Sanderson Headers said they would start making chassis headers for the 1956 ford and mercurys if someone in their area would loan them a car to get a pattern off of. Is there anyone out there who would be willing to do it? I would but I simply live to far away being I'm in asheville, N.C.

Their address and Phone # is  Sanderson Headers   517 Railroad ave.   S. San Francisco  Ca.  94080-3450  PH: 650-583 4590       ask for Jay the shop forman.                    

-Gary Burnette-

I am in the area and have dealt with Jay before with headers for my Tbird and 65 Galaxie FE. I don't know anyone with a 56 Ford/Merc but will ask around about it.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

That sounds great! looks like it can help alot of people looking for an upgrade in the exhaust area with 56 fords and mercs.  He said once they have a pattern worked out they can do different sizes with the runners 1 2/5 - 1 5/8s - 1 3/4th etc. That works out to more HP and headers that will look good as well. It would be nice to have a choice between shorties and longtube to choose from.

-Gary Burnette-

oops!!! that first size should have been 1 1/2" runner. Fingers are not thinking right.

-Gary Burnette-

Mark, are you pleased w/the T-bird headers they made you... are they one-off's or did they make a pattern... were any chassie or equipment mods required... and lastly (sorry for so many Q's), did you consider/compare to the Sanderson's or the FPA's?

I'm close to writing the check, but am still on fence between the Sanderson's (performance report Ted did looks good, and they're cheaper) and the FPA's (more traditional and the plumbing appears less complicated).

Thanks for any reply... Brian

Cylinder Index = 84

Current Experiment = `57 Tbird, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Brian

For T Bird applications

Before you let your pricing point make a decision about your headers,consider some of these thoughts.

None of the Sanderson headers are equal length whereas the FPA design is.

The Sanderson design is not firing order specific.I have an eMail into FPA about this and am waiting an answer to see if the FPA design is so.

Coatings are availiable on the FPA design-more money.

I have not looked into anything other than the FPT 55-57 T Bird part.

The FPA product was not included in the test.I believe that only a few have this product on this Forum so unfortunatly it was not included in the testing.

Depending ENTIRELY upon what sort of engine you are building,the Sanderson units would be better than the stock factory exhaust.

The FPA units would be a better choice for a higher revving,more modified machine and I believe would show an improvement over the Sandersons in that area if price is not a real concern and preformance is.

I"m going with the FPA design for my T Bird.

Oldmics

Brian,



I haven't installed the Sanderson's on my 57 Bird yet. Ted used them for the exhaust header test he finished. I am waiting for a set of Mummert heads to arrive. I also need to work out the fitting of the the block steady-rests to them. The Sanderson's are made from a pattern and have been available for some time. FPA's are too expensive for my purposes. Sanderson is more affordable but you get what you pay for. The workmanship isn't as good as FPA.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

does any one have pics. of the FPA headers, thanks.

 lincoln/merc. y-blocks &mel's                                                               bucyrus, ohio.

Take a look at there website

http://www.fordpowertrain.com/FPAindex/Tbird1.htm

and also

http://www.fordpowertrain.com/FPAindex/headers2.htm

Oldmics

thanks oldmics, very nice looking headers. i'll bet they're price-ee. it would be nice to see how they fare against the others. probably be on a par with the maxton mile headers.

 lincoln/merc. y-blocks &mel's                                                               bucyrus, ohio.