Engine Headers on or off when build in engine?

Rockinkees

Member
Mar 28, 2018
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Hi all!

I am busy with replacing the rear main seal on our 1977 302.
First I got the trans out (C4), but to do this I had to get the driverside header off, that worked. The passenger side header is loose and I only get it out if I lift the engine.
The engine has to come out to do the rear main seal, cant get the oilpan off with the engine in the car.

My question is if I want to put the engine with mounted transmission into the engine bay, do I have to put on the headers first and put everything in as a whole set?
So with mounted headers and trans on the motor, and then completely put it in?
The headers are long tube headers, the collectors are next to the trans, it’s a thight fit.

I thought it would be less work to put it in as a complete set?
I haven’t worked on Fords before, only old Chevy’s (sorry...) and they are a lot bigger :)

So, please help me out here before I got to it, Thank you very much!
(Excuse me my English, I’m Dutch..)

Greetz,
Kees
 

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Headers off when dropping the engine & trans in. What you'll want to do is feed the headers in while everything is still a few inches above being home.

That's my experience anyway, had the Blackjack headers on that car, Heddman or Hooker might be different. (You didn't specify which you were running.)
 
No, your not late to the party. Just got the motor out.
What amezes me is that there is no sign of any rear main seal :eek:
No top seal and no bottom seal, probably that’s why we had a massive oilleak..
Also the bearings are very bad, measured the crankshaft and luckily this is good.
Engine can only become better now :)

Is there any of telling what brand of headers I have got?
I will make a few pics for you to see later.
 
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I don't have access to my car yet, but there should be a part number stamped somewhere either on the collector or the flange. I know the Blackjacks have a 5 digit part number, but past that I can't tell you much more without being able to look at my car.
 
Can’t find any numbers on these headers, there is nothing on it.
Maybe they are too cheap to have any marks:);)

I have got the rear main bearing out and found out why we had this massive oil leak... there is no rear seal in the engine!! No top or bottom seal. I never saw this in my 35 years of mechanic work :eek:
Mian bearings are bad, I measured the crankshaft, this is good, luckily, so new main bearings and add a rear main seal and we’re good to go!
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Those look a lot like what I have on my engine. I should have access to my car in the next couple of weeks, if you aren't able to find a part number let me know if you're still interested. I can take a look at mine and see if I can find it.

As far as the seal goes, all I can say is people do some dumb $#!+...... :shrug:
 
Thank you lilcbra!
Today I got the engine together, with the right parts ;)
I hope to put the engine in again in the next few days. I will guide the headers in with the engine at the same time.
Doesn’t matter if we are spending an hour or more extra...

I will let you know how it went.
 
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Someone just posted a pic with an illegible part number in a Facebook group from a set of headers asking about them. The number is stamped on the collector. There is a 046 followed by the 5 digit part number which is illegible. The 046 is familiar, but the 5 digit number is the part number. They also look like the same headers that you have. If someone comes up with something I'll share it for you here.....

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Thanks!
I have looked on the headers, but can’t find any numbers..
Yesterday my son and I put in the engine. We managed to guide the headers in with the engine, bolt the headers beforehand on the engine did not work.
So, slowly put the engine in and the loose headers at the same time worked good.

Motor and trans are on their place, now put the rest together with some small modifying to make things a little better as they were..
 

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