which lowers the left hand end of the hyd. cylinder, otherwise the drivers side header will not clear the cylinder. Hedman & Hooker are two of the companies that sell the bracket, I think it's about 15.00 if memory serves me. There are two or three people on the board who have installed or plan to install Hedman shorty headers built for the Falcon. These do not require the drop bracket. Hedman part number is 88-400. Some people have complained about full length headers sticking down too far below the car, contacting speed bumps and the like. Do a search on this board and the old board, you find a lot of discussion about this subject.
I am one of those few people... The Hedman 88-400 are a good fit in the Maverick and Comet. I have a 73 with a 5.0 and they fit in nicely. I also have power steering and nothing has to be changed. The only thing to take into consideration is the column shift linkage. I don't know if it will fit with it on because I removed mine, but others might be able to help you on that. These headers a compact enough to be dropped in from the top, except if you have power brakes and then you have to put in the driver's from the bottom (like I did). Hope this helps. -Corbin
Another of those few people... Hi, I have long headers in my '75 right now that were originally designed for 71-73. To get them to fit, I had to do some shock tower trimming and some squashing of the header tubes to clear the PS box and the PS cylinder. Altogether I'm not very satisfied. I have some 88-400s that I'm going to put in when the current headers eventually die (which I foresee will be soon) and am very excited. I regret not being patient and going with the shorties first. Just an opinion. Yours, Atzy.
You guys have ME wondering now. I 'thought' I had my header situation all figured out. I have a 1970 Grabber. No power steering, no power brakes, no linkage, etc. I've also done the shock tower modification. All 'appears' to be ready for a set of sizeble long-tube headers (for best performance on my small block 347. The shorties didn't perform). I also plan on building a custom 3" exhaust 2 chamber Flow Masters behind them (I'm going to 'look' into fabbing an "X" pipe but I don't have much hope - clearance wise). Coming off the AFR 185 Al heads, I'd like to go with 1-3/4" (or +) runners into a 3" collector. You guys who are 'in-the-know', PLEASE let me in on which ones I have to chose from? (I've checked the archives and have found varying opinions with incomplete application information). Thanks, Confused in H'Town "Old Guy", I'm hoping you're gonna hop in here!
Of all the headers I have owned on my car,,, 3 sets in the last 26.5 years,,, the Hooker Super Comps have been the best fit for mine... installation was about the same on all,, but the Hookers have a Waaaaaaaay bigger open space on the left side for my clutch linkage,, I have 4spd 63 vintage toploader,,, a rare piece and a good one I might add. Also the Hookers dump out with 3" collectors in which I have 3" exhaust with Flowmaster muffs that turn down at the rear diff... works well for me!!
Dan, I assume you're talking about P/N 6901? Just for reader's information, these are 1-5/8" tube size and are intended for "the value conscious buyer with stock or mildly modified engines" (source = SUMMITT RACING). They list for $141.95. Sounds great for particular applications. The headers are not intended for Dart/Windsor style heads and are not intended for C6 trannies (more information can be found at HOLLEY PERFORMANCE). I have a bored and stroked 302 (347 c.i.) putting out 400+ h.p. (more than a "slightly modified' engine). I'm looking for a set of 1-3/4" (minimum) tube size, long-tube, 3" collector headers. Please see my post above for application. Can anyone help me determine which headers are correct for my application? Can you refer me to someone who has a set up like mine? I'm getting close to installing the engine and NEED to know soon. Thanks, Rick
why not use the 1 5/8" tubes? They worked fine on the 450 hp 302 I ran up until last year. 1 3/4" tubes will be extremely hard to find for this chassis, and will probably have to be custom made (like I had to do---but for a 351.) If it's a street car, the 5-10 hp lost due to the smaller tubes will be made up with more bottom and mid range power. If you do end up finding a set of larger tube headers that will fit the Maverick chassis, let us know.
Re: Another of those few people... I find this very hard to believe. I have had several Mavericks with long tube headers, including a 75 and had no problems. The long tubes are the best IMO. As for 1.75" primary headers, Tubular Automotive makes them for the 64.5-66 Mustang. Seems like this application would be perfect. Dave
I don't know... I guess I must be one of the unlucky souls that tripped over some weird circumstances. Either way, I've got a real live pair of squashed headers in my Mav. In go the 88-400s really soon. Chalk me up as a loss, but good luck to everyone else! Yours, Atzy.
Not all 88-400s fit perfectly... I guess I'm the grunt of some weird case. To get the 88-400s to fit in my '75 PS that used to be a 250, my local muffler shop had to cut off the collector flange and weld a pipe to go up and over the pitman arm on the driver's side, and up and over the starter on the passenger side. (The starter problem could have been because of the AOD.) In any case, they're a much better fit than the long, squashed headers I used to have. Bah humbug, Atzy.
Did you use the bracket? Atzy 1: When you had LTs did you run the modified power steering bracket that is required to run LTs on our cars? It is available from just about every header company, and is ~$15. Sounds like that could be what you needed to cure your problems. If you did run the aftermarket PS bracket, the only thing I could think of that could have been your problem is that you had a 6 cylinder car from what I am reading. All my cars have had this header, but they were all V8s from the factory too, so that might play into it. I don't know though, never had an I-6 car. Dave
Bracket?!?!? Uh, well, I guess I never did use the bracket. Oh well, everything's fixed now...tons more room and a "fuller" sound! Yay, Atzy.
