It's Friday so I'm doing the ritualistic burning of the money. I figure why not throw some long-tube headers on my car and now I'm just making the plans for what I should buy. The guy at the speed shop will not have any idea what fits a Tbird (I've had this conversation before) so I'd like to tell him Fox Mustang stuff will fit. That's accurate right? I figure I'll have a garage bolt them up to my 2 1/4 single pipe (no cats) atleast until I get some more money and throw on a dual setup.
yes the header will fit but wont bolt up to the Y pipe. you will need to run an H or X pipe. you could get pipes bent from the headers down an run straight pipes to the lers
Well I knew the Y-pipe wouldn't mate with them, I'll have to have the ler guy work some magic. The duals will follow in time.
Just pick up a LT H pipe on Corral. They have deals on there from $200-$400 for fox LT's and the matching H at least once a day.
$300 LT & OR X pipe on corral (http://"http://www.corral.net/forums/showthread.php?t=911074")
If you're planning a 351 in the future...your 302 longtubes will be useless...
Make a plan first....
Where do ya see 351 Chuck?
I've posted about engine swap options before. But even if I do swap to a 351W it may be a couple of years in the future. I want to have fun now lol. The other factor keeping me from installing duals is that I don't have a dual-hump transmission crossmember. I'll need to change that before I even think about duals. Right now the headers will do.
How do I have one and you don't though. Our cars are only one year apart and with the same motor?
No, you will most likely need the double-hump crossmember if you stick longtubes on there.
They will be a waste anyway....
Mine's a Canadian model for one thing :D There's lots that's screwy about it compared to what the books say.
Uhh...you sure? That'd be pretty long.
Headers are pretty tight in Thunderbirds I have found that Headman makes Thunderbird Headers.
How does your '83 not have the d-hump crossmember anyway?
Both my '83 5.0's had that stock IIRC.
The crossmember is not as far back as you think...
Previous owner must've had strong convictions about removing it then. Lol. It's a Canadian car, heck it came with a 2150 carb and D8 heads and probably half a dozen other differences. I just know that it doesn't have it.
My headershiznit rite on the frame rails on each side. That's why when I put the new motor in I am buying a set of the Headman T-Bird headers to try and see if they are better. Anyway I think they may rub just a bit. I will take pics and show you what I am talking about.
These are the headman Tbird specific long tubes. Note the difference in the way the one primary goes straight down. They are bent up to clear out engine mounts. The Mustangs have different mounts.
(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r170/slamedcat/S4010074.jpg)
I know the factory shorty headers are a direct swap though.
Well I went ahead and bought some BBK shorties. I'll go see my ler guy in the morning. Since he'll have to refab the y-pipe anyway maybe I'll have him run new 2.5" pipe and a new ler too. Sound like a plan?
i have a double hump cross member if you need it for cheap. PM me
Thanks for the offer but if I was really intent on getting one I could fish one out of Pick'nPull. I'm just too busy lately to get that in-depth with this car, especially since I need it for my job. Besides I'm not totally hung up on duals, in my mind a single pipe is plenty cool if it's got some good parts.
Know what I've realized? Exhaust shops are manned by a bunch of CROOKS! In what universe does it take 3 or 4 hours JUST to put on the headers? With an air ratchet the old manifolds are unbolted in 5 minutes, then you just cut the pipes from below, pull them down and presto! Now you've got a few hours to look for the face of Jesus in that puddle of motor oil before you swing a wrench and bolt the headers on. Both garages I went to quoted me about $800 to install the headers, ler and a new single pipe. What a rip off. If I could only weld.....
Grab yopur parts,come down here.I have a friend who owns a ler shop and will install a complete system with the headers for $250.00.
Lol. That's a pretty sweet deal but it's a little out of my way. Anyway after my last post I researched a bit more and that brought me to another garage which I just came from. It was too late in the day for him to do the work but he took the time to put the car up and look it over. He says that even though my crossmember is single-hump he can still fit a 2 1/4 dual system for me. He quoted me $500 and that includes both lers. Sure beats the hell out of the other quotes I was getting.
$500.00 still seems really high.
Bear in mind it's Canadian dollars.
You guys and your Canadian money.LOL.
so thats 4.83 in american.
Bah. You're gonna get bought by Mexico.
No we're not going to be bought by Mexico.Our trusted leaders are just going to slowly give it all away.
Woo. Political intrigue. Lol. :canada:
Sorry to hijack or anything... but Vinnie, I might just take you up on that. I'm not that far away (15mi south of Denton, TX). Can you copy this pic and give it to your friend and ask him how much he could do just the cat back part for if I supplied the lers and H-pipe s?
I'll do it and get back to you.No problem.
so will 94 or higher v6 mustang long-tube headers fit my 84 3.8L?
Woohoo! Just got my new system installed. Custom 2 1/4 duals with BBK shorties. I can already feel an increase in midrange torque. The installation came to $588 with lers. Kinda high I guess but you gotta understand this is Calgary. We're in the middle of an oil boom and a labour shortage. Trades people are worth their weight in gold right now.