Hey guys, Has anyone here on the board used the headers from Tubular Automotive Headers for a 351W. The postings I have read on other sites claim these headers will fit a maverick with 351W without having to ding headers in or notch shock towers. They have 1 1/2" primary's with 3" collectors. Can anyone give me any additional info on these headers. Are they any good? Let me know, and thanks for any input. Allen Small
I have never used them but I would like to why you would want use them on a 351w with such small 1.5 inch tubes. no insult intended just curious.
headers Thats what I am asking. Are they any good and do they restrict exhaust flow too much. I would like to do a 351W stroked to 427 with no engine bay mods. I want to keep car as close to original as possible. Definitley no shock tower mods. If this can not be accomplished I will stay with 302 block and stroke it out to a 347, but really wanted something different, everyone one seems to be doing the 347 route. This is for the second mav that I have. I have one with the 302 just wanted something different in the second one. Thanks Allen Small
headers etc. Those small tubes will definately choke a stroked or even a stock 351 somewhat. For show or street use could get by with them but I would stick with a 302/331 or 347. Use one of the good kits such as Eagle with flattop pistons then put on good set of heads that have been angle milled to 50 or 53 cc and you'll have one ass kicken Mav. Course other mods must be made to handle the extra torque and horses( rear end trans etc. Cubic inch is always a power monster but to retain stock engine bay dimensions, stick with the basic 302. JMO
Forgot If you want to be real different, install the EFI and or turbo or blower on the 347. Bet even a stroked out 351 would get left in the dust.
headers etc I'm buildin a 302 myself. 289 hipo heads, flat tops, 270 H cam, timing gear drive etc hopin to wake up my maverick...Jim
If I was going to build another motor for the mav I would go 331 stoker. Good Set of heads. YOu could still get by with the 1 5/8 inch headers. IMO. I have a kick ass 302 that dynoed at 370hp. It is a great street limited track motor.
Well, since i've been the 347 route I would do it different. If you are going for all out muscle i'd go with a stroked 351W and custom headers. Unless you've got a really good block, it's hard to make enough power to run with the chevy guys that are running stroked 400 small blocks. If and when I do it all over again i'm gonna go with a stroked out 351W and building the custom headers myself.
Stephen, Are you planning on doing this without shock tower mods. I dont mind getting custom headers made if it will work. I am set on having a stock looking engine compartment with the 351W and 4 speed. I want the car to look completely factory looking, not modified. My goal is to build a complete Shelby clone out of the second mav that I have. Can anyone tell me who makes custom headers, that is reputable. Thanks Allen Small
I"ve priced some custom headers around here in NC, the prices i've gotten range from $900-$1500. It will be hard to get a bunch of power out of a motor and keep it looking stock at the same time. A big stroker likes alot of intake manifold and carburetor, those parts don't look very stock! What are your horsepower goals and what is your main intention with the car? Street/strip , mostly street, mostly strip?? If I were to do the custom headers myself I would try to do it without modifying the shock towers, I'm not sure if it's possible to get a big primary in there with such little clearance....If you're not going for "ALL OUT PERFORMANCE" I say go with the little tubular automotive headers.
Stephen, I am planning on a 351 stroked to 427 with (2) 4 barrels, with headers. I do not plan on racing car except for fun, no serious competion such as yours. Mostly for show. Do you have any idea how much the 1 1/2" primarys will effect the overall performance of such a motor. It will not have a real wild cam in it, most likely a moderate performance cam. Most likely 10:1 compression. Backed with 4 speed top loader, 9" rear with disks from Lincoln Versalles, 3:70 gears, I debating between aluminum heads versus stock heads with valve work. Thanks for your comments! Allen Small
Well since it's not gonna be for competition I think the Tubular Automotive headers would be a great choice. You may just want to give them a call and see if they could make you a set just a little bigger, if the cost difference isn't that much you could go that route.
Allen; Those 1 1/2 headers are going to be very restictive on a 427 probably will limit power band to around 4000 rpm.On a 351c.i. motor it would raise to around 4800.If you are stuck on a 351 based engine thats ok, just be aware that you will not realize the full potential of your combo with a restrictive air path.A 331 or 347 with good heads and off the shelf 1 5/8 headers would be less weight and less parasitic losses. Herb.
I have purchased the headers from Tublular Automotive. You can get them in 1 5/8 also. With the Transmission I am going with and a solid trannsmission mount I had to dent the headers in about 14 places. The main dent is on #3 cylinder which closes the port about 75%. I also notched my shock towers about a inch above the upper A arm studs and about 2" in then straight up. The headers are nice construction, but I was very dissappointed that I had to modify them that much. The first set of headers they made for me did not fit right. I had to send the left one back so they could make me a new one. Also in Auto Krafters they say you have to get the 3 piece motor mount set. So I did. Then after I got my header remade, Tubular told me that I can use stock V-8 Maverick mounts which did not make me too happy. Well any other questions, anybody can contact me. Thanks, Brett. racingmaverick@yahoo.com
