ive been reading and reading all these old posts on what headers will and won't work on a 351w......well it seems to me that most of the people posting, don't really know what they are talking about, or they just go with what they've heard. So my question is..Do YOU have a 351w with headers? If so...what headers are they? im not too concerned if they are only 1 1/2"....i have the engine ready to go in, the towers are cut, I just need the headers now. Thanks
If you don't care about tube size, Tubular Automotive has a swap set for 351w in our cars. No I don't have a W in my car yet... but I figured you could use the lead. Btw: I have used Tubular Headers in my vehicles. Including a 351C in a Mav... good stuff. Dave
I have been running a 351w for almost 6 years now. I am using a set of modified Hooker 302 headers...pretty tight but no problems yet.
well its no longer a 351w but Hedman Elite Hedders #88308 had to have 2 tubes remade but they fit great now ...........i have a old set of the 351w swap hedders hanging on the wall
I DO have a 351w in mine. M2 front end now too. But, long time ago, I had factory towers "notched" with the 351w (actually a 393). I tried every header that was listed on here that "supposedly" worked. None fit. I made my own. 1 3/4" x 34-36" primaries and 3" collector. Word of advice: If you MUST have the 351w in there, go with a Mustang 2 front end, either a kit or a DIY (like mine). You'll love it in the long run. I now have Stahl headers on mine....fit like they were made for it, but I also do not have inner fender wells and the headers exit over the rails and under the car, so they're not streetable--unless you wanted to do a lot more fabrication. If you don't want to cut the towers, stick with a 302 or 302 stroker. Much easier to work with....unless you like making headers.
Was wondering if maybe you are frustrated with the whole W conversion and really did not plan ahead for this issue of headers. Asking for info from the people on this board, after telling them they do not really know what they are talking about, is a bit ludicrous. Trial and error is how these guys found out which one's fit or not, that info is passed on in good faith for others to use or not. If you are not concerned about tube size, just run some iron manifolds and be done with it, the engine will perform just as well with them as with the small headers. Just chill out and don't rush things, it will end up biting you in the rear if you do. Just wondering where you read about cutting the towers, maybe on this board I bet. Got to go take a blood pressure pill now.
im not spazzing out or anything...it just seemed like no one knew about 351w headers in a mav. ive made previous posts on the topic and never really got any answers. it was always "ive heard this works, ive heard that works" which i guess is better than no response... but i was aiming towards guys that actually had a 351 in their car...i wanted to know what they used. solid answers you know? im not really rushing anything on this project either....ive had plans to do the 351w for quite some time now..its just that im all caught up on the project to where I now need the headers to put the motor in. Brent
Hi Dave. I got just the deal to get rid of that hi blood pressure. You come see me on a sat afternoon and we will let you try our supersportman winged sprint car for practice laps. 351W at over 500 hp in 1900 lbs car on a 1/3 mile dirt. The front of the chassis lifts a good 8 inches and the right front wheel comes off the track all the way down the straights with current gearing turning the engine to 7700 rpm on alky. What a ya say? Hope your well otherwise. I'm not to far behind you, if you know what I mean.
FMCO73, There are no headers to bolt in and go because there is no room to do that is why there are none on the market. As you are awhere by now the 351 has a wider deck spacing than a 302 by 2". The 302 just barely has room for headers as it is with less than 2" in the tightest port area to spring tower.. Certain year stock iron 'log' type manifolds will just fit in but usually hit somewhere when the engine is throttled up or under load. I saw this setup locally a number of years ago but can't tell you what car the iron headers were from as I was never interested in doing such a deal. I had long tubes on my 302 but took them off and sold them to another board member and put shortie tube types on that look much like the later 5L Mustangs units. You will have to clearence the spring towers in the lower areas, at the min, after selecting the header that best fits close for you. These cars have had the spring towers cut and finished to even get a big block in so it can be done as long as the strength is maintained and the cross support bar is used across the bottom and even a bar assembly across the top to keep the towers in place from colapseing in and loosing your front alinement. This board has been replaced several times since the mid 90s and there have been a number of people who have done all these things but no longer seem to be on the board on any regular basis. You would have saw 351c, 302 Boss, 429 big blocks all stuffed in these cars as well as the 300 inch six cylinder truck engines. Just takes some advanced planning and recognition of the issues that have to be solved to do these things. Good luck.
Just curious, for my own benefit... Did you try the Tubular headers? I used the 351c swappers and had a set of B302 (never got to use), and they were well engineered parts. What will I run into with the W headers? They told me they are an easy fit with Stang engine stands (the 65 mounts that have the iron pedestal rather than the bulky frame mount on our cars). I dunno... I've had a 351c in one of mine and I have seen plenty of B302 Mavs (one swapped in 1970). 460 is a different story, but I have seen it done...
yeah, i realize that a putting a 351w in is going to involve quite a bit of fabricating, i knew that before i made the desicion to go with a 351w..I just wanted to hear from a person that actually has them in their car and maybe get a part # or any mods that had to be done to the header, thats all.....I have my towers notched out already ... I have done most of my homework.....and thats what im doing right now about the headers, my homework Ive been following the message board on and off since about '98 or so....and it really has been a lot of help....dont get me wrong BTW Old Guy, im not really that frustrated.....just kinda lookin forward to gettin the job done
I was in the same shape your in a few years back. The hooker super comp #6208 is what I choose. Its been a few years pretty sure thats the right # they are for 68 or 69 mustang 1 3/4 tube. I ran a motorplate instead of mounts more room easier too. My towers are cut I had to notch the driver side tower out for one of the tubes. I worked a little on the firewall both sides with a hammer shaping maybe even trimed a small bit out and welding another in. These headers are not too bad taking off and putting on. I do it from a lift under the car. One tube pulls out of the header on each side. As for changing plugs I use a socket with a hex head and a box in wrench 3/4 I think. Over all it takes a little fitting I am pleased with mine good luck with which ever you choose.
I am surprised nobody ever comments on that pic of the 460 in a Mav... No one ever asks how it is in there with full shock towers. Dave
