Fenderwell Headers

[DJs74]

There have been a few posts and discussions regarding fenderwell headers for EB's with small block 289 / 302 / 351W
I can confirm that Mad Dog does have them but they are not listed on their website (yet) - I ordered a set last week and they are due in tomorrow or Thursday.

At first, I thought I was going to strike out... the guy I was talking to said "nope, only got fenderwells for big Bronco's 80 up to 96" so I said... I think I'll give them a try because I don't mind cutting up what they are going in case it comes down to that... then he said "hold on-hold on, we got 'em for them little square Bronco's - got an order last week for three sets and only two were sold"

so I got set #3

I'll report back once I have them in hand / installed / install fail


DJs74

 

[sxr800]

we have a set of hooker fenderwells. They just look so cool with a lifted bronco.

 

[broncnaz]

I have Hookers as well. Cant wait to hear about these new ones. Wished Hooker hadnt stopped making them as there seems to be lots of interest these days. Would be nice to have another source.

 

[DJs74]

I received the headers, they look fantastic but I'm a little disappointed they have no paint, no coating, no nothing except a coating of oil to preserve the steel until install. The fabrication and welds are high quality but keep in mind they are not installed yet so I'll reserve my final score until then.

I'm kind of pressed for time so I won't send them out to be coated and will try the VHT Flameproof paint on these and see what happens, it is supposed to be good up to 2,000°F... if that claim is true, it should work fine.

I will post some pics of them as received, painted & installed.


DJs74

 

[DJs74]

These headers were a big problem at installation. I had to raise the motor 1/4" and cut away some of the shock tower on both sides. A while back I was considering building a second motor for my '74 Bronco for weekend dirt drag events and was looking for the fenderwell headers, then decided to go with uprights which would've required a second hood or no hood, now back to fenderwells because Mad Dog had them. I also decided against the second motor and went with a second Bronco altogether anticipating fabrications that I wasn't willing to do to my restored Bronco.
Long story short, the headers are on but it took some effort and considerable material removal.
Also, I was not able to get all the bolts in - the header tubes in a couple instances do not allow sufficient clearance for the bolt hex head.

 

[DJs74]

photos

Some photos of before and after install

DJs74

 

[nvrstuk]

Nice build quality it looks like...I'm very interested in the bolt/tube interference... can you post a close up pic of that too?

1- Was the interference so bad you couldn't install a bolt even when they weren't installed on the engine?

2- When you turn your tires (even if your strg stops limit your strg radius) enough that the tire hits the radius arm, does your tire hit the header flange also? Looks like it would from the picture angle

 

[DJs74]

Header bolts / header clearance

A few issues regarding bolts / flanges...

On one flange mounting hole, the bolt would not even install into the header flange because the hex interferes with the tube bend - a shorter bolt or mine ground off a few thousandths might've cured that, maybe. On 2 other flanges holes, the bolt will go through the hole but you would have to start the bolt into the cylinder head with the flange at least 1/2" away from head and thread the bolt in as the flange moves toward the head.... this would be OK if it were just one but two of them are like that on the same side and I cannot thread two bolts at the same time and there isn't enough room for a helper to thread the other bolt simultaneously.

Regarding clearance...

No clearance issue between the tire and header. The header comes down fairly tight to the frame and sits far enough behind and above the tire to avoid rubbing. At full extreme turn, there is probably 1.5" of clearance between the tread and the 3 bolt flange.

Tires in the photo are 38.5 x 11 x 15 / wheels are 15 x 10 with 4" BS and -38mm offset

Photos are close up of the header flange hole and shots of the tire to header clearance above and below the header


DJs74

 

[welndmn]

Someone else on Facebook had these and they collided with the steering shaft.

 

[DJs74]

Someone else on Facebook had these and they collided with the steering shaft.

I have about 1/16" between the shaft and the tube

DJs74

 

[nvrstuk]

Sounds like you are . In business!

Bolts...could you put a couple of short studs in to guide the header as you thread one bolt in at a time one or two turns and then next one or two turns and so on and so on.
I've had to do that it's not fun but it helps when there's zero clearance...might not work in your instance but thought I'd pass that along

 

[DJs74]

Sounds like you are . In business!

