which headman headers

[alaskan155]

been looking and hearing about 2 posibilities, the headman 88400 and the 89500

heard the 88400 fit the passenger side better and dosent dump onto the beam like the 89500 ranger swap headers, but i figured id ask, since ill ya'lls opinion before ordering tommarrow

 

[baddad457]

You heard right. But be warned: No matter whose headers you go with, be prepared to tweak them or move something else(like the engine) to make em work. That's not a slam on the headers, but a reality in doing any engine swap.

 

[alaskan155]

well i got the l and l mounts, don't know if that makes a difference

 

[wade]

I'm using a set of Patriot headers that are very similar to Hedman's 88400. Just finished welding up the 2-1/2" Y-pipe. Personally, I believe you'd be more content with the 88400's, over the 89500's. Maybe someone will chime in with some experience using the Tri-Y's. I understand they can work quite well. All kinds of options exist. Sometimes it boils down to, "How much are are you willing to spend?" Longtubes, or shorties? What transmission? - Engine mounts are you using? (Engine placement will affect you header choice, too.) Are you willing to trim the frame for clearance? How are you going to use the truck? Daily Driver, or at the strip? What kind of HP output are you anticipating? So on, and so forth... ... I highly recommend that you use the Search feature and read, read, read, before you spend, spend, spend. Your desires will not match up with what someone else is doing, so don't let differences of opinion bother you. Study your options, then do what works for you. Like "baddad" says - be flexible. Goodness knows - the pipes can flex.
While you're searching TRS, don't forget to search RPS, too. I have pics posted there of the Patriot H8430 header installation. (Again, they are very similar to Hedman's 88400. And, by the way, Patriot doesn't list the 8430's in their catalog any more. Now they have the H8433's.)
I go by "Wade" on that site, also.
Here's a link to my pics: View Gallery .
Here's a link to a thread that might interest you.

 

[baddad457]

I've got Shelby Tri-Y's on mine. Nothing fits better than these with a 157 tooth bell. Same set works with raised by 1.5" exhaust ports and the stock E7 heads. Although I did have to angle grind the bottom of the header flanges to make em fit tight agianst the E7's. Don't know who made these, bought em used on ebay, can't beat $85 for a set of nickel chromed headers. I did weld around the ports on the outside to allow porting to better match the Canfield heads and have had to reweld the Y joints when they cracked (that's got more to do with their age than workmanship) 6 years now they've been doin the job (in addition to what they were on before I bought em)

 

[wade]

If you are interested, Pertronix (Patriot Headers Catalog) lists a Tri-Y. Open the 2008 Patriot Exhaust Catalog, go to page 14. The H8426 or H8426-1 is listed for the '64-'70 Mustang/Cougar 260-302W. Heck, browes their catalog while you're there.

Summit carries them, $150 (Painted Black) and $280 (Ceramic Coated).

JEGs carries them, too. $152 and $315.

PerTronix Performance Products, Phone: (909)599-5955. Give them a call - see if they have a vendor close to you that carries their products.

I highly recommend getting the Ceramic Coated regardless of which brand or type of header you purchase. As much as you pay for them, it's nice to have them last for awhile. If you are afraid you'll mess the coating up, while mocking them up, go with the painted (or raw). Then once everything fits the way you want it, take them out and get them coated. Be aware that they must be clean, bare metal to coat. The painted headers will toss in an additional step. If you don't strip 'em, the shop will gladly do it for you, for a nominal fee. If you're careful with them, its simpler to just purchase them coated. I learned that the hard way!

 

[BLOODBANE]

I have the 89500 headers and the fit is tight but if you have everything lined up correctly they just fit........

 

[88RumbleBee]

Hey BloodBane. how'd you get those headers to fit in that 84? did you have trouble with the steering column in your way?

 

[Bruce]

I used the 89500's on our V8 swap in a 2 wheel drive 88 ranger and they seemed to work well. The guy that did the exhaust didnt cuss at all. They use sort of like a ball flange on the header flanges and you can swivel them some what.

 

[red85]

I used the 89500's on our V8 swap in a 2 wheel drive 88 ranger and they seemed to work well. The guy that did the exhaust didnt cuss at all. They use sort of like a ball flange on the header flanges and you can swivel them some what.

You were lucky. I have the old style 89500's with a non ball style flange. I had to make a collector from a piece of exhaust pip and then use a piece of flex pipe to clear the x member and not hit the I beam. I'm in the process of looking for a replacement passenger side header. Summit lists the passenger side 88400 for about 90 bucks. It would seem that the 89500 right side header has been a headache for them too.

 

[baddad457]

You were lucky. I have the old style 89500's with a non ball style flange. I had to make a collector from a piece of exhaust pip and then use a piece of flex pipe to clear the x member and not hit the I beam. I'm in the process of looking for a replacement passenger side header. Summit lists the passenger side 88400 for about 90 bucks. It would seem that the 89500 right side header has been a headache for them too.

Sounds like someone at Hedman FINALLY heard us, who let them know there was a problem with the 89500's.

 

[wade]

I emailed with someone, once upon a time, at Hedman. They were pretty obstinate about the design of their 89500's. Stated that, "People are buying them, so... ...!" So, I bought their competitors headers. The only way they'll listen is to money - or lack of it!
If people quit buying the 89500's and all they get is flak about their design, they'll change. People buy 89500's - they hit the R-side i-beam - people modify them - now they can't return them even if they want to - Hedman marketing thinks, "Another great transaction on a quality product!"
There are other headers on the market that work better, with fewer obstacles. You can even pit Hedman against themselves. They make another set of headers that will work, 88400's, which a poster on RPS says that they won't fit on a 93-newer(?). I'm just biased against Hedman now.
I used Patriot H8430's which are very similar to the 88400's. One almost copied the other - with the exception of a difference in collector flanges. Hedman uses a ball/socket, Patriot used a straight 3-bolt flange. The H8430's are not in Patriot's current catalog. They now make another set that is similar (H8433's) and a replica set of early Shelby tri-y's (H8426's). Both have good possibilities. Ya' might want to check out their catalog. All of the bold part numbers are available from Summit and JEGs and they have pics.

 

[HoleshotKFX400]

I have the 89500's, dont like em, passenger side dumps right into the beam, lucky for the ball type collector, and the drivers side rubs the steering shaft. Im thinking about buying tri-y's

 

[almostclueless]

As far as I'm concerned, heddman doesn't give a flying S___ about customer satisfaction. They've sold welded pipe collections for decades and still can't get it right.