Thread: Sanderson custom header service

Tweet

Hey guys, thought I would share what we experienced with the headers on our 51' ford f1 working with Sanderson.

The truck has a 429 crammed into it. When we bought it the guy had a pair of plain steel sanderson headers on it. When we added the Toyota steering box to go to power steering the left/driver side header would no longer work, since the box was now in the way. we couldn't come straight down in the middle because of the motor mount.

Custom headers around here we were told would run about 1500 bucks (that is for both sides of course, so what, 750 per side), but we only needed the one side and when I checked Sanderson's website I saw that they offer custom services. I called up and talked to Jeremy, a real nice guy. Explained it to him, sent him some pics in email. He said without the vehicle there it was too tight a fit to just build something without more data. he sent me a box of tubing bent into u's and what not, and we fabbed up a set ourselves and sent it back.

from there it went to Jay, the guy that they named a set of their off the shelf headers for, and he took over. he built us a set and tacked it up, offered to finish it or let me test fit, being careful I asked to test fit. I got them, fit them and sent back out same day (I'd like to mention here that Jay thought my right side, which is really close to the firewall, would maybe work better with their 461, which drops lower, he sent me a set to try out and although they didn't work, almost hitting the frame, it was really nice of him).

here are the finished headers, the left/driver side are the custom ones. I had them ceramic coat them. the best part, TOTAL COST 565, 100 dollars over the cost of the stock headers. that's right, if I had two sides custom it would have been 665. You just can't beat that. I highly recommend these guys, I have not go the engine running again (in fact, I am worried about that as it says use an old set of headers at first when tuning the engine but I don't have any old ones to use now) but they sure look great.

let me know what you all think

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

Your headers look fantastic. Look like they grew there. Look at the welds and all, just perfect.

As people know from my recent posts, I will say something when a company doesn't do what they promise or if there is a quality issue. Conversely, I will also go out of my way to say good things when someone does a good job. In Sanderson's case I have only great things to say.

The Limefire headers have been on my '27 for probably 20 years, and although showing some age are still not rusty inside or out. I have a set on my '23 T also and they are equally good. Dan has a set of Jaysters on his '29, and although the car has not been started yet, the quality is obvious and they fit with no modifications, just like the other two sets I own. Nick at Sanderson went out of his way to ship my turnouts in one day (coating them specially) so that I could make Daytona, and that is the kind of service they have always provided.

My other Son Don for some reason bought his headers from another source (not fair to mention here) and they were horrible to get installed. No holes on the flange lined up with the holes in the head. We had to elongate every hole a very big amount (almost into the tube in some cases) and they are still a tight fit.

Dan had his Jaysters custom built and they offered to send them uncoated as a trial, just as they did with you. We took a chance and they fit perfectly and look great. Sanderson rocks.

Don

Oh, about starting your rod up with new headers, I know what you mean. But what else can you do? It isn't like we have a second set for just breakin. I started both of mine up with the new Sandersons on it, and only the ones on the '27 got a little cooked in a couple of spots. No real damage though. The ones on my '23 didn't even heat up much at all and are fine.

sanderson
Dago
Good to have you back! Nice job and what a great price. The ceramic coating, looks like polished aluminium!. I will be going with the Sanderson
FF462 - Ford 427/460 headers which I'm guessing you had for the same reasons! For now I'm sticking with the stock steering. I like the fact that you kept the front leaf spring suspension! I was skeptical about the ceramic coating, but it looks great in your photo. I'm still stalled on the brake lines and power booster install, do to the driver's side of my garage is such a tight fit to get around, and it's been raining on and off for weeks now! I guess if I was really motivated it would have been done in November! I have been working on the engine though, so some progress is being made. Did you put a heater in and if so which one? Steve.

Those headers look great.

I, too have Sanderson headers for my 5.0 in the AVATAR car. I would not buy their unknown brand coating and am glad that I didn't. The insides had pieces of mig wire still stuck to the welds as well as heavy globs of weld as well as some tubing inside intruding into the gas path that needed to be dressed. It probably took me 6-8 hours total to clean them up to my satisfaction before being sent to Jet-Hot. Other then that, they fit my GT40 heads and chassis just fine and now look great.

And yes, the chassis is dusty

I had Sandersons on my 32', jet-hot coated. Great header. One day, I put my car cover on too soon and it melted onto the header. I soaked the spot with a damp towel for an hour, then used an SOS soap pad. It not only took the melted material off, it polished the header, so I used the SOS soap pad trick on both sides. Now its a regular part of my detailing.

A heater in the truck? Not planning on it. Where I live it does get cold in the winter, but not real bad and we probably wouldn't be driving it much during the winter anyways. I plan on putting in a vintage air system, so I guess they have one with air and heat that isn't a big difference in cost I'll do it just so I can have the defrosters. The aircon is the big deal for me, I hate the heat. (just talked to vintage air, it is only 510 for the setup with air, heat and defrost, I guess I'll go with that).

Did you buy a bolt on power brake setup? We did from the local hotrod shop, can't remember the brand, came with pedal assembly and all. anyways, they weren't "bolt on", we had to elongate a hole, drill a new one etc. anyways, you could just slide in on a creeper from the front or back

Red

The brake booster is a bolt on from CPP. It says you do have to drill a few bolt holes in the frame for it to fit in. I'll be out there tomorrow! I noticed in your photo that you have DOVE-C heads as well. Is that engine out of a lincoln? What year? I think you said it was a 429. Mine is either 429 or 460. Probably 429 because of the stock 2 barrell carb and intake. Did you use a wiring kit on your truck or just make your own? Thanks, and keep posting!