Does anyone have any experience with the Hedman 351 swap headers? I was looking around on the Jet hot site and saw that the offer them.
If they are the set I am thinking of they require the removal of the factory motor mounts and the use of a front motor plate. Power steering is questionable (I don't remember if you can keep it or not). The four pipes come down flat from each side to a flat collector. Tim
I have them on my car, and so have ultra experience with them. What question(s) would you like answered?
How good is the quality? do you need to modify anything to make them fit? how do the tubes run? do youhave pics from both top and bottom? and would you use them again if you could start over?
The Quality is A1. Probably the best set of headers quality wise I have ever seen. The modifications needed to make them work... 1) Motor mount removal, and use of a block plate. 2) Because of #1 and the offset of the II engine it requires centering of the engine and transmission in the bay. 3) Because of #2 you have to rework the Trans mount and drill new holes in it. 4) All 8 tubes run under the A Arms, you need to modify your front springs in order to run on the street. Drag track may be ok but not likely. I think I had 4 inches clearance is all. 5) You have to trim the unibody flange to accomodate the headers. 6) You may want to custom build 8 tubes to bring the collectors in closer to the tunnel, (I did). Summary: Damn cool headers, Damn pain in the arse, Would I do them again? Probably not, If I was to do it again I would center the motor and buy a set of 302 headers from an early vintage stang. 68, 67, or so and put them on the 351W. I do have pics if you want to see the finished product, angles and all. Heres a top view. Not the best pic but if you want more I can get them for you.
I have these for my Cleveland. Been about 10 years on now. I had great luck and wouldnt do anything else unless it would fit better. The only problem is the botom tubes tend to dent when ya hit stuff on the highway at speed. I have stiff springs though so I dont really bottom out much. My car is lowered a bit too for a better look with the larger tires. The collector flange is about 3 inches from the rear lip of front wheelwell and the flat collector was dented in a little so it would fit up nice and tight. With these pipes I have 3.5 inches of clearance measured under the crossmember.
351W headers Hello, It has been some time since I posted here. I used the headman engine swap headers and my experience is different. The ones I used are the slip on type where the pass side front tube runs under the engine crossmember. They did fit well but were extended to low for my liking. The flanges scrape on mine as well when I hit a bump (my suspension needs upgrading and is spongy). The driver side needed massaging to clear the steering rod. Other than that, they are ok. I do plan on removing them this winter and shortening them up so they dont hit the pavement. I will have cut the firewall and floor pan to get them tucked up nicely. Oh, I also had to alter the trans mount to clear the drivers side exit port of the header. Used Flowmaster 40 series mufflers and it sounds good. Kind of a pain but no big deal. I would like to see the pics of what everybody else has done. 78KC, 351W, T-5 trans
Those probably were not the swap headers. Those were more than likely the plain 302 headers and thus why you had to make mods, as they are a little too short for the 351W. I modded my 302 Heddman headers to fit instead of changing the body. I can send you pictures of the mods I made to the #1 tube. Since I did that I have never even nicked it on anything! Tim
I would love to see pics of anyone's 351W with headers. I'm looking at mine, and can't imagine running anything but the manifolds. I really don't want to run tubes under the crossmember, and I don't want to hack up the fenderwells. I was figuring on cleaning up the stock manifolds as much as possible and having them ceramic coated. I'd prefer headers, but....
