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Topic: Header Install Troubles. (Read 5550 times) previous topic - next topic

Header Install Troubles.

Backstory:

Ive owned and worked on plenty of Fox Mustangs, and had a fox Tbird when I was 17, but never worked on it, so I am familiar with foxes, but just now figuring out Stang/Tbird differences.

Picked up some fox headers, blasted and painted them. After cutting off the horrid exhaust the previous owner had on(2" duals with glasspacks), I got excited as I went to throw on the drivers side header. No dice. The header wont go down far enough because of the (column)shift linkage.

Its still not bolted up FYI, the header needs to drop 1/8" at least to bolt to the head, then Im going to need a little clearance here:



I have read plenty of guys saying you can move this around so i figure Ill toss on the passenger side. Nope.

I didnt take a pic, but it hits the motor mount bracket. It seems to me the mounts are worn, but obviously these are different than stangs.

So, does everybody swap over to the mustang style? Would new Tbird mounts be fine? Im all about easy, so I wouldnt want to make any extra work for myself unless there are serious advantages.

TIA!
87 Thunderbird LX
65mm tb, exploder intake, iron gt40 heads, 1.6 rr, a9l mass air swap, 9.5" Billet Dirty Dog TC, Built AOD, 4.10's, 31 spline TLoc, Superior Axles, full sn95 five lug swap.

Header Install Troubles.

Reply #1 –
What I did on the drivers side was remove the lower stud and put in a bolt , I did have to do a little massaging on the H-Pipe  but nothing drastic . The passenger side about fell in .
If you are having trouble on both sides I would guess you mounts are quite worn
Fox-less at the moment

Header Install Troubles.

Reply #2 –
Your motor mount isolators are bad that's why it hits the shift linkage so much. I have FRPP GT40P shorties and all I had to do for clearance was to use a bolt instead of a stud on the lower part of the  on the driver's side. The shifter works fine and I can shift it all the way down to position 1 no problem.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Header Install Troubles.

Reply #3 –


Id say it was time for mounts, wouldnt you? The other one literally fell into two pieces when I took it out.

Unfortunately, the headers still wont go in. Well, technically they will bolt up, but I brought the drivers side to work to drill out the lower stud for a bolt, and I still need to grind away at the motor mount bracket on the passenger side. Im going to borrow a die grinder bit tonight. The passenger side bolted up, but contacted the bracket, so Im going to make a little room for it.

The drivers side now looks like the above pic, but in that pic, it still needed to drop some to bolt in. The motor mounts helped, but I still need a little extra.
87 Thunderbird LX
65mm tb, exploder intake, iron gt40 heads, 1.6 rr, a9l mass air swap, 9.5" Billet Dirty Dog TC, Built AOD, 4.10's, 31 spline TLoc, Superior Axles, full sn95 five lug swap.

Header Install Troubles.

Reply #4 –
What year car is this? If 1987-88 5.0, then you can safely cut the brackets on the motor mounts. The theory behind the brackets is that they were supposed to interlock in case of failure of the factory liquid-filled motor mount isolators. In reality the brackets never really did their job...and if any other headers besides the factory HO 5.0 ones are used, they just end up getting in the way. So hack away.

Driver's side, you can relocate the shifter bar lower but only if you keep the bar parallel...in other words, don't tilt it or you'll have serious binding. I had to do this on a few cars and it worked just fine. That gets you the additional clearance you need for the lower bolt.

Header Install Troubles.

Reply #5 –
I wouldn't suggest cutting the tabs off the motor mount brackets...I've put mine to use before!

You need a set of ChuckW's mounts...the stock mounts aren't even sufficient for 155hp...Chuck's mounts are the ONLY way to go...

Hey Chuck, do I get a cut for all the advertising I do?????? lol, jk

I didn't even mess with that PITA steering linkage...ripped it all out and in went a B&M floor shifter...the first time around...everything else has had a 5-speed swap...lol.

