Headers for my 78 Ranchero with a 351W |
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jdproper73
New Member Joined: 13-November-2016 Location: FL Status: Offline Points: 25 |
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Posted: 27-September-2017 at 8:39AM |
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Hello everyone,
I just bought a 1978 Ranchero with a 351W. What are your suggestions on headers or should keep the exhaust manifolds? Jason
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aquartlow
Senior Member Joined: 19-December-2011 Location: Summerfield, Fl Status: Offline Points: 2271 |
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Jason,Congrats on your Ranchero purchase. If you are looking for more hp/tq, full length headers will be helpful, although they will add some frustrations along with their efficiency. The drawbacks could be: tighter fitting to steering gear and/or starter, transmission case, transmission selector cable, noisier engine operation(exhaust of course) and etc. My honest suggestion is keep the manifolds unless one/both is cracked, if that is the case headers are usually cheaper than buying a new exhaust manifold. I run Hooker headers on my '79 BB Ranchero but that was due to not finding "good" exhaust manifolds, cam selection and porting the heads(an iron BBF head needs all the exhaust help it can get ). The biggest issues with headers are leaks, but using the "right" gaskets makes all the difference. Not sure if this was helpful or not, just being honest.
BTW, I see you are in Fl, where at in Fl are you located? I am in Summerfield, about 20 minutes south of Ocala. Edited by aquartlow - 27-September-2017 at 9:37AM |
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www.supermotors.net/22468
Yeah, It's a Hybrid...It burns gas and tires. No matter how good she looks, somebody, somewhere, is tired of her sh*t. Beauty is skin deep, ugliness goes clear to the bone. |
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Rockatansky
Senior Member Joined: 30-July-2010 Location: On The Road Status: Offline Points: 6072 |
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what are your emissions obligations, or will this be an 'off road' exhaust system?
headers can be hard to find for 1975 and up model years due to the manufacturers compliance responsibilities. past that hurdle you can use headers for previous model years same engine / chassis back to 1972. 1971 was a unibody and the steering was way different too so all bets are off whether those headers will fit 1972+ you may already be aware of the bad news, there's not many part numbers available these days and Yes headers can be a real PITA, aquartlow has given some good advice obviously from the university of been there done that, spent a ton & kicked my own doing it.i have a degree around here somewhere myself. i fought a set of Hooker Super Comps for a LOT of years & I'm glad they're too roached to mess with again then there's the rust. they didn't make headers that didn't rust when i started with those , do yourself a favor and pay the $ for a set that's factory coated or stainless steel. it's worth it! they say these fit but y'never know til y'try. regular Competition NOT super try to get them in-tition |
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72 GT Ute
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jdproper73
New Member Joined: 13-November-2016 Location: FL Status: Offline Points: 25 |
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Hello aquartlow,
Thank you, Do you know where I could get a hood for my ranchero? I'm going to try to save it but just in case. I live in Fort Myers, FL. I will post pictures of my ranchero soon. Jason
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n2fordwagons
Senior Member Joined: 20-July-2013 Location: GA Status: Offline Points: 2252 |
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Hood from a 77-79 Tbird, Cougar, LTD II, and Ranchero are all the same.
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Jeff
71 Torino Brougham 72 Gran Torino Squire |
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aquartlow
Senior Member Joined: 19-December-2011 Location: Summerfield, Fl Status: Offline Points: 2271 |
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Jeff, If my memory serves me correctly, the 77-79 T-bird/Cougar hoods are a match & the 77-79 LTD II/Ranchero hoods match, but not all 4 will match each other.
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www.supermotors.net/22468
Yeah, It's a Hybrid...It burns gas and tires. No matter how good she looks, somebody, somewhere, is tired of her sh*t. Beauty is skin deep, ugliness goes clear to the bone. |
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aquartlow
Senior Member Joined: 19-December-2011 Location: Summerfield, Fl Status: Offline Points: 2271 |
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My grandparents used to live in Ft. Myers off of McGregor on the corner of Winkler Rd. and El Mar Ave. They both passed a few years back , I still have an uncle that lives in Cape Coral, just can't seem to get down there as often as I used to. Try car-part.com for finding your needed parts, I know there is a 77-79 Ranchero near Wildwood, Fl at B & S auto parts, just not sure of hood condition. Not many of these around to scrounge parts off of anymore. Good luck.
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www.supermotors.net/22468
Yeah, It's a Hybrid...It burns gas and tires. No matter how good she looks, somebody, somewhere, is tired of her sh*t. Beauty is skin deep, ugliness goes clear to the bone. |
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californiajohnny
Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14609 |
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jason i went with JBA #1653S headers on my 351W they fit pretty well (they aren't cheap--but nice quality!!)
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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n2fordwagons
Senior Member Joined: 20-July-2013 Location: GA Status: Offline Points: 2252 |
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That's right. It's the doors that are all interchangeable, as long as it's 2-door Cougars and LTD IIs. Thanks for catching that.
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Jeff
71 Torino Brougham 72 Gran Torino Squire |
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aquartlow
Senior Member Joined: 19-December-2011 Location: Summerfield, Fl Status: Offline Points: 2271 |
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I have "my moments" , although too few to mention.
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www.supermotors.net/22468
Yeah, It's a Hybrid...It burns gas and tires. No matter how good she looks, somebody, somewhere, is tired of her sh*t. Beauty is skin deep, ugliness goes clear to the bone. |
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papadeath
Senior Member Joined: 08-December-2011 Location: Eagle Rock, CA Status: Offline Points: 498 |
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I shoulda checked closer to the date on this post. You know I wound up buying some headers from fordpowertrain that with the ceramic coating I added cost close to 900 bucks. They lied to me and told me they were specially made for the 460 ranchero yet that had Lincoln stamped on the flange... Go figure, a real pita to install and to top it off, I wound up having to cut part of my upper a-arm out for fitment. They also hit the steering gearbox. They're also sorties, with a very radical angled collector that strange to me was throttled to maybe 2 1/2 before it swelled back to 3 inch. I have had them for maybe 5 years and they have not rusted due to the coating. I have a def increase in hp and torque, but I know there's lots more in a better design. Don't buy them. And Todd, sure there's going to be more noise, but that's what we want right??
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75 Ranchero in progress
04 Harley Deuce stage one kit 89 Toyota pickup modded 09 Scion XB (bought for the ol' lady) buy American! (sorry) skateboard 4 bicycles 1 scooter 2 dogs 2 stupid cats |
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EvilScientistMoose
New Member Joined: 15-November-2020 Location: Bend, Oregon Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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My FPA headers (they were already on my '76 Ranchero when I bought it) are indeed now touching the steering box (I swapped to a Saginaw quick-ratio box), and two of the tubes (#1 and #4, I believe) had to be dimpled where they touched the crossmember. These were supposed to be the Ranchero-specific 429/460 headers but they look like they were for another application. |
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