67 Fairlane GTA 390 Headers

[amdscooter]

Hi Amdscooter

I have custom made headers so have no info on the bolts for you but I always pull engine and trans together WITH headers on. No problem. But with your steering box on the wrong side  results may vary.

Yup.. that's sure to make a difference. It's tight and unless I can find someone with a 66~67 Fairlane and FPA headers I'll probably have to wait until I do a dry run mockup drop with the headers on loosely to see if I can get it dropped in. Are you by chance using the stock "coffee can" style starter or have you upgraded to a mini starter? I'm wondering how clearance with the starter is going to work out as well. I'd hate to have to break a good header seal to swap out the starter at a later date. But my starter is less than a year old and I'd hate to replace it already unless absolutely necessary.

[bartlett]

68 fairland 390 fpa headers... My stock starter fit right in ..... on the test stand lol

[66FAIRLANE]

Are you by chance using the stock "coffee can" style starter or have you upgraded to a mini starter? I'm wondering how clearance with the starter is going to work out as well. I'd hate to have to break a good header seal to swap out the starter at a later date. But my starter is less than a year old and I'd hate to replace it already unless absolutely necessary.

I had no choice but to use a mini starter if I wanted headers. Remember my steering box is sitting right next to it. I did tri-y's as I don't reckon I could have got 4 pipes out that side. The other side has oodles of room. And yes, oodles is a word! 

[amdscooter]

Are you by chance using the stock "coffee can" style starter or have you upgraded to a mini starter? I'm wondering how clearance with the starter is going to work out as well. I'd hate to have to break a good header seal to swap out the starter at a later date. But my starter is less than a year old and I'd hate to replace it already unless absolutely necessary.

I had no choice but to use a mini starter if I wanted headers. Remember my steering box is sitting right next to it. I did tri-y's as I don't reckon I could have got 4 pipes out that side. The other side has oodles of room. And yes, oodles is a word! 

I looked at the headers pretty good while I had them out. Seems like the stock starter will fit in there fine I'm just concerned about being able to get it out if/when it needs to be replaced. I'm planning on wrapping it in header wrap to try to keep some of the heat off it. The ceramic coating on the headers should help a bit as well. Funny how that steering box nackers up space no matter which side it's on. 

[Chad D]

Before using header wrap, check with FPA about compatibility with the ceramic coating.  I'd just fab up a shield for the starter to reflect heat from the header pipes.

[amdscooter]

Before using header wrap, check with FPA about compatibility with the ceramic coating.  I'd just fab up a shield for the starter to reflect heat from the header pipes.

I was gonna use the header wrap on the starter.. not the headers.  But a heat shield is a good idea.

On a project note. The scope of my little exhaust upgrade has expanded a little... the block came out yesterday.  Anyway, shot in the dark here.. does anyone recognize this torque converter?



I've never seen a green one before. Usually blue.  No markings.

[66FAIRLANE]

Ah...two drain plugs. Watch that one late at night after a few bourbons. 

[bartlett]

Bad New's for me .... My fpa's dont fit .... could not for the life of me get the engine in with both headers on ... We tryed for 2 hrs and tryed every thing we could think of .... would not go ....

 We took the passanger side header off and got the engine in . with the engine loose we slid the passanger header up and tryed to bolt it up.. No go .. the #1 pipe is hittting the shock tower pretty hard.  We moved the engine up down left right and could not gain clearance there .....

somthing will need to be adjusted.... bent header, bent shock tower or notched ... No happy being the car is all restored and painted ....

 Im going to call stan and see what he thinks ....

[jayb]

I was always able to get them installed on the engine in my Mustangs.  I put the driver's side on and installed the passenger side from below once the engine was about 6" off the mounts.  Also dropped the idler arm for more clearance, and also the power steering pump ram (when I had power steering on that car).  The trick was to jack up the rear end and put a very extreme downward angle on the engine/trans.  Here's a photo of my 492" FE going into my Mach 1 back in 2004:



I'm sure a Fairlane is different, and maybe even tighter than a Mustang, but hopefully this may give you some ideas on other ways to do the installation.

[amdscooter]

Bad New's for me .... My fpa's dont fit .... could not for the life of me get the engine in with both headers on ... We tryed for 2 hrs and tryed every thing we could think of .... would not go ....

 We took the passanger side header off and got the engine in . with the engine loose we slid the passanger header up and tryed to bolt it up.. No go .. the #1 pipe is hittting the shock tower pretty hard.  We moved the engine up down left right and could not gain clearance there .....

somthing will need to be adjusted.... bent header, bent shock tower or notched ... No happy being the car is all restored and painted ....

 Im going to call stan and see what he thinks ....

Sorry to hear about your bad luck. Was just looking at some photos of the 68 engine compartment and it looks identical to the 67. My headers are sitting by the front door waiting for a UPS pickup so Stan can get that ceramic coating on them. Hopefully you have something worked out before mine come back. Please be sure to keep us updated!

[ScotiaFE]

The Fairlanes shock tower is higher and more vertical than a Mustang. Comparing a 68 Stang and 67 Lane side by side.
I don`t have any experience with FPA`s, I`m more of a low life and use Hookers.

[amdscooter]

The Fairlanes shock tower is higher and more vertical than a Mustang. Comparing a 68 Stang and 67 Lane side by side.
I don`t have any experience with FPA`s, I`m more of a low life and use Hookers.

If I did not have GT(14 bolt) heads I'd probably be using Hookers as well. Going FPA was supposed to give some assurance of alignment to the head ports and fitment to the chassis. I'm hoping I do not have the same issues bartlett is having.

[bartlett]

Jay I got the motor in the same way you did, I took the passanger side off and got it 90% in and slid the passanger side on after that. The problem is I can't bolt the engine down. The passanger side header is tight aginst the shock tower. Zero clearance. The drivers side is 1/16th from hitting the drivers side tower. I have tryed moving the engine around and I cant gain clearance. I have a bad feeling Im going to need to MAKE clearance .. I just have not talked with stan yet and Im not going to do anything untill I am calm and have the correct/best next move figured out .....

thanks

[jayb]

If you have to "make" clearance, I'd dimple the header tube a little bit.  I doubt you would see any measurable decrease in performance, and at least you could then get the motor bolted in.  That is a frustrating situation, for sure...

[bartlett]

after sitting and staring at it for a hr and drinking a few beers ... I have decided im going to try and dent in the shock tower first alittle with the motor out with a porta power and see if I can dimple it there...   If it don't wanna work I'm going to jig the header in a press and see if I can flatten it a bit in that area ...


oh well ... who would think a $960 set of custom headers would fit ....