Best Header Manufacturer... or make my own?

CantedValve · 11-17-2006, 11:15 AM

I am looking for a new set of headers for my car. I have Hooker headers right now, and I am not too happy with them. Despite saying they would work on a manual steering car, I have lost about half a turn on the steering wheel.. AFTER I dented the header pipe in. That and the fact that they like to drag a bit more than I like... its time for new headers.

I was looking at Ford Power Train, and they have some of the nicest looking headers I have seen... and also one of the largest price tags. Price tags dont scare me as much as they used to, but I want to be sure I am fixing my issues. Aside from having experience with my EXACT application (1970 Mustang, 351C, manual steering, automatic transmission), does anyone have experience with FPT enough to know if they live up to the claims they make? Best ground clearance is the claim I really am interested in hearing about. My headers are the lowest hanging part of the car... and I dont like it... not one little bit.

Short of that, anyone actually MADE their own headers?

Stroked66 · 11-17-2006, 11:32 AM

I might be a bit biased seeing as how FPA used my car & motor to mock up their 347 Stroker headers

Granted, my rides' not a 351C Mach1, but I can tell you without a doubt that FPA has some of the best ground clearance out there (Stepped LT Headers on my car don’t even hang bellow my front frame rails). If Stan says something will fit, they'll fit! Quality is also top notch!

dodgestang · 11-17-2006, 01:09 PM

I know they work quite well in a 65 mustang 351c 4v manual steering, AOD auto equipped car.

And they don't hand as low as some I have seen and I have only ever scraped once and it was on a speed mountain (I won't even call it a bump) it was like 10 inches high normal cars were bottoming out on it.

mod9 · 11-17-2006, 09:19 PM

I have them on my 69 with a Windsor. I can tell you that I have never bottomed them out and they were the easist set I ever put on my car. Hell I never even had to take motor mount loose to install the passengers side.

camachinist · 11-18-2006, 10:50 AM

Yes, I built the entire exhaust system for the race car, including some very interesting headers and a special X-pipe.

Lotta work. Never do it again. Glad I did it though. Learned a lot.

Pat

opentracker · 11-18-2006, 11:38 AM

We have two cars with Stans headers. They are the best.

John

Husky44 · 11-18-2006, 08:15 PM

One more vote for FPA. My app is a 67 vert on my 347, but I'd be willing to bet they can get them tucked up on your car like they did on mine. Install was so easy I thought I must have screwed something up.

Here's a shot of where my collectors ended up with relation to framerails, etc:

FPA Headers on 67 vert

Every app is going to be a little different on these cars, given their age, etc. I had to go to the RMP motor mounts to get full clearance on mine, but that was a great purchase too.

CantedValve · 11-18-2006, 09:50 PM

Holy crap those things are tucked up in there.

FPA it is. I like those ball-type conenctions too.

EGaillard · 11-18-2006, 11:10 PM

I want a pair, however Stan said it will not work with my 66 Fastback 4spd without the cable clutch upgrade. Would their happen to be a workaround to using the headers?

By the way, what would be the next best header to use with my 347?

Thanks,
Rus

2bav8 · 11-19-2006, 01:00 AM

I just recently purchased a set of Headers by Doug for my 347. Quality is very good and ground clearance will be excellent as well.

Was going to use FPA, but as you noticed FPA's headers don't work with the mechanical linkage.
Kinda sad, I definitely prefer the Z-bar and see the cable linkage as an eye sore among other things.

Headers by Doug were $530 shipped and ceramic coated from Summit Racing.

Jsams · 11-19-2006, 09:17 AM

I have a set of FPAs on my '69 mustnag with the 351C 4V and factory clutch linkage.
Best headers I have ever used period!
Stan is great to deal with also.

Burn-Bros · 11-19-2006, 01:58 PM

This company has done some great work. And yoou can buy collectors and such if you want do do the job yourself.
Burns Stainless

EGaillard · 11-20-2006, 01:17 AM

Thanks, Matt-

The Headers by Doug are a nice alternative. I'll place my order after the Thanksgiving.

Rus

Helmantel · 11-20-2006, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camachinist

Yes, I built the entire exhaust system for the race car, including some very interesting headers and a special X-pipe.

Lotta work. Never do it again. Glad I did it though. Learned a lot.

Pat

I build my own as well (or actually, I heavily modified a set of Hooker Super Comps 4-1's into Tri Y's), as well as the rest of the (stainless) exhaust system. It turned out nicely and I finally got rid of that highly annoying ground clearance problem I had with the Hookers, but it took ages. I probably spend about 100 hours on it (the whole system).

It goes something like this. Cut, temporarily weld, test fit, cut again, reweld, test fit, modify somewhat, test fit, finish weld, test fit, modify because the welding heat changed the shape, test fit, modify a little more, test fit, first part finished finished, next piece of tube........

trkpny2 · 11-25-2006, 12:00 AM

I just ordered a ste of Bassani 4-2-1 headers for my '67. I saw them at SEMA last year and they finally made it to production. The thing I was most impressed with was ground clearance. That seems to be a growing concern.The only down-side I can see with the Bassani headers is the price.Damned Expensive! Oh well, they looked like the best for my application( up to 6500rpm blasts for a short time but most of the time well below that). Being a tri-y design they are better at torque than horsepower( better at lower rpm than high rpm)