408w Exhaust help

[Orange302]

I am trying to figure out what will work. I know that i want to go 1 3/4 min. I would like to find longtubes that will work, but everything is so expensive. There is LT for the fox that are pretty cheap but I am not sure if they would fit the SN95. Anyone know of any Shorties that might fit the bill?

Any imput would be great, especially if you have done this swap!

[JBCleary]

Originally Posted by Orange302

I am trying to figure out what will work. I know that i want to go 1 3/4 min. I would like to find longtubes that will work, but everything is so expensive. There is LT for the fox that are pretty cheap but I am not sure if they would fit the SN95. Anyone know of any Shorties that might fit the bill?

Any imput would be great, especially if you have done this swap!

I have read that the fox headers are the same as the 94-95 except the 94-95 have an EGR bung welded on the passenger side #3 pipe. I have BBK shorties on my 383w and will be putting engine in my 94 this fall. I have been thinking of 1.75" myself and may end up getting a set before I do the swap.

[red82gt]

Ford racing used to make a shorty header for a windsor in an SN-95, they came on the 95 cobra R. Trust me, if the cost of the headers is putting some doubt in your mind, you might want to re-consider over doing the 408 swap in the first place. The cost of a good set of headers will be a small drop in the bucket.

[Darren5.0L]

ouch, you picked a hell of a question.
Off the top of my head, I do not know of any LT's to accomadate a 351 in a 94/95 engine bay. However, this doesn't mean a set doesn't exist.

Generally, the Fox 95.0 LT swap requires messing about with the EGR as described above, and "clearancing" the collectors around the bellhousing and clutch inspection cover, not usually friendly I'm told. However I have not done this swap myself so my info is limited to the heresay of others.

I will do some research for you and see what I can come up with and suggest you continue to do the same.

I had an article kicking around here called the complete 351W swap guide, geared towards 94/95 owners. To be honest, I read it, didn't like what I saw, and kind of filed it away under "don't bother" but there are people who have done this swap so it is certainly not that big of a PITA. I'll look around for that article and it may assist you in your parts roundup.

Somehow I suspect a set of KOOK's custom headers may be required...

[The Fox Master]

Darren: do SN95s use a differant bellhousing than foxes?

[Darren5.0L]

Yes they do, it's a little longer to accomidate the longer input shaft and different clutch fork. Ford changed this for the last two years of the 5.0L Mustang to "optimize" shifter location.

This is why swapping in a Fox or aftermarket transmission requires a Fox bell housing, adjustable trans crossmember (or modding one) Fox clutch fork, and a driveshaft spacer.

Thanks Ford...

However I did find the swap article I was talking about, it wasn't geared just towards SN95 cars, but had good footnotes about them.

Here's the C&P of the exhaust portion:

Whatever exhaust system you currently have will work, but the headers you have (factory or otherwise) will not, again because the 351W is so much taller. MAC offers short-tube 351W swap headers (PN E358692) that will bolt up to the stock or stock configuration aftermarket H-pipe, as does FRPP (PN M-9430-A58 for '86-'93; PN M-9430 R58 for '94-'95). MAC, Hooker, Hedman, Coast High Performance, and a host of other manufacturers offer long-tube headers.

Here's the link to the full article:
351 Engine Swap - 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords Magazine

[The Fox Master]

Well I dun learned sumthin today

I looked up the fordracing header to see if there was any specs and ford racing and summit don't list it. It may be discontinued (?).

The problem with shorties is they are usually pretty small tubed (1 5/8") which is way too small for a stoked windsor. Even 1 3/4 is a restriction for a 205cc head.

[Matthew]

If the standard swap headers will work on those cars, I used the MAC 1.75" to 3" 351W swap headers on my Fox at one point, and they actually fit pretty good, unlike most of the MAC headers. They have the benefit of being really cheap.

If you are thinking about custom headers, I strong suggest RCI over Kooks or Stahl. When we were looking into headers for my current setup, we originally thought we would buy Stahl headers, but after talking to both them and Kooks, it became apparant that they would not make headers with 31" primary tubes that did not require grinding on the bellhousing or some other not allowed clearancing. RCI in Rancho Cucamunga California made me a custom set of headers, 2" to 3.5", 31" primaries, and they fit like a glove and were in my hands three weeks from when I ordered them. $650 US. They are the single best fitting part on my entire ride.

-Matthew

[red82gt]

Another company that does customs is Accufab. I've read rave reviews of their work.
The two things I don't like about my Kooks headers are the ground clearance and the slip-fit collectors. Other than that, the fit is excellent and if you swap the header bolts for studs, they are a piece of cake to install.

[Orange302]

Originally Posted by Matthew

If the standard swap headers will work on those cars, I used the MAC 1.75" to 3" 351W swap headers on my Fox at one point, and they actually fit pretty good, unlike most of the MAC headers. They have the benefit of being really cheap.

If you are thinking about custom headers, I strong suggest RCI over Kooks or Stahl. When we were looking into headers for my current setup, we originally thought we would buy Stahl headers, but after talking to both them and Kooks, it became apparant that they would not make headers with 31" primary tubes that did not require grinding on the bellhousing or some other not allowed clearancing. RCI in Rancho Cucamunga California made me a custom set of headers, 2" to 3.5", 31" primaries, and they fit like a glove and were in my hands three weeks from when I ordered them. $650 US. They are the single best fitting part on my entire ride.

-Matthew

That doesnt sound bad at all. I might do that.

Darren, as for not worth it, I love a project and have no problem working on this and making it work. I already have the shortblock and am working up to build the rest of the motor. It will be a monster. (relitive to what i am use to)

[Darren5.0L]

Originally Posted by Orange302

Darren, as for not worth it, I love a project and have no problem working on this and making it work.

I think you misunderstood my comment, I didn't imply that it's not a worthwhile venture, just for myself. I could make the power I wanted with less hassle by building up a 302 with FI. I've always been a fan of thinking outside the box builds, but I didn't care to do it to this particular car.

I've got a couple of Fox rolling chassis kicking around that I've been continplating doing it to for sometime now...

[Orange302]

Yeah, it is definatly cheaper in a fox mustang. Although our front brackets work nicely.

[Roller82GT]

If your going to go through the steps to getting a custom set of headers made, you may wanna look at going with a big set of heads as well. I cant recall off hand what you said you were going to run, but if it was me shelling out that much coin, id get a big set, with the bolt pattern to go on a big set of heads. Sounds like things are progressing along nicely tho danny

[Orange302]

Well in honest they arent going as well as i would like. All i have is the short block. But hopefully i can have most of the engine together soon!

I am also using the same heads you are. And i am really not all that stoked about going the custom route. Maybe some 1 3/4 shorties or something might work out the best.

[red82gt]

Just had a thought, Anderson Ford Motorsport used to have a set of 1 3/4" shortys for a 351W but they may have been for fox cars. Check their website or shoot off an email and see if they can help.