JBA Headers Fitment Issue

[tx65coupe]

The new JBA headers 1650S I got from Summit don't fit. The driver side header contacts the back of the shock tower and the steering box with the front flange bolt in and the rear is still about an inch too high. What can I do?

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

 

[stonecoldtx]

I'm sorry to hear about your misfortune with the JBA's; I don't know about YOU, but if it were me, I'd be calling up JBA and having them explain why their headers weren't fitting properly--and if they didn't have a satisfactory answer, I'd be sending them back for a refund . . .

In this day and age of so many different header options available for these cars, there is no excuse for ill-fitting headers.

I purchased a set of Patriot Ceramic Coated "Clippster" shorty headers for my '70, and they fit just fine; what they did was they created headers where the exit was at the same location as the stock manifold, and that worked out pretty well in terms of fitment.

They stopped making exact version of the headers I purchased, but there are a lot more out there that you can choose from, so do a little research, look around a bit, and see if there might be a better fitting header available for your car.

Good Luck!

 

[tx65coupe]

Thanks for the kind words.

I did quite a bit of research before I chose these JBA headers. I have heard nothing but good things about JBA quality etc. I am disappointed with them, although it does look like they are well made. I am going to look at some of the Patriot headers agian.

I agree that it shouldn't be that hard for these companies to make headers that fit. It seems to be a fairly common occurance on these forums that people have headers of different brands that don't fit.

Does anyone know of some shorty or mid length headers that will fit the driver side and clear the steering box and shock tower. I would prefer stainless ceramic coated headers. I am also interested in the thicker flange that are less prone to leaks. I have a clutch cable so long tubes are out.

 

[CraigMBA]

You didn't ask me.

My JBA's hit the shock tower, the steering box, and if you use a manual trans, they interfere with the Z bar too. They don't fit a '64-66 for spit. After a decade of fussing with headers that never fit, I borrowed a set of Hedman 88300's to test fit..............and they clear everything - including the ABS steering box (JBA's no way) and the Z bar (if I still had it) and the shock towers.

They are a little low. I'll get over it.

I think I have like $900 into my JBA's (I had them coated). All I need is a '68 and I'd have a car to put around them (I think they fit the '68-up cars).

 

[66 Restomod]

Aluminum heads

The PO had the JBA headers on my car "massaged" in a few places to get them to fit. They do fit better with a fresh set of motor mounts (installed the mounts last week), but still require denting the pipes to get them in. I have aluminum Edelbrock heads and thought that might have something to do with it, but not sure.

 

[golf4283]

I have some heddman's in my '66 and clearance is tight so I'm going with some RMP adjustable motor mounts. Maybe look into that if you're stuck with the headers but it seems to me they should fit out of the box just fine.

 

[BornInAFord]

In their footnotes, JBA says that you have to use 66 motor mounts in order to fit the 1650 in a 65. Are you using 66 motor mounts? They move the motor about 1/2 to 1" higher than the 65 motor mounts and from your picture this looks like it would be enough to clear. The RMP mounts sound promising, too, as you can move the engine back a bit. Again, from your picture, this looks like it should help clear the #6 primary/shock-tower and #7 primary/steering box.

Let us know what you find out and if you are able to talk to JBA. I'll be installing 1650s in my 66 (I have RMP mounts already) in a few days, and will report back as well.

Daniel

 

[Westmus]

I have JBA1650 in a 65, with the low 65 mounts. It's even an manuel car with the Z-bar. It's was tight, but after moving the engine around in mounts before fasten all the bolts in the mounts, there where about 1/4" space everywere!

 

[Tubo(2-bo)]

I had to use RRJM adjustable mounts, to find the "sweet spot" for mounting my 1650's. Once there they're perfect. I was ready to commit mayhem long before I got the RJM mounts.

 

[tx65coupe]

66RestoMod, I was thinking about massaging mine to fit. A friend of ours said there is a shop in south Austin that makes custom headers that will heat them up and put dimples in them. I may look into doing that this week.

