Anybody have experience / opinions (good or bad) with Sanderson T-Bird headers for a 312? I did a search & don't see too much. I see a NOS right now on e-pay for a decent price, so wondering about fit, life, etc. Just a street cruiser not a racer, with later dizzy, b intake, & Holley 390 (so far).

Thanks

Brian - 56 T-Bird

Woodinville WA

I bought a set for my bird about 2 years ago. They went on fairly easily but the collector for the drivers side would not bolt on due to the collector bumping into the frame. I tried everything to get it to fit but couldnt do it. I took them off ,sold them , and got a set of Ford Powertrain Headers. Perfect fit no hassel with oil filter or anything else. I talked to Sanderson about my issue . They couldnt have cared less about it. No apologies or anything . You couldnt give me the whole company. This of course is one opinion and there are many more out there. FYI

55Birdman  Hickory NC

Hello Brian! Just looked at your previous posts.So you did the carb/manifold/distributor.I remember you asking for suggestions about what to do about the original carb etc .How do you find it runs now as compared to the original setup?Did you get the carb with the electric or manual choke?

  

Hey Brian;  I put a set of sanderson's on my 55 Bird and Love em'.  Used permatex black High Temp for sealing.  Could not fit the the Performance Headers on because at that time had Rack and Pinion, since have changed to power steering box.  I got the coated headers from Sanderson, and they where very nice to deal with.  Hope this helps,, good luck!!! 

  Merry Christmas                God Bless    Eddie

Eddie

Lake Forest, Ca. 92630

Some years ago I talked to (I think) Jerry Christenson, and he told me he quit making T bird headers due to interference problems from one car to another. Later, I bought a set from Red's, and we had to shift the motor a bit and bend the connecting pipes to clear the drivers side. Maybe some birds are a little out of line?



Stan's Headers and Exhaust in Auburn WA. makes the flanges for Powertrain, which is in Spanaway, WA. 5 miles and 15 miles from me. The flanges are first rate, I used them on the custom headers on a roadster. I've got a Cavalier rack and pinion with an Ididit column in my bird, and haven't changed the headers to the Powertrain as it looked like they would hit the steering. Any chance I could see a pic of your set up?

The PT's are better than the Red's. J Mummert sold the PT's, he's who told me they werre built in my back yard.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Wow. Sounds like it is a roll of the dice if these hit the frame or not. Two very different experiences. 55Birdman's collector hit the frame so was unusable & Eddie loves 'em. I really don't want to buy somethiung not returnable & have it hit the frame. Eddie - for you is there decent frame clearence, or any ideas on why such different experiences? Maybe engine steady rest bushing being compressed/missing vs new or somethinmg like that makes the difference?

The headers on e-pay are the coated type & >$100 off retail. Claims NOS & never used as project went a different direction.

Oldcarmark - I have the newer dizzy with Pertronix in it, 57 B type manifold was bought off e-pay & not on the car yet. I have a 1/2' phelolic spacer all the gaskets. 390 CFM 8007 type Holley rebuild with electric choke is on my radar, but I have to wait a bit. Spouse approval factor has reached the limit for my funding, especially this time of year. I have some time off after Christmas & will swap the intakes.

Nothing but rain up in Portland this time of the year anyways, so no real chance to get it out on the road for a few more months.

Thanks for all your help & love the site. I check it daily & find so much useful info.

cheers!

Brian - 56 T-Bird

Woodinville WA

Brian;;  I made a new head pipe from the collector to the exhaust pipe just in front of the X member.  What I needed was for the header to go over the steering col. then down.  These worked.  Also I believe has the same on his bird???   Someone on the site has them with a picture, believe it's Steve, but not sure.  I got the first set from John M. ( Ford Perf.) but had to return because of steering.  Have Fun       God Bless    Eddie

Eddie

Lake Forest, Ca. 92630

I think there are 2 reasons for the problems. One is that many 50 year old cars have been wrecked, either lightly or in some cases heavily and things ain't where they are supposed to be.

Secondly, the way the engine mounts in a T-Bird it can be rolled side to side very easily depending on the condition of the side mounts. The brackets on the block often bend and even break. The bracket on the frame can be bent. There's just a lot of room for movement. Even a 1/2 degree roll can cause the pipe to hit on one car and clear everything on another.

I see this problem on trucks also. The rear mounts are often worn out and can cause the engine to sit quite a bit different than original. Even the pads on the iron bellhousing where the mounts attach wear a surprising amount.

On a pass. car the motor mount holes are slotted. If one side is at the top and the other is at the bottom the engine will be rolled quite at bit and things won't fit right.

http://ford-y-block.com 

20 miles east of San Diego, 20 miles north of Mexico

After about 9 changes of mind - I finally just hit them with a polishing disc and sent the stockers off to Jet Hot .......

I was thinking maybe I could make some short "snakes" to get the pipes outside the frame for a side exhaust in front of the rear wheel - but haven't spent much time on the project yet.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

 

If it is at all helpful to you or any lurkers here on this item, I am one of the 2 current bidders, but I plan to yield on any further bidding. It's a good price where it's at now I think, and I wish the top bidder well.

 

Cheers... Brian

Cylinder Index = 84

Current Experiment = `57 Tbird, Grand Rapids, Michigan