Good luck,
Don
Project 3G: Grandpa Grocery Getter-'85 Crown Vic LTD 2-door, 351W with heavily ported/polished GT40 heads, heavily ported/polished Typhoon Power Plus upper & lower intake, Comp Cams 265DEH retarded 1*, FAST EZ-EFI, HD T5, 8.8" 3.73 trac lock with extra clutches, 3G alt. swap, '99 CVPI front brakes, '09 CVPI rear disc brakes, '00 CVPI booster&m/c + wilwood adj prop valve.

Parted & Gone-'88 T-bird Sport, 351W swap, ported GT40 heads

Header Install Troubles.

Reply #6 –
Ive used Chuck's mounts on my 2.3 before.  Very nice pieces.  I will do business with him when I need them for my 5.0

The last set of mounts you will need.
Mike

Header Install Troubles.

Reply #7 –
A++++++. I have his on my 5.8L swapped into my tbird. Awesome
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

Header Install Troubles.

Reply #8 –
Well, too late. Maybe Ill buy some of those when I do a fresh engine. I cut the tabs off and put the headers in no prob. Now it's on to the bassani X pipe. I don't really have the car high enough to get the drivers side starter pipe wedged around the shifter linkage and the header. I pushed, twisted and cussed for awhile, but it was too  hot to keep messing with it(high 90's, VERY HUMID, and no airflow in my garage, need to buy a fan).

So I threw(broke) my good flashlight and walked away for now.

I might do a factory floor console and shifter later on, but Im definitely not doing any gaudy aftermarket floor shifter. Is there anything out there that is attractive, and doesnt interfere with the a/c, or stereo?
87 Thunderbird LX
65mm tb, exploder intake, iron gt40 heads, 1.6 rr, a9l mass air swap, 9.5" Billet Dirty Dog TC, Built AOD, 4.10's, 31 spline TLoc, Superior Axles, full sn95 five lug swap.

Header Install Troubles.

Reply #9 –
Glad you're making progress. But,how are your motor mounts?
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Header Install Troubles.

Reply #10 –
Here's my setup: Stang HO, stock HO headers, Chuck's mounts, and stang h pipe, catless with glasspacks and turndowns.

It was originally a floor shift auto car, but now it has 5 gears...
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Header Install Troubles.

Reply #11 –
Quote from: vinnietbird;331600
Glad you're making progress. But,how are your motor mounts?


Oh, they were easy, popped right in. I did at least buy the solid rubber instead of the hydraulic mounts. Both were as short as the one i posted a pic of, but the other(drivers side) actually fell into two pieces as I removed it.
87 Thunderbird LX
65mm tb, exploder intake, iron gt40 heads, 1.6 rr, a9l mass air swap, 9.5" Billet Dirty Dog TC, Built AOD, 4.10's, 31 spline TLoc, Superior Axles, full sn95 five lug swap.

Header Install Troubles.

Reply #12 –
Got the h pipe in last night. Everything is still loose. I cant figure out how to tighten the bolt and nut I used on the drivers side. I put the bolt in from below. I had a hell of a time getting the head past the linkage, but its in. I can spin the nut on reaching around the "collector", but cant figure out how to tighten. I cant get a socket past the linkage, or a wrench on the nut...

This is going to be the end of me.
87 Thunderbird LX
65mm tb, exploder intake, iron gt40 heads, 1.6 rr, a9l mass air swap, 9.5" Billet Dirty Dog TC, Built AOD, 4.10's, 31 spline TLoc, Superior Axles, full sn95 five lug swap.

Header Install Troubles.

Reply #13 –
I would just unbolt the linkage from the frame, tighten the collector bolts , then bolt it back on
Fox-less at the moment

Header Install Troubles.

Reply #14 –
Quote from: hypostang;332439
I would just unbolt the linkage from the frame, tighten the collector bolts , then bolt it back on



Yeah, Ive probably spent three times as much time trying to work around it.
87 Thunderbird LX
65mm tb, exploder intake, iron gt40 heads, 1.6 rr, a9l mass air swap, 9.5" Billet Dirty Dog TC, Built AOD, 4.10's, 31 spline TLoc, Superior Axles, full sn95 five lug swap.