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Topic: Long tube headers on a 1987 V6? (Read 1773 times) previous topic - next topic

Long tube headers on a 1987 V6?

Has anyone ever tried to put long tube headers on a 87 Thunderbird v6? I found a pair of Pacesetter headers from a 94-97 Mustang. I am not sure if they will even work. I thought I'd ask the pro's here before spending money on a potential headache. I'd like to hook them up to a boom tube from a nascar race car. Where the exhaust exits in front of the rear tire and the "pipe" is 20-23 inches wide by 1". Thanks,

Long tube headers on a 1987 V6?

Reply #1
I highly do NOT recommend making your 120hp CFI V6 loud and obnoxious.
93 Festiva L, 193k miles, BP+T/G25MR swap, T3 50trim .48/.42, SRT FMIC, Capri electronics/Rocketchip, 2.5" exhaust
bests: ET 12.86, MPH 110.25, 1.92 short
02 Subaru Impreza WRX, 129k miles
97 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, 236k miles

Long tube headers on a 1987 V6?

Reply #2
Quote from: bhazard;335209
I highly do NOT recommend making your 120hp CFI V6 loud and obnoxious.


x2 on that. Those headers will not fit your car anyway without serious modification. Definitely not worth the headache until you have other extensive mods under your belt.
1983 Tbird with '03 Split Port V6 motor swap done! Headers, dual exhaust, 500CFM Edelbrock, 3G upgrade, Electric fan. 3.73 Gears and an FRPP Limited Slip. Five lug complete! 5-Speed conversion complete! Standalone Fuel Injection in progress...

Long tube headers on a 1987 V6?

Reply #3
AFAIK, later 90's Mustang 3.8L V6 headers will fit, but I don't think they're long tubes.  That said, here's what I'd do:  Leave the 3.8L alone, and accept it for what it is, a decent engine for MPG, all the while, gathering parts for a 5.0L swap in the future.  Then it's long tube heaven!
1987 TC

Long tube headers on a 1987 V6?

Reply #4
Quote from: school78;335207
Has anyone ever tried to put long tube headers on a 87 Thunderbird v6? I found a pair of Pacesetter headers from a 94-97 Mustang. I am not sure if they will even work. I thought I'd ask the pro's here before spending money on a potential headache. I'd like to hook them up to a boom tube from a nascar race car. Where the exhaust exits in front of the rear tire and the "pipe" is 20-23 inches wide by 1". Thanks,


your car has the shifter for the trans up by the wheel, right? then no, without moving that to a console it wouldnt fit.
ive heard people say they will fit "physically" to the heads but not from someone that has done it.
fyi, if you want a prelude to the sound your expecting from this take off the egr valve and give it a run.
"Beating the hell out of other peoples cars since 1999"
1983 Ford Thunderbird Heritage
1984 Ford Mustang GT Turbo Convertible

Long tube headers on a 1987 V6?

Reply #5
Quote from: HAVI;335216
AFAIK, later 90's Mustang 3.8L V6 headers will fit, but I don't think they're long tubes.  That said, here's what I'd do:  Leave the 3.8L alone, and accept it for what it is, a decent engine for MPG, all the while, gathering parts for a 5.0L swap in the future.  Then it's long tube heaven!


What he said..

Long tube headers on a 1987 V6?

Reply #6
I say go with stacks.  Right through the hood with those little rain keepers on top.
My car is a gravity hybrid.  The gasoline engine gets me up the hills, and gravity gets me down.

Long tube headers on a 1987 V6?

Reply #7
Quote from: 88cougargt;335441
i say go with stacks.  Right through the hood with those little rain keepers on top.

ftw!!!!!!!


Yeah, headers will not fit. Period. LT or ST. The problem, as stated before, is the shifter shaft. If you switch to a floor shifter then you can do it. AFAIK, that is your only problem.  I plan on putting pacesetter LT's, and a matching x-pipe on mine, about a $300 deal.

Guys on here will tell you all day long not to build a 3.8.

They're right.

But, if its what you want, its what you want. I'm building my 3.8 up. I'll tell you, its no 10 sec car, but it is a lot quicker than you think.;)
--Steve
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L
2011 Mustang 3.7L

Long tube headers on a 1987 V6?

Reply #8
I was a 3.8 fanatic...of the supercharged variety.  My SC belted out gobs of torque on a huge car.  I would love to dump a 3.8 SC engine into a foxbody Tbird.  That would haul butt in every sense of the word. 

A turbo 3.8 to rival the buick guys would be great too.  Remember, your 232 ci engine is 1 cube bigger than the Buick block.  Never let them forget it.
My car is a gravity hybrid.  The gasoline engine gets me up the hills, and gravity gets me down.

Long tube headers on a 1987 V6?

Reply #9
Quote from: 88CougarGT;335474
I was a 3.8 fanatic...of the supercharged variety.  My SC belted out gobs of torque on a huge car.  I would love to dump a 3.8 SC engine into a foxbody Tbird.  That would haul butt in every sense of the word. 

A turbo 3.8 to rival the buick guys would be great too.  Remember, your 232 ci engine is 1 cube bigger than the Buick block.  Never let them forget it.

One day,







I WILL OWN A SUPER COUPE
--Steve
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L
2011 Mustang 3.7L

Long tube headers on a 1987 V6?

Reply #10
Ive always wondered why I never see turbo'd 3.8SC's.
93 Festiva L, 193k miles, BP+T/G25MR swap, T3 50trim .48/.42, SRT FMIC, Capri electronics/Rocketchip, 2.5" exhaust
bests: ET 12.86, MPH 110.25, 1.92 short
02 Subaru Impreza WRX, 129k miles
97 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, 236k miles

Long tube headers on a 1987 V6?

Reply #11
You gonna make me a custom manifold and pipe set for it? Then I'll do it:D
--Steve
[thread=28690]1988 Cougar V6[/thread]
2012 F-150 3.7L
2011 Mustang 3.7L

Long tube headers on a 1987 V6?

Reply #12
Quote from: bhazard;335615
Ive always wondered why I never see turbo'd 3.8SC's.


I've seen a few.  Most people just opt maintain the supercharger as they are pretty easy to come by.  Definitely easier than finding a turbo and plumbing it up.
My car is a gravity hybrid.  The gasoline engine gets me up the hills, and gravity gets me down.

Long tube headers on a 1987 V6?

Reply #13
Ive seen turbo through blowers in hot rod recently???  So what the heck,mount a t-4 on your mn12 and blow some extra boost through thaat eaton!!!!!!!  Ya Id say NO!!!
1987 T-bird SportCoupe,302,5spd,8.8,3.27s,pbr brakes,spindles,2003 rear,18inch 06 gt rims!!!!:evilgrin:
2006 Gt Mustang,3v,5spd,8.8,3.55s,GT500rims.
1990 T-bird LX,3.8,aod,loaded,stock!!
1999 Trailblazer(wifes rig)