OK, I get from my perusing that some of the old time members are weary of explaining to every Panther "newbie" what works and what won't. I'm not new to Panthers, but I haven't attempted any serious hopping up of one until recently. I'm swapping to a 351W in my (now 302) '79 LTD wag. Cam and compression are to be "relatively" mild (for later proposed blower installation), heads are Edelbrock Performer RPM w/ the 2.02" intakes, a Carter (Edelbrock, Weber, whatever you choose to call it!) AFB or AVS from my vast collection, plus a few secrets I'm keeping to myself... I looked into doing the stroker thing, but I think I'm going to stick with the 3.5" and pump a respectable amount of air and fuel through it.
I've done my "due diligence", and I know (or think I know?) that there is not an off-the-shelf long-tube header that will fit. If I go to the Jegs site and pump in "1979/Ford/LTD/Base/V8 (5.8L/351)", it shows that Hooker Super Comp Headers Part Number 520-6124 will fit my vehicle! Based on the other vehicles in the application list, I'm almost sure they are confusing a '79 LTD "Panther" with a Torino-derived '79 LTDII. If anyone could verify this one way or the other, I would appreciate it.
I also know that the BBK 1511 "shorty" (1-5/8" primary) is a "go-to" header for the 351 box crowd, and also the MAC 58134 (1-3/4" primary). I would definitely want to go with the larger primary tube of the MAC, but yikes, the price! I would much prefer a long-tube header. I have welding/fabricating skills (MIG, TIG, you name it), but I'm also very lazy, and this is supposed to be a nice relaxing, simple build! I don't mind heating and tweaking here and there, or the occasional massaging by bashing with a mallet and/or improvised metal object, but I don't want to have to completely re-engineer a set of headers or build from scratch. If anyone has some good pictures of what they got to work, and a basic description of what they had to do, again, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm planning to run the C4 "what came in it", at least for now. I was going to swap to an AOD, but I'm starting to get used to driving around town at nearly 3000rpm in high gear, I may end up learning to live without the added weight and complexity of the OD trans.
All comments are appreciated!
Cheers,
"Quincy"
P. S. - Has anyone tried any fenderwell headers on a Box Panther? Seems like that would be a good place to dump out some exhaust - I had them on a '65 Plymouth Belvedere and loved them. Had to cut some sheet metal, being a unibody and all... probably just gut some molded plastic something-or-another on the Ford.
I've done my "due diligence", and I know (or think I know?) that there is not an off-the-shelf long-tube header that will fit. If I go to the Jegs site and pump in "1979/Ford/LTD/Base/V8 (5.8L/351)", it shows that Hooker Super Comp Headers Part Number 520-6124 will fit my vehicle! Based on the other vehicles in the application list, I'm almost sure they are confusing a '79 LTD "Panther" with a Torino-derived '79 LTDII. If anyone could verify this one way or the other, I would appreciate it.
I also know that the BBK 1511 "shorty" (1-5/8" primary) is a "go-to" header for the 351 box crowd, and also the MAC 58134 (1-3/4" primary). I would definitely want to go with the larger primary tube of the MAC, but yikes, the price! I would much prefer a long-tube header. I have welding/fabricating skills (MIG, TIG, you name it), but I'm also very lazy, and this is supposed to be a nice relaxing, simple build! I don't mind heating and tweaking here and there, or the occasional massaging by bashing with a mallet and/or improvised metal object, but I don't want to have to completely re-engineer a set of headers or build from scratch. If anyone has some good pictures of what they got to work, and a basic description of what they had to do, again, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm planning to run the C4 "what came in it", at least for now. I was going to swap to an AOD, but I'm starting to get used to driving around town at nearly 3000rpm in high gear, I may end up learning to live without the added weight and complexity of the OD trans.
All comments are appreciated!
Cheers,
"Quincy"
P. S. - Has anyone tried any fenderwell headers on a Box Panther? Seems like that would be a good place to dump out some exhaust - I had them on a '65 Plymouth Belvedere and loved them. Had to cut some sheet metal, being a unibody and all... probably just gut some molded plastic something-or-another on the Ford.
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