Thread: Are there custom header kits? or....????

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Hey guys, got the steering box in place, but now we can't get the sanderson headers back on the engine. we have a 51' F1 with a 429 in it.

Are there custom header kits out there? I can't find them listed at Summit or Jegs. The only other option is modifying the frame and moving the steering box out of the way.

Red

Originally Posted by Dago Red

Hey guys, got the steering box in place, but now we can't get the sanderson headers back on the engine. we have a 51' F1 with a 429 in it.

Are there custom header kits out there? I can't find them listed at Summit or Jegs. The only other option is modifying the frame and moving the steering box out of the way.

Red

Check this out. It sounds much easier than modifying the frame.....

http://www.sandersonheaders.com/prod...products_id=81

Either a set of shorties like Randy posted the link to, or some custom built full length headers.... I built a set of headers for a '53 with a BBF a few years back, the left side is a booger!!!!! The shorties are much easier....

We already have those!!! Same ones. Rick doesn't want to modify the frame, although I told him in the end it would be cheaper. sanderson makes custom headers, but you have to give them detailed drawings. I thought somebody made a kit with a variety of bends and angles and we could tack them all up into a shape that works and then pull and finish weld.

I think we could probably just get some tubing the same diameter as the header pipes, cut and extend, if we just got a bit lower to the collector we might be able to make it. We only need about an inch to make it work. well...1.25" would be best.

Red

I use mandrel bent tubes from these guys...Could be a way to go if you only need to change a couple of the tubes.... www.perfromance-curve.com

Originally Posted by Dago Red

We already have those!!! Same ones. Rick doesn't want to modify the frame, although I told him in the end it would be cheaper. sanderson makes custom headers, but you have to give them detailed drawings. I thought somebody made a kit with a variety of bends and angles and we could tack them all up into a shape that works and then pull and finish weld.

I think we could probably just get some tubing the same diameter as the header pipes, cut and extend, if we just got a bit lower to the collector we might be able to make it. We only need about an inch to make it work. well...1.25" would be best.

Red

Stahl sells all of the parts to make your own headers, both in mild steel and stainless I believe. And there's Stainless Works and others. Here's SW's number since I just happen to have it handy. 800-878-3635 Nice folks, I have their headers on my Vette and also got some pipe from them to do the custom system.

Originally Posted by Dago Red

We already have those!!! Same ones. Rick doesn't want to modify the frame, although I told him in the end it would be cheaper. sanderson makes custom headers, but you have to give them detailed drawings. I thought somebody made a kit with a variety of bends and angles and we could tack them all up into a shape that works and then pull and finish weld.

I think we could probably just get some tubing the same diameter as the header pipes, cut and extend, if we just got a bit lower to the collector we might be able to make it. We only need about an inch to make it work. well...1.25" would be best.

Red

Red, I don't know much about your particular application but according to the Sanderson site it sounds like maybe they modified these headers since you bought yours. If so, it might be worth your time to call and talk to them. Maybe they'd sell you the left side only. $150-200 for a piece that would simply bolt on seems like money well spent compared to the hours involved in fabricating something. Just a thought....

FF462 - Ford 427/460
[FF462]
By popular demand - we've modified the FF461 to ease installation of 429-460's in late '48 - '53 F1 pickups. Headers look similar to the FF461, but have slightly different bends to provide steering clearance.

Summit has a header kit. Lots of mandrel bent tubing pieces and the header flanges. it is also possible to modify the headers you have got. one big thing to watch out for though: Once you cut them up, and try to weld them back together, watch out for 'draw'. It can warp the head mount flange, and then you'll never get a seal.

Headers aren't so bad.
A touch labor intensive from scratch and the hardest part is making the flanges.
There's some easy ways to do that as well and all you need is a drill press & file.
Fancier tools are nice, but not always needed.

Perseverance is key as it is with any hot rod project.

As you know, a lot depends on the type car.

Here's one way.


Pretty much most of the hard work is done.

Schoenfeld Sprint Car header for SBC.
Came with flanges, weren't used.
A set of home-made flanges, some short 45* U-bend pieces to fit the Buicks
is all it took.
A mockup as you see, but makes for a nice, professional looking set of headers.

A real easy way to do it is to find out what was the smallest car your engine came with.
In my case from a few years back I dropped an FE 390 into a 59 Ranchero.
Th headers were for the 390 into a Mustang.
One primary on the left side was altered slightly.
The right side - almost always - was a bolt-on.

Same deal a few years later, same engine, 62 Ford Station Wagon, different header for 390 into Mustang, two left side pipes were altered and the right side bolted on with no probs.


Some may think that a sprint car header may be too light for the street, but it's the same gage tubing that I used to hand-build a set of headers for the 32.
47,000 miles and 14 years, they're still doing the job.

If you want heavy, I have pics of a set of beautiful headers on a 53 Ford pickup with flatmotor running a set of headers made with Schedule 40 pipe, a stick welder and a body grinder.
50 years later and they're still going strong....

Thanks guys, I am going to look at all these options. I talked to Sanderson, they said 100 per tube for the customs. I don't know if they would only charge for the couple of tubes that need to be changed from the standard or for every tube. I called summit and they said hooker and hedmen both offer kits but don't list them I have to call to find out the details and part number that summit would get for me. I will contact the other places you have listed here and see what all the options are.

thanks guys, I knew this was the place to come for the information.

Red

C9x, those headers look right at home on a fenderless rod. I never thought of using sprint car headers on a rod but it makes sense from a basic configuration standpoint. I'm going to guess that the set you modified is the 1014LSP. I see they even offer a stepped version for not too much more. Are you going to use a slide-in muffler or hook them to a system?