1953 Ford Header Recommendations?

We are in the process of street rodding a 1953 Ford Customline. You can see pictures here: http://www.popsclassychassis.com/53Ford.asp.

It will come has no surprise to most that the original flathead was stuck. We decided install a Ford 5.0 & automatic we got in trade from something else. It was a throttle body, but we converting it back to carburetor. We have no idea what it came out of. We found it in a Hudson Hornet. We bought a motor mount set from ButchsCoolStuff.com.

We are fitting the engine/transmission under the hood. We are having a clearance issue with the driver's side exhaust manifold. It is hitting the steering box. Does anyone have any experience putting a 5.0 in an early 1950's Ford?

Our priority with the header purchase is: fit, price and then performance. We figure the Customline will be faster than it needs to be with a stock 5.0. Extra horse power is always nice, but I'm more worried about damage to my wallet.

Any advice is appreciated.

RR
Tags: 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, Mercury

 

Hey rriehm,

Might consider checking the catalogues of headers manufacturers who still make them to fit mid-60s Ford Falcons. That type of header will give you the small-block Ford fit, plus a rearward exhaust dump of four pipes into one collector exiting beside the transmission. Good luck!!

mr50s

 

I believe Hedman 88420s or 88400s are the headers you will need to clear the steering box and flathead-to-SBF motor mounts, but you might post up in the 52-59 ford group to be certain. I think the 88420s are the flathead swap headers, and 88400s are for 54+ cars and exit further back like the 60s Falcons to clear the mounts and the steering gear, but the 52/53 info came second hand so I would double check your application to be sure and maybe call Hedman.

Check out the link to the FAQs in my sig, there should be a few links to threads on headers for swaps that may be helpful.

By the way, the link to your pictures doesn't seem to work.

 

That engine setup in the 52 -54's is pretty common. There are bound to be several sources for headers for it.