CraigMBA, I was going to avoid long tubes because of my clutch cable. The Hedman 88300 were one of the headers I was originally considering. I have a Modern Driveline clutch cable and they say that the 88660 Hedman will fit. They don't say anything about the 88300. When I look up the 88660 it says its for 351 conversion and not 302. So wouldn't it make them hang low if used on a 302? However, after purchasing a set of Hedmans for my F150, the quality was so lousy that I would not want to get Hedman again. There were pinholes in the welds that you could see light through. I also tried a set of BBK for my truck and they didn't fit at all. Needless to say my F150 still has manifolds on it.

BornInAFord, I have 66 up style motor mounts and frame brackets. You have the same headers that you are about to install in your 66? I also have the H pipe to go with the JBAs.

Westmus, I have about 1/4 inch of room or less on the passenger side but not on the driver side. It seems that contacting the steering box is really the biggest problem. Without the gaskets I was able to get the header into position with out it hitting the shock tower. It is about a millimeter away from it though.

Turbo, I really can't afford the Rom Morris adjustable mounts right now. I already bought the 66 style ones new several months back. There just isn't any budget left for the adjustable motor mounts. If you ask me adjustable motor mounts should not be required to run a pair of headers that were made for the car.

I am so tired of hearing about header fitment troubles. I can't believe that these companies can't make the fit better. At this point I am tempted to just get a pair of Hi-Po style manifolds and forget about headers altogether. Has anyone gone this route?

 

[CraigMBA]

In their footnotes, JBA says that you have to use 66 motor mounts in order to fit the 1650 in a 65.

I know, I also read the instructions. I had the older '65 style mounts before.

Are you using 66 motor mounts? They move the motor about 1/2 to 1" higher than the 65 motor mounts and from your picture this looks like it would be enough to clear.

In my car, it wasn't enough. I had another 3/4" aluminum spacer sandwiched between the block and the motor mounts.

The RMP mounts sound promising, too, as you can move the engine back a bit. Again, from your picture, this looks like it should help clear the #6 primary/shock-tower and #7 primary/steering box.

Let us know what you find out and if you are able to talk to JBA. I'll be installing 1650s in my 66 (I have RMP mounts already) in a few days, and will report back as well.

Daniel

Hope your luck was better than mine.

 

[CraigMBA]

CraigMBA, I was going to avoid long tubes because of my clutch cable. The Hedman 88300 were one of the headers I was originally considering. I have a Modern Driveline clutch cable and they say that the 88660 Hedman will fit. They don't say anything about the 88300. When I look up the 88660 it says its for 351 conversion and not 302.

Hedman 88300 - Hedman Hedders Headers

88300 - Hedman Hedders Headers Details
Ford Cars


Fairlane, Cyclone, Montego 1966-73, 260-351W
Maverick, 1969-77 206-302W
Falcon, Comet, 1966-69 260-302W
Mustang, 1964-73 260-302W
Mustang, 1969-73 351W
Torino, Ranchero, 1966-73 260-351W
Comet 1970-73 260-302W
Cougar, 1967-73 360-302W
Cougar, 1969-73 351W
Designed to fit & clear C-4 Transmission only.

I have a MD cable. It clears fine. They do hang a little low. I can't speak to the quality of the headers you recieved, but these are fine IMO. I looked them over really, really close.

 

[Tubo(2-bo)]

Turbo, I really can't afford the Rom Morris adjustable mounts right now. I already bought the 66 style ones new several months back. There just isn't any budget left for the adjustable motor mounts. If you ask me adjustable motor mounts should not be required to run a pair of headers that were made for the car.

Not tuRbo, I know what you mean about too pricy fer the RJM mounts, a fellow Stanger made me a deal on them. Prolly wouldent have gotten them otherwise. The RJM's did allow me to move the engine closer to the fire wall, which is what was needed for my pair of JBA's to fit well, also helped iin the 4R70W install, so it turned out to be money well spent.
When products designed for a specific application dont fit well, I wonder if there really is theat much variance in our individual Mustangs.
Now talk about trying to fit exhaust gaskets, on the the dang things.

