V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish?

Topic: V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish? (Read 1693 times) previous topic - next topic

V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish?

September 03, 2009, 05:33:51 AM

Has anyone here ever put LT headers on their V6, and have you had clearance issues with the steering rack either v6/v8?

V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish?

Reply #1 – September 03, 2009, 10:42:05 PM

Umm, where the heck are you gonna find LT's for the 3.8? Lemme know when you do, especially a set that will fit a Fox Cat or Bird.

V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish?

Reply #2 – September 04, 2009, 06:03:23 PM

They're all over e-bay stores brand new... just as common as shorties... I've been looking up headers for the last week....

V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish?

Reply #3 – September 04, 2009, 06:32:34 PM

-Edited for stupidity-. I have heard a rumor though about two of the tubes on LT'shiznitting the steering column.
P.S. Old Paint - Congratulations on your purchase of the red T-Bird, it looks great, and I am jealous. :D

V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish?

Reply #4 – September 04, 2009, 10:49:08 PM

Thanks for the flowers, jrad. Needs a bath right now, though.

Now, the next question is, do the shorties have bungs in them for the O2 sensors? I know the shorties I put on my F-150 did, but they were Ford Racing shorties.

Say the shorties work good under there? Hmmm, I may have just found my next project, assuming I can get the bolts outta the head without breaking them. I can see headers and a TBI for a 5.0 in the future of this old bird, just to get a couple more ponies out of it. I know it isn't going to be big neck breaking HP increase, but it'll probably make the car run a little more efficiently too by letting it breathe. Might do that X2, including the Blue Bird too.

V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish?

Reply #5 – September 04, 2009, 10:56:01 PM

i believe some clarification is needed here,
your the guy who swaped a newer mustang motor into your tbird, right? so would the headers your asking about be for that motor or an 83-87 stock 3.8 cfi motor? unless im missing something here im under the impression there is a difference between them.

V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish?

Reply #6 – September 04, 2009, 11:55:49 PM

I did swap a newer motor into my car, but as far as physical dimensions it is the same, and all the research I did before the swap when I was thinking about tuning up the old motor indicate that the mustang headers all work on all the 3.8l, clearances may be different as far as steering columns go. -Deleted for stupidity-

Quote

especially a set that will fit a Fox Cat or Bird.

Well, I was trying to verify that there was a difference in the design for the LT's for the late model v6 Mustang and T-bird. Apparently there is. The late model factory ones though, are fine.

My 83 bird was factory carbureted, BTW. :D

depending on which car you get the factory manifolds off of, you might want to cut the s off the head pipes coming from the CAT as well as there is some kind of goofy spacer bolt in the that can't be bought anywhere, at least, that is what I ran into on my 03 motor. If you don't get the factory s it will leak like a SOB.

I hope that isn't too confusing...

V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish?

Reply #7 – September 05, 2009, 04:06:39 PM

oh, i was under the impression you meant shortie headers for 83-87 cfi(or carb) v6 fox of which i was aware only moranna or so made them which they say it dont fit fox tbirds/cougars. i never heard the exact reason why but my guess would be the colum linkage for colum shift transmission cars. never thought the steering would interfear with them.
arent late model v6 mustang headers just old supercoupe headers by design?

V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish?

Reply #8 – September 05, 2009, 06:16:39 PM

Ok, so to clear up some misconceptions, I went and looked at some pictures(Novel concept, I know) and decided that the only thing available for T-Bird v6's header wise, is to go purchase late model mustang manifolds. The aftermarket shorties do a stupid bend back towards the front of the car on the #6 cylinder, effectively insuring that the manifold will interfere with column shifts, but the longtubes look like they are just angled out too far, and some selective notching and rewelding should yield nice LT's.

I was unable to find any pictures of SC manifolds that resemble what are on my motor.

Included is a picture of my Driver's side manifold. Don't those look better than the factory cast iron?

V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish?

Reply #9 – October 26, 2009, 07:25:39 PM

i am using mac longtube headers for a 94-98 mustang. here is a picture of my stock compared to my new headers.

V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish?

Reply #10 – October 26, 2009, 08:33:08 PM

And no clearing issues?

V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish?

Reply #11 – October 26, 2009, 09:31:56 PM

I was gonna say... Definitely let us know how that works out.

V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish?

Reply #12 – February 21, 2011, 10:32:35 PM

Oh yeah, now I remember this thread. The manifolds you have are the ones I was talking about are the ones I was considering using for the TC turbo idea. They're nice, but I've read that these flow better, even as well as aftermarket JBA's and Pacesetters. These here are also the ones I have on my 96 that came standard on 96/97 MN12 3.8's.

The ones I have are the ones that look like shorty headers. See here:

[thread]30050[/thread]

Here are pix of what mine look like. These are stock factory headers for 99-04. I did have a picture of them before I put them on the car but I can't find it, so here's the best I could do.

Here is what I was considering using, which is a stock 94-98 factory header.

These appear to be very different from the late model and may not require recutting to get them to go past the strut tower on the PS.

V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish?

Reply #13 – February 22, 2011, 12:10:47 AM

Oh, ok, those look like the ones Morana had for sale. The ones I have only kick out a little on the Pass. Side, as they are currently bolted up to the exhaust system.

...I hate exhaust work...

Those primaries look pretty beefy though.

V6 Long tube headers Fit/Finish?

Reply #14 – February 22, 2011, 04:45:03 PM

Quote from: blackcougar71;296500

i am using mac longtube headers for a 94-98 mustang. here is a picture of my stock compared to my new headers.

I think this is the image he was trying to post.