Bolts...could you put a couple of short studs in to guide the header as you thread one bolt in at a time one or two turns and then next one or two turns and so on and so on.
I've had to do that it's not fun but it helps when there's zero clearance...might not work in your instance but thought I'd pass that along

Thanks for the tips... I will try either the short studs or maybe grind down some bolts to 'X' length until I find a happy medium.

As mentioned, this is not a street use Bronco - will never have an exhaust system and I didn't mind chopping on things here and there to make the necessary fits. However, I would not do this to my restored street Bronco and cut things up to the extended I did on this one. I think a set of 1 5/8" tubes vs. 1 3/4" would probably solve a lot of this but I wanted the biggest tubes possible for this motor. The decrease in tube size would probably avoid the shock tower cut and the bends would probably be a little more forgiving with smaller primaries... maybe?


Take care and thanks again for the tips on the studs


DJs74

 

[357Bronco]

I installed a set of the 429/460 swap headers in a '95 bronco and had the same issues. They are well built, but a little attention to the tubes next to the head flanges would go a long way. I also had to cut the passenger side coil tower for them to fit. For a competition rig, it's not a big deal and the '95 is used just for dirt drags.

 

[DJs74]

I installed a set of the 429/460 swap headers in a '95 bronco and had the same issues. They are well built, but a little attention to the tubes next to the head flanges would go a long way. I also had to cut the passenger side coil tower for them to fit. For a competition rig, it's not a big deal and the '95 is used just for dirt drags.

I've done several 429/460 headers and always used L&L Products headers - zero install issues, well built and heavy...heavy duty. Hedman makes a nice set for 351M/400 in F150s and Broncos and might even do the 429/460 now, not sure. We are kind of limited on fenderwells for the early Bronco's but as mentioned, I don't mind cutting up competition rides... less weight = faster ETs


DJs74

 

[357Bronco]

I've done several 429/460 headers and always used L&L Products headers - zero install issues, well built and heavy...heavy duty. Hedman makes a nice set for 351M/400 in F150s and Broncos and might even do the 429/460 now, not sure. We are kind of limited on fenderwells for the early Bronco's but as mentioned, I don't mind cutting up competition rides... less weight = faster ETs


DJs74

I have L&L's on my own pick up and have used them for many projects, I always had good luck with them. At the time we couldn't find any fenderwell exit in stock anywhere and went with the Mad Dogs. I will say the Mad Dogs are a bigger primary and collector tube size, and would be a good choice for a stroker big block.

 

[DJs74]

I have L&L's on my own pick up and have used them for many projects, I always had good luck with them. At the time we couldn't find any fenderwell exit in stock anywhere and went with the Mad Dogs. I will say the Mad Dogs are a bigger primary and collector tube size, and would be a good choice for a stroker big block.

I'll keep that in mind, thanks for the tip. I've been wanting to build a stroked BB for a while but haven't run across the right project vehicle yet, wanting a '78 or '79 shortbed F150 / 545 or 557 cu. in. but can't find the right one. They are either $1500 rust buckets or $15000 already built, I'm looking for something in the middle but... My hands are full with this Bronco for now

Take care,

DJs74

 

[mudslut]

I just installed mad dog headers on my 432stroker. 1-3/4 primaries. I had same issue with bolts on driver side. I ground down edge of flange on bolt to make 3 of them fit. Def had to cut out a lot of the fenderweels which was expected. My biggest problem is driver side hits steering. I'm going to add a 3/8 plate behind gearbox to correct. I love the way they lay and look though and damn they sound nice

 

[DJs74]

I just installed mad dog headers on my 432stroker. 1-3/4 primaries. I had same issue with bolts on driver side. I ground down edge of flange on bolt to make 3 of them fit. Def had to cut out a lot of the fenderweels which was expected. My biggest problem is driver side hits steering. I'm going to add a 3/8 plate behind gearbox to correct. I love the way they lay and look though and damn they sound nice

i must've got lucky on the steering, I got about 1/16" clearance on the steering shaft. They do look pretty tough. I haven't fired mine yet, I'm running some new fuel line from the fuel cell to the regulator but plan on finishing things up this weekend. I bought the Mad Dog headers to replace the uprights which sounded pretty good too, I just want to close the hood up to keep the weather out.

DJs74