Clifford Bronco Headers on a 170

[canary28]

Hi Folks,
I just received a set of headers from Clifford Performance today. These are the ones they make for the Bronco. I'd been waiting to reinstall the engine until I had the headers test-fit to so things would be easier to work on. I was quite excited.
I test fit them and immediately found that I had to remove the dipstick because the headers are made to go through the same space that the dipstick occupies. Next, I found that with the headers bolted on, I could not install the starter. After I installed the starter, I find that the headers make contact with the stud for the starter cable.
Has anybody else had similar experiences with this product?
I'll call them tomorrow to see what's up, but I'm probably going to return them. Does anybody have headers that allows starter access without removing them any time the starter needs work? Granted, that shouldn't be very often, but given the tight clearance of the headers around the starter, I anticipate it will be more likely to have troubles given the higher temps it will experience.
Thanks.
the canary.

 

[crozetcrew]

Not sure about the headers but my dad bought an aluminum head from them for his 200 and has had nothing but trouble with it. He finally took it to a local shop to have what ever it was causing him problems fixed. Not sure exactly what it was. It's running fine now.
Chris

 

[Explorer]

Absolutely! Dipstick can be rotated forward and fasten bracket to another bolt. I dented the header and sawed off the starter bolt at the top of the nut. When the time comes that I have to remove the starter I will go to a mini high torque starter. Lots of luck with customer support. Don't forget to read the instructions about soaking the header gasket.
Chris: He did have trouble with the head, but not aluminum, that's Classic Inlines. His was cast iron, blueprinted from Clifford's, and think he said the valve seats where cracked.
Edit: As far as I know, Clifford makes the only Bronco specific header for the little six. Classic Inlines sells a header, but deals primarily with the Mustang crowd and does not claim to fit the Bronco.

 

[canary28]

Hi folks,
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, not exactly what I wanted to hear. grumble grumble. I'm no engineer, but I would think there's a better solution than what they've come up with.
Thanks for the luck wishes on Customer support. I'm 2 days waiting on a callback. Tuesday I shall make a pest of myself.
I have a low-mount starter block, which I intend to install someday in front of a NV 3550. The starter location should alleviate that problem somewhere down the road, but at the rate I'm going just getting the thing on the road in the first place, it could be a while before I get as far as upgrading the drivetrain.
Explorer, What tranny and what diff gear ratio are you running? I'm impressed with your 18+mpg. I'm bone stock right now, with 3 speed and 4.11 gears, but will be working towards improving mileage once I get it on the road.
Thanks!
And Happy Fourth!
the canary

 

[eaglenest66]

Header

Back in 1982, my brother and I purchased a Clifford Header for our '72 bronco. Supposed to be a bolt on! Yea right! Still have the scar on the back of my hand to prove it. It was a two piece at the time and neither would come together once you went to mate everything up. Had to take it to a shop and have the damn thing heated and manually bent to make it come together. Wasn't worth the aggravation! From what I understand, you can get better performance otherwise. Contact Nick at NixTrix as he did a Hi-PO 200 for a roadster recently. Can't remember what all went into it but thinking a tricked head and carb. tim

 

[Explorer]

Hi folks,
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, not exactly what I wanted to hear. grumble grumble. I'm no engineer, but I would think there's a better solution than what they've come up with.
Thanks for the luck wishes on Customer support. I'm 2 days waiting on a callback. Tuesday I shall make a pest of myself.
I have a low-mount starter block, which I intend to install someday in front of a NV 3550. The starter location should alleviate that problem somewhere down the road, but at the rate I'm going just getting the thing on the road in the first place, it could be a while before I get as far as upgrading the drivetrain.
Explorer, What tranny and what diff gear ratio are you running? I'm impressed with your 18+mpg. I'm bone stock right now, with 3 speed and 4.11 gears, but will be working towards improving mileage once I get it on the road.
Thanks!
And Happy Fourth!
the canary

Running the stock 66 tranny, TC and 4:11 gears. Tires are susposed to be 30", but actually measure out to 29". True 31/9.50's would have fit under it. With the upgrades to my engine, 33" tires would have worked out perfect for the gearing I believe, but that would have required cutting. As far as the starter, I really believe a mini starter would solve the issue's. Headers could have easily have been designed a bit different.

 

[canary28]

So I put the engine in today, and feeling resigned to using the headers, test fit the headers with the engine in the engine bay. The body is currently on 4 inch blocks until I get the undercarriage work done. One of the two halves of the manifold looks like it is actually designed to exit outboard of the frame, which means that once the body comes back down to its stock position, I'd have to cut the inner fender to make it all fit. Ugh. Not sure what I'm going to do now, wish I had a stock manifold lying around to get the thing running.
great shot in the arm today though: engine, fenders, and hood installed, grill nearly installed. Woo Hoo! progress! It looks like a truck.
Thanks for the running gear info, I'll have to do the math and figure out what diff ratio I'd need to run equivalent to 29" tires.

 

[Explorer]

Exhaust

Both tubes will dump inside frame. It just looks worse than it actually is. Here is a pic of my exhaust from the bottom. Another link to my build thread if may be of some help: http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148050

 

[NicksTrix]

the clifford works, it still takes some tweaking as mentioned above.
the merge collector isn't the best, but for what you are paying it works.
here's how i got it to work on the hot 200.

as you see the header points the one collector right at the frame rail. it takes some finessing to get it all to package nicely without cutting the header up and redoing the whole thing.

have fun.

 

[Explorer]

Great pic's Nick! Exactly what I did, except I ran into a dual in/dual out muffler. Feel better about what I did now, but I should have dented mine in more than I did.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Thanks for the Pics Nick!!!

Ive been trying to come up with something to eliminate the stock manifold but I have to deal with a pto shaft.

Looks like the PTO shaft will not clear. At least it closes my delima. Gotta stick with the stock manifold. Saved me the aggrevation of buying something to find out it wouldn't fit

Many thanks!!!!!

 

[66Gasgrill]

wow they have completely redesigned those headers. I bought mine 10 years ago or better. Mine are a long tube design. I can take the starter on and off and both collectors point straight back beside the tranny. they are still a 2 piece. Maybe when you get ahold of them ask if they still offer the long tube old design. I'll see if I can dig a pic up.

 

[LUM-PAKE]

I just changed my gasket because i didnt soak it it finally blew out mine hasnt give any problems the problem is that the six doesnt have the balls maybe i gotta swap it

 

[Explorer]

I just changed my gasket because i didnt soak it it finally blew out mine hasnt give any problems the problem is that the six doesnt have the balls maybe i gotta swap it

Just like any other engine, you can make some numbers with a little work.

 

[canary28]

Thanks for the info, I really appreciate all the responses. I've not yet had time to call, but will yet this week (I hope). I'll definitely ask about the old design.
Those are nice looking rigs, fellas! I can't wait to get mine on the road.
I'll update after I call.

 

[canary28]

I finally talked to Larry at Clifford today. I don't think I've ever been so talked down to by somebody at customer service for such (what I gather is) a small company. Twice when I called and left a message, he never called back. He says they never made a 2-piece header. 66Gasgrill and others on FSP.com would beg to differ.

Thank you all for your input.