I have a set of Sanderson FH2 headers I’m putting on a 39 Ford with 8BA. I had to beat the one tube to clear the steering box to the size where my finger barely fits through it. It’s just a stock 8BA but is that too smushed? I’ll try to post some pics after I get it back out of the car from my last test fit. Chris
Yep, I remember seeing that a while ago , and David freiburger having a good laugh. Crushed headers to an extent made no difference.
That was the video that turned my whole world upside down. I couldn't believe how much they bashed those headers, and it made no difference to the performance. Bob
There is a book called Flathead Facts by John Lawson written in 2006. He put a "stock" 8BA on an engine dynamometer and made a variety of mods/changes to get more power from the engine. When he removed the stock exhaust manifolds and ran headers there was no change in torque or horsepower. In other words, no worries to massage those headers into their new home. Happy Motoring!
That just goes to show how much we sometimes overthink unnecessary things and under think necessary things!
I had a very difficult time believing what I was seeing, but that Dodge header, that they bashed the crap out of, made a believer out of me. Bob
I am aesthetically against "bashing" headers. There has got to be a better way. On mine (a 1951 Coupe), new motor mounts raised the engine enough to allow me to solve the problem. The rubber in the mounts deteriorate and allow the engine to settle as much as 1/2". A little grinding on the Fenton cast iron headers finished solving the problem. I just finished repairing a set of tube headers for an Olds Rocket that someone had "modified" rather than solving the real problem. It was very satisfying.
I am on the third set of headers on my BB powered 55 (not bad, considering that is since 1971), and I have had to cut and re-weld the back two tubes on the left side header to clear the stock steering box. Other than the weld lines, a person couldn't tell that the header didn't come from the factory that way. I was always crazy about keeping the headers clean looking, so I know what you mean. Bob
check out a lot of the new Mustangs. Right out of the factory the headers are flattened to clear stuff
If you bought the headers new from Sanderson or their dealer you shouldn't have taken a hammer to them before calling them and showing them your problem. If they are the correct part number for the application and they don't fit they need to know so they can fix any problem they may have with their design and/or manufacturing and send you a new one. If they are used, a well placed indentation for additional clearance is fine but if you had to bash the tube closed, you need to rework that tube by cutting out the tube and rerouting it. You can get individual u-bends from Speedway or Jeg's and cut sections out of it to go around the steering box.
Here is how bad they are bashed to fit (and it still does not really fit) I think these are too smashed to run but what do you think? roadkill beat that header but they didn’t beat it this bad where a single tube is significantly blocked. I got these used so a return is not possible. Chris
That's the center tube? It is already doing the job of two cylinders due to the Siamese exhaust ports, I wouldn't run it.
Yes, and that’s a good point I didn’t consider. not sure how Sanderson is getting 550$ for these things... the only thought i have is that maybe you could run a taller motor mount to get the engine up. Chris
If I was in this situation, and didn't want to run the header like that, I would buy a couple of mandrel bends, or in a pinch, go to an exhaust specialist with a bender, and bend a tighter angle starting closer to the header flange. Doing some judicial cutting and welding, (torch, TIG, or MIG), and you could easily overcome the problem with the bends. If you have ever looked at hugger headers, they are bent very aggressively right off the flange for maximum frame clearance. I have had to make a modification like that several times, and on my BB powered 55, the modification looks like it came that way from the manufacturer. Isn't that hotrodding? A succession of problems looking for an out of the box solution? Bob
Read @j-jock's post and open your mind. My son just did this to a 'new' pair of BBC headers, cut them loose from their flanges and massaged them to go onto F-E Ford header flanges! I took some cuts to a pair of Sanderson tubes for my bud's 392 Chryslr in his Model 'A' Coupe. BEWARE of headers too close to the steering box. My pal 'Bluto' had me rebuild his 'Carry-In' '56 F100 box to go in his '30 'A' roadster. (SBC, headers inside frame) He brought the car back after a long 'run' they made to Southern CA. "Steering box's leaking...you musta f'ked up the seal..." I said, "Let's look." Opened the hood, the header was 3/16" from the cast iron F100 box. BOILED the 90wt. gear oil right past the seal! I coulda cooked a steak on it! Well done, yet! (although I eat 'em Rare!) Bluto asked what I'd do, so I told him. Re-route 2 tubes, gain an inch clearance. Easy, but it looked hard. Lucky thing was I could remove the header without pulling the engine...then cut, fit a new piece in, weld, file. VHT paint.
Did you confirm it was the right header part number shipped to you that you ordered? Since you had to cave it in so much and it still needs more clearancing.....
I’m going to see what Sanderson has to say. I’m the meantime I’m going to put these on the shelf until I have some time to fix them and run exhaust manifolds. Guess I won’t get up to 103 HP like I was hoping .
If you look at what the exhaust has to go through just to get out of the block, headers are like a 4 inch fart can on a ricer.
I’d put the manifolds back on it. There is no real gain in the headers over the manifolds. None that you will feel driving it anyway. Flat heads flow like a brick anyway. Putting the header on it doesn’t do much to help with flow over the twits and turns the exhaust gas has to do to get out of the block.
Well, I saw this post and immediately thought of the video and how I should mention it! Ha! Johnny come lately! But like mentioned here, that Video had a dramatic effect on me unlike any video I had ever seen! If you haven’t seen it watch it!!! It’s incredible! I have never been a header guy, to start with, they sound like a tin can, leak, rust......trouble! I have always heard how much power the give an engine! Well...... Back years ago, Hot Rod Magazine would buy a current used “ hot” car and drive it directly to the drag strip and get a time. Then come back to the shop and do improvements to it. Usually first they would do was just set everything thing right, tune up! It always improved the ET. Then they would start changing things, one , usually first was a set of headers. And everytime, with just headers, it would increase the ET at the drag strip!! I saw it time and time again with those test. Now, after they put a cam, intake, bigger carb, it indicated that they helped. But I for one have always though headers were over rated compared to a good stock exhaust! Bones