4 into 1

I managed to squeeze the two 2 inch pipes through the tiny gap between the engine and shock tower from cylinders 5 and 6. 7 was a little easier but still a tight fit. Cylinder 8 did me no favors. The exhaust port dumps out nearly on top of the steering box. Even though all of the pipes make a bend right off of the flange, #8 is even tighter and it barely clears the steering box. When the car finally hits the road, I’ll be testing how well the grease inside of the steering box holds up to high heat.

Metal bend is #8 and

it’s just barely missing

the steering box.

As painful and tedious as these initial steps are, they are showing promise. The next steps, which I thought would be easier, showed me just how clueless I am.

Working on GM vehicles, you get used to a few things, like, steering linkages that attach forward of the spindles. While working on the Mustang, I found that Ford opted to have the linkage behind the spindles. From my uneducated view, neither design is more superior than the other. That being said, I would have preferred that the Mustang had its linkage more to the front just so I could have more room at the back of the engine.

I tried several different paths but I could not come up with a design that would allow me to route four 2 inch pipes between the steering box and around the steering linkage and the bellhousing.

Maybe if I had more experience or a car lift which would have allowed me a better look at the space under the car but I have neither so I could not see how it would be possible to make a 4 into 1 header and not have it hang extra low.

I noticed just how much room was at the back of the engine between the low slung front sump of the pan at the front and the bell housing at the rear. Maybe I could use the space and make a set of 180 degree headers. Could it be worse than the 4 into 1s?