Headers or Intake first?

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ramcharger

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Getting ready to drop my mild 360 out of the Ramcharger in my Duster and got a hole burning in my pocket. Already got the oil pan I need (Ok, want) and am going to have to reseal the intake anyway and I am not impressed with my present Weiand. I gave away my old LD4B to a really good friend and I miss that manifold. The LD4B was just as good at the bottom end as the Weiand but had no top end rush... Granted, the Duster will run ok with the Weiand, but it won't run at all without headers. On the other hand, it's way easier to replace the intake on the stand and have it ready to rock.

When I replace the oil pan, I'll of course pull the main and rod caps and check the bearings..... They should be fine as I was getting 50+ lbs of pressure at hot idle, but time does stuff to engines. Never hurts to check.

Anyway, trying to choose between an Airgap or Dougs Headers. Dougs are in stock at Summit, Airgap may arrive before Christmas.

When I say mild, build specs are 10.2:1 measured compression, intake duration @ .050 is around the low 220 or high (218 maybe) on a 110 LCA with a bit over .500 lift with 1.6 roller rockers. Ported iron heads, 2.02 and 1.88 valves. Nice, performance boat idle, lol. IIRC, got about 12-14 inches of vacuum here in Colorado at 5300'. I plan on going to a cam in the mid 230's @ .050 in the future for the lighter and lower geared 3.73 Dana 60 I have for the Duster.
 
Get the headers first....

Might be easier to put in with the engine out / on a hoist.

I take can be done later with ease.
 
Get the headers first....

Might be easier to put in with the engine out / on a hoist.

I take can be done later with ease.

Good point! Plus they're in stock @ Summit. Wondering if I should go with the painted or ceramic... As you know it's pretty dry here and it's a weekend toy. I also have a sonic checked 400 block and I may do an engine swap in the next 5 years or so.
 
Won't matter really. On that the headers will drop in without a wink.
 
Get the headers first....

Might be easier to put in with the engine out / on a hoist.

I take can be done later with ease.

Won't matter really. On that the headers will drop in without a wink.


Ceramic...

Makes sense guys, who knows what the availability of these headers will be with all the raw material issues going on. I figured the ceramic coated ones will have a higher resale value in the future if I go BB. Of course I'll owe my Wife a nice dinner once I tell her what I spent MY money on. ;)
 
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They will. And stripping/ painting them sucks. I'm in FL, and don't have an indoor garage, even if I did, I'll prolly never go back to painting them. Supposedly, the Ceramic coating, helps hold heat too
 
They will. And stripping/ painting them sucks. I'm in FL, and don't have an indoor garage, even if I did, I'll prolly never go back to painting them. Supposedly, the Ceramic coating, helps hold heat too

Painting even raw steel is a pain on headers, just so many angles, nooks and crannies as you know. Just getting the factory oil off before painting not to mention a good "scuff" for the paint to get a tooth on is a *****. I'd rather work a couple of hours overtime at work to make up the difference in cost vs. the labor involved. It's pretty dry here, we get about 10-14" a year, but still....
 
Why were you running a LD4B? Awfull small ports for a 360. Another manifold to consider is a Streetmaster.
 
I used white "ceramic" VHT header paint on some raw headers and that stuff dried like glass. These were drop in Ford 351C car headers, could pull them in 10 minutes and not even nick the paint. Are Dougs ceramic coated on the inside? They usually rust from both sides
I saw a streetmaster once and the plenum was tiny, didnt think it was worth the time. bought a StripDominator instead. It was the airgap before the Airgap. 340 with 3.91 rear and a MP 284/.484 cam in a 2900 lb A? lots of power....
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s-l640.jpg
 
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That Combo will defiitely like a set of headers.... I would figure your timeline and go out in the marketplace and look for a used set. They are more than like going to not bee TTI's or Dougs but they do come up.... Just food for thought. Then maybe you have enough left for an intake also....

JW
 
Won't matter really. On that the headers will drop in without a wink.
Didn't you get your Doug's headers on some kind of promo like 20% off or something with AutoZone or o'reilly's?..
Black Friday's at the end of the week there's got to be somebody selling these things cheaper...
 
Won't matter really. On that the headers will drop in without a wink.
Hey Mr. 'willrun', I wonder what you mean by that? I have done small block A body headers probably 10 or 12 times, and I never had them "drop in without a wink". Did you just mean that the task wasn't really all that bad? If you unbolt the motor mounts, and lift the motor up they go in fairly easily (right side usually much easier than the left. But I have never had them drop in with a wink. Is there a trick I am missing? If so, please share.
 
Hey Mr. 'willrun', I wonder what you mean by that? I have done small block A body headers probably 10 or 12 times, and I never had them "drop in without a wink". Did you just mean that the task wasn't really all that bad? If you unbolt the motor mounts, and lift the motor up they go in fairly easily (right side usually much easier than the left. But I have never had them drop in with a wink. Is there a trick I am missing? If so, please share.
Sorry, my mistake ! I saw Ramcharger and thought we were installing in the RC. Yes, headers first with engine out is the easiest. Although, my Doug headers were an "easy" install. But not "drop" in... LOL. I literally "dropped" from the top my hedmans in my D150. I accidently dropped the passenger side from up top and it fell through and hit the ground !!! LOL.
 
AutoZone 20% sale and free shipping.
Others known to match price, maybe shipping .
If you get Ceramic, leave the plastic bags on as long as possible.
Clean handprints etc before fire-up .
 
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Getting ready to drop my mild 360 out of the Ramcharger in my Duster and got a hole burning in my pocket. Already got the oil pan I need (Ok, want) and am going to have to reseal the intake anyway and I am not impressed with my present Weiand. I gave away my old LD4B to a really good friend and I miss that manifold. The LD4B was just as good at the bottom end as the Weiand but had no top end rush... Granted, the Duster will run ok with the Weiand, but it won't run at all without headers. On the other hand, it's way easier to replace the intake on the stand and have it ready to rock.

When I replace the oil pan, I'll of course pull the main and rod caps and check the bearings..... They should be fine as I was getting 50+ lbs of pressure at hot idle, but time does stuff to engines. Never hurts to check.

Anyway, trying to choose between an Airgap or Dougs Headers. Dougs are in stock at Summit, Airgap may arrive before Christmas.

When I say mild, build specs are 10.2:1 measured compression, intake duration @ .050 is around the low 220 or high (218 maybe) on a 110 LCA with a bit over .500 lift with 1.6 roller rockers. Ported iron heads, 2.02 and 1.88 valves. Nice, performance boat idle, lol. IIRC, got about 12-14 inches of vacuum here in Colorado at 5300'. I plan on going to a cam in the mid 230's @ .050 in the future for the lighter and lower geared 3.73 Dana 60 I have for the Duster.


Why were you running a LD4B? Awfull small ports for a 360. Another manifold to consider is a Streetmaster.


The LD340 would work best on the 360....
 
Gears! Then headers then manifold and then you're ready to rock and roll.
 
I used white "ceramic" VHT header paint on some raw headers and that stuff dried like glass. These were drop in Ford 351C car headers, could pull them in 10 minutes and not even nick the paint. Are Dougs ceramic coated on the inside? They usually rust from both sides
I saw a streetmaster once and the plenum was tiny, didnt think it was worth the time. bought a StripDominator instead. It was the airgap before the Airgap. 340 with 3.91 rear and a MP 284/.484 cam in a 2900 lb A? lots of power....
View attachment 1715824121
View attachment 1715824122
View attachment 1715824123

I ran a Street Dominator on a built Ford 400 back in the day and in my opinion, it was incredible.
 
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