Yea.... I know..... but I gotta ask... exhaust question.....

[Jeff Norwell]

Please bear with me guys... but will these cast iron 390 gt manifolds work in my 57 /390 gt conversion.... or will the 58 steering box still interfere?
Or should i bite down hard and get FPA or Crites?
390 GT with 4 speed top loader

thanks guys.....

[rmk57]

Don't know about the 390 manifolds fitting or not. I do know the crites headers front tubes hang low, about 3 to 4 inches depending on your tire height. I have a set on my 460 and have to be be careful of speed bumps. Check out Jim Nolan's comments on the FPA's, he has a set on his FE and is happy, happy, happy with them.

Randy

[F570RD]

The FPA header is worth the purchase price.If you ever saw a 58 FE manifold they are tapered a lot near the box.Horrible!!!

[Jeff Norwell]

The reason I ask is.....a few years back I bought some orig. Hedman headers,produced in the early 60's for a 390/57 swap application.
They will not work because I understand the flanges on a GT engine are 14 bolt,whereas the reg. 390 is a 8 bolt Std. flange.
Yes.I could buy GT flanges and adapt to these Hedmans,... then get them coated....but in the end its better to just get new product that will work.
Or just build a custom set of headers which is even more work....... time and $$$$$.

Thanks guys.

[suede57ford]

The 428CJ exhuast manifold for a '69/'70 Mustang/Fairlane are supposed to be a great fit with a '58 steering box.  The 390 GT exhuast manifolds are a similar shape so they may work fine.

The GT heads can often be drilled and tapped to have both bolt patterns as well.

[Jeff Norwell]

Thanks Pat!

[F570RD]

I had a set of Hedmans (1976)and the collectors ran right into the crossmember.Had custom equal length headers made by a guy who worked at Headers by Ed.Still have them.

[Jeff Norwell]

I had a set of Hedmans (1976)and the collectors ran right into the crossmember.Had custom equal length headers made by a guy who worked at Headers by Ed.Still have them.

Prolly the same set I got F57ORD!.....

[JPotter57]

The best way around that is to modify the crossmember.  I used the ends of my original crossmember, with the double hump portion of a late 80's and up Crown Victoria/Lincoln  Towncar part, and have plenty of room for everything now.

[suede57ford]

I have used the 70's-80's double hump crossmember on 57's.  it really does more exhaust room when modified to fit.  I used some thick 2x2 or 3x3 angle iron brackets mounted to the frame for the crossmember to sit on. 

I still have a modified stock crossmember in my sedan, as now that I have the TKO 5 speed I never seem to have to ever touch the tranny or mount any more.  I can't say that about my motor though.

On Sim Larkins old car, now Alan's "Thumper" car, we sectioned and narrowed the lincoln double hump crossmember some to make it look really OEM looking.  Alan may be able to post pictures of the crossmember if he ever has it on a lift.

Jeff, I looked at the 390 GT engine you have for your car, and those exhaust manifolds should fit nice, but it will run way better with some FPA,s or those old school headers you have.

[Jeff Norwell]

Great info fellas!..many thanks!! After seeing Jim Nolan's FPA's..... That is the route i will most likely take.

[RICH MUISE]

I'd sure like to see some pics of the crossmembers using the double hump centers from a donor car. Pat...the angle brackets on the frame for the crossmember to sit on sounds like what Cody was showing me on a few cars in his shop. What did you guys that went that route do for the emergency brake cable bracket?

[LAUDY57]

I went up and over the crossmember with 2 1/2 tube.

[dgasman]

This is how I made the double hump cross member for our cars.

[JPotter57]

Thats pretty much the way I did my last one dgasman, this one is more like what Pat said is done to Alan's car.  Was more work, in retrospect, I would have done it the way I did it last time, like dgasman's..