The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop full length headers on 56 with mustang II

good day bolters. did search but no luck. has anyone installed a mustangII front suspension on a 55to59 chev/gmc, and run full length headers?
it is going to be a small block chev.i dont want to go with shortie headers but will if i have to.
any part#s and or pics of them installed whould be great!

I put an M2 in my 55 2nd series,with power R&P steering.I had to use the blockhugger headers to clear the steering shaft.You could also use the old ramhorn manifolds.

thanks dale but ramhorns wouldn`t breath enough to make 400+hp i don`t think.

newbie56,You could be right about that,but look at how close the ramshorns resemble the blockhugger headers.Not a whole lot of difference.

Another idea,on a 37 Chevy I did up a few years ago I used S10 conversion headers for clearance.They are a smaller header that exits toward the back.I cant remember who makes them,but your local speed shop should have them.

If you want real good flowing headers, you may want to consider fenderwell headers like guys use on 1st gen Novas where space is a big condideration. You can get real radical with them and not use up the space around the frame and steering box. The downside, of course is that they have to have some holes chopped and some special exhaust routing to get the exhaust pipes mated up to the collector...but then you could always run an "openable" collector and have fire-breathing open headers in the fenderwells....if there's enough room.

conversion headers too much like shortie some look like the flow less than shortie.no fenderwell headers.federwells too good to cut up.

Well Newbie,if you find a set of full length headers that will fit let me know.The blockhuggers worked out just fine for me.Good luck.

anyone use the patriot headers that are out? there is a listing for 55-65 chev truck part# H8021 that look promising.

Try this site for street and performance headers.http://www.hotrodlanecc/newhtml/newheaders.html
They say their headers will fit 50's pickups.

left a . out http://www.hotrodlane.cc/newhtml/newheaders.html
Try this one!

thanks coach just want to see what my options are with the mustangII.

Sanderson has a few sets of cast iron manifolds that should flow enough for 400hp.

Sanderson is a good choice if you want header performance without the sealing headaches. And being cast iron, they're quieter.

Shorty headers are dyno-proven to make better high-rpm power than full-length headers. The full length type make better torque. But if you want the best torque producing headers, you should consider the Doug Thorley tri-Y headers. I have read that any header for a first generation Camaro will fit these trucks, and Thorley does make a Tri-Y for a first gen F-body with a Chevy motor.

Stick an X-pipe crossover behind the headers and you'll boost torque even more, up to about 3500 rpm. H-pipes typically are better from 3500 to 5500 rpm or so, then X-pipes again are better in the upper rpms above that. According to literature I've read comparing them.

Unfortunately, this is something you just have to try and see. Be prepared for modifications, and make sure to post back so that we know what to expect if we go the same route. Thanks.

thanks dad good to get some resonses. want to squeeze as much performance out of the 350 vortec as i can.

Newbie

I asked the same question repeatedly, and got most of the same good advice you have recieved. I know this is an old thread, but for narrow frames, there is a set of Patriots that are full length, 1 5/8 diameter, and appear to be close to equal length, but I have not measured. I installed them in my '37 with MII and SBC. I've not run them yet, but they seem to fit very well. I'll need to tweek the steering around them, but they'll clear. No doubt.

I wanted to close this thread with the answer I found for my issue, and one that might work for you, Newbie, as well.

Pat

Oh, BTW -- The narrow-frame SBC headers emntioned above are for an early Ford frame. Model A as I recall.