FE Power Forums
FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: e philpott on September 10, 2026, 03:51:33 PM
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You guys with headers in shock tower cars, are you using all four mounting bolts or just side two bolt locations and/or along with top bolt ?
That bottom bolt in my 63 Fairlane is a real mother F#*cker :)
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I use as many as I can get to. The small headed header bolts help a lot, along with some cheap wrenches I bent.
As long as they are on opposite sides you should be ok...
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I put in 28 on the large tube Hooker race headers in a mustang. But then I’m a bit OCD.
New REF race headers only have 8 per side (top and bottom) easier than the Hookers but like the Hookers you have to install the individual tubes in the right order or your removing them multiple times until you get it right.
Ask me how I know. Haha!
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These are a must have for the top and bottom bolts, I wish I had picked them up sooner.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Y4S7W596/IMG-1106.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Y4S7W596)
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Nearly every engine on Earth uses two bolts per port. Some, like the GMs, Mopars, and AMCs with siamesed center ports, use two for those ports. Two works just fine.
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Thanks Gerry, Ive fought the 4 bolt for 30 years and think I'll take an easier route this time, Mike I hear you on the 4 bolt and OCD as I've been doing it that way since the beginning , Fastback 427 I been using the small bolt headed bolts too but my Crites headers are still tight
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I’ve on,y ever used two per port…..
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I guess I am a glutton for punishment.
I have installed/removed headers on my Mustang multiple times over the years. 3 different brands (I dont remember the names except the current Hooker Super Comps)
First was removal of the TRI-Y style that was on it when I bought it in the mid-70's. I then installed a set when I rebuilt the engine since it had been sitting in an impound lot for 9 years with the hood off and intake stolen.
I had transmission problems and had that thing together and apart too many times...
Got frustrated and decided the fix was to convert the C6 to a top loader. Well dont you know those headers were auto only. So along came the Hookers. Had those on and off a few times. Last time to address gasket issues.
I found the sharp edges of the weld bead at the tubes readily cut the gaskets and caused premature leaks. I "engineered" a fix and they stayed on for a long time.
I think I put in all the bolts in every time. GT heads.
I did the "custom bent" trick, and also ground the box end of my special wrench to thin it out a bit. The special sauce was before installation I located the tight spots where the wrench really wouldnt fit and very lightly dimpled the tube around the bolt area so the modified box end would fit on and off the bolt for final stage tightening. This helped a lot, but it's still a pain... (see my previous post on avoiding doing it in the car)
Edit- I just remembered the second set were from an obsolete brand Casler or similar. They were a sub-brand of a better known manufacturer.
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I’m using all 4 bolts per primary tube on a 68.5 428 Mustang using Doug’s headers D427 with TFS heads. Used special wrenches (5) that I made up to get in tight places. VERY tight. Several guys have said they only use 2 with no issues but I managed to get all 4 in.
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4 bolts per port Hooker Headers in a mustang.
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I’m using all 4 bolts per primary tube on a 68.5 428 Mustang using Doug’s headers D427 with TFS heads. Used special wrenches (5) that I made up to get in tight places. VERY tight. Several guys have said they only use 2 with no issues but I managed to get all 4 in.
which ones are the D427 ? I've been looking at some Doug's D627 big tube headers for a 1965 Fastback with BB shock towers project. My 1963 Fairlane FE with Crites 2 inch headers are tough to get to the bottom bolts
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My bad. Should be D627.
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My bad. Should be D627.
Are you installing the headers on engine first and then installing it in the engine bay ? Or putting them on after the engine is installed?
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Two is all you need, tightened evenly and with care.
However, when mine was sitting on the stand waiting to go in, I put all that I could. On my 6114s, it wasn't all, but it was most. It's been literally 20 years since it went in, so I'd have to look to see which
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e philpot—-engine in.
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Top & bottom only. Bigger issue with my Crites are leaks where the tubes go into the collector.
Some of the high heat RTV smeared inside the collector before tubes go in helps there.
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Nearly every engine on Earth uses two bolts per port. Some, like the GMs, Mopars, and AMCs with siamesed center ports, use two for those ports. Two works just fine.
And GMs, Mopars, and others with siamesed center exhaust ports, and 2 bolts per port have been known to have much more issues with header leaks than a Ford or other engine with at least 2 bolts for EVERY port. Personally, I have been installing every header bolt on a 16 bolt FE head, whether factory 428 CJ iron heads, or aftermarket aluminum, and in almost 50 years of doing so, I have NEVER had a header leak while doing so. That said, I have yet to find a set of headers that I could physically get all 32 bolts in, but I can usually get at least 28 or 29 in.