 

[jlangholzj]

I'm sorry to hear about your misfortune with the JBA's; I don't know about YOU, but if it were me, I'd be calling up JBA and having them explain why their headers weren't fitting properly--and if they didn't have a satisfactory answer, I'd be sending them back for a refund . . .

In this day and age of so many different header options available for these cars, there is no excuse for ill-fitting headers.

I purchased a set of Patriot Ceramic Coated "Clippster" shorty headers for my '70, and they fit just fine; what they did was they created headers where the exit was at the same location as the stock manifold, and that worked out pretty well in terms of fitment.

They stopped making exact version of the headers I purchased, but there are a lot more out there that you can choose from, so do a little research, look around a bit, and see if there might be a better fitting header available for your car.

Good Luck!

HELL THEY DON"T!!!!





I JUST purchased a pair of patriot clipsters for my 68' I was having some fitment issues with longtubes around the AOD. so i had to get mid lengths. They fit excellently....and since i don't have the tubes up yet....they sound pretty good open too

 

[Westmus]

Westmus, I have about 1/4 inch of room or less on the passenger side but not on the driver side. It seems that contacting the steering box is really the biggest problem. Without the gaskets I was able to get the header into position with out it hitting the shock tower. It is about a millimeter away from it though.

Have you tried to losen all the mounts (allso the transmission mount) and move the engine a little to the passenger side and then force it to the rear when tighten the bolts in the mounts? Still needing more space you could try some thick washers between the engine mounts and the engine block to raise it a little. Or enlarge some of the holes in the mounts, so the engine and gearbox can move just a little more rearwards. Maybe moving the engine 1/8" to the passenger side and 1/4" to the rear is all you need.

 

[10secgoal]

I'm sorry to hear about your misfortune with the JBA's; I don't know about YOU, but if it were me, I'd be calling up JBA and having them explain why their headers weren't fitting properly--and if they didn't have a satisfactory answer, I'd be sending them back for a refund . . .

Good Luck!

Not sure it would do ANY good. JBA doesn't own the header company anymore. Hell, they haven't even been made in the US for years.

 

[66forfun]

my JBA long tubes fit fine. 66 with manual stearing, manual brakes, aod and lakewood muscle mounts. Kinda pointed at the center of the car and downwards so hooking up the magnaflow exhaust required some bends. They worked out well for me and I thought the quality was good but they were very pricey.

 

[tx65coupe]

Hedman 88300 - Hedman Hedders Headers



I have a MD cable. It clears fine. They do hang a little low. I can't speak to the quality of the headers you recieved, but these are fine IMO. I looked them over really, really close.

If all else fails, I may consider the hedman headers. Its good to know you are happy with yours.

 

[tx65coupe]

Not tuRbo, I know what you mean about too pricy fer the RJM mounts, a fellow Stanger made me a deal on them. Prolly wouldent have gotten them otherwise. The RJM's did allow me to move the engine closer to the fire wall, which is what was needed for my pair of JBA's to fit well, also helped iin the 4R70W install, so it turned out to be money well spent.
When products designed for a specific application dont fit well, I wonder if there really is theat much variance in our individual Mustangs.
Now talk about trying to fit exhaust gaskets, on the the dang things.

Sorry Tubo, I thought it was Turbo.

Yeah I know what you mean about the gaskets. It looks a bit difficult. I actually found a slightly longer bolt to use in the front as a guide pin for installing. That allowed me extra room for the gaskets to be dropped in.

 

[tx65coupe]

HELL THEY DON"T!!!!





I JUST purchased a pair of patriot clipsters for my 68' I was having some fitment issues with longtubes around the AOD. so i had to get mid lengths. They fit excellently....and since i don't have the tubes up yet....they sound pretty good open too

Are your patriot clipsters stainless or ceramic coated? Which ones did you get?