Hey guys, great forum, talk about a nickels worth of free advice!
I am building a 1979 Mercury Capri, it will be a pretty serious piece when completed (who can guess when?). I was trying to come up with a unique exhaust system, we all know that these cars (Mustangs etc.) have been done to death, and I remembered a setup that Hooker made for the early Camaros, Firebirds, and Corvettes that where really cool. They start off like a set of fender-exit headers but they continue to the outside of the rocker panel where the collector dumps into a 4 inch side pipe that runs about 48 inches along the side and then does a 90 degree turn out. You could run these things with or without glasspacks, I see Hooker is still selling them, plus they are also used on Cobra replicas. I will have to fabricate the entire run from block to rocker panel because I am running a 5.4 mod motor, but then I should be able to use a standard collector and some sort of 4 inch side pipe and glasspack. I am wondering if anybody else has done something similar? I am thinking about engine movement (solid mounts), noise, pipe finish, and welding (I am well versed at MIG but TIG might be required). Let your voices sing out, fill this empty void.

Thanks
Tony

I asked this question over a year ago a never got a response, so now I can post my own. I started with two custom collectors from Headers by Ed, flanges from e-bay, and two 4 inch pipes from Hooker. I ordered a bunch of 3 and 4 inch radius bends in 2 inch pipe from Summit. The first one is complete I just need to finalize all the welds, took me about 20 hours shop time so far. I will return when the drivers side is done.

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I missed this one when it first came out. That is sort of what I did with the headers on my Willys. Of course I don't have any sheet metal left on the front end so the headers just go from under the 'glas tilt hood to side mounted header glas-packs. I welded a tab on the rear of the 'packs and bolt that to the frame with some shock absorber rubber grommets.

I love custom built headers. I hate custom building headers. I don't have enough patience. I say great job.

Thanks for the feedback guys, I felt rather disappointed when nobody responded the first time out. It was a real chore but I learned a few tricks for the other side.

Here are a few pictures of the passenger side header mounted.

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thats some damn fine work !!! ya want something done right ya gotta do it yourself

To quote Bill Cosby: "PIPES... WAIT TILL THE KIDS IN THOSE CHEVYS SEE THESE PIPES". Well it took a good long time but I have finished fabricating the header side mount for the other side of the car. Still have a lot of welds to finish up and a lot of clean up to do.

A buddy of mine also put a 5.4 32v in his 84 capri rs its backed by a t45.

Hey Mr. Pennypacker, cool setup. Funny, looks like we had the same idea on the blower for a modular motor. What are you planning on for fuel? Injection or carbs? I built a Megasquirt EFI to run fuel and spark on my 4.6 and works slick. Your intake came out real nice. I wasn't confident about building my own intake so I adapted a stock one and it works real good.

Wow, it just dawned on me. I wasn't sure what Fords came with a 5.4 DOHC, I knew it was available in the GT, but didn't know what else came with them. Cool, I'll keep my eye peeled for wrecked Navigators from now on.

Wow, Arrowhead I love it! I think the DOHC mod is one of the best looking and best running motors around. I am on my 4th one and love them, I just sold my 97 Cobra with 157,000 plus miles and it ran great. I also plan on the megasquirt and EDIS with an adapted bug catcher, I just glanced at your journal I will have to go back through it very carefully.

Tony

Mr. Pennypacker

This setup looks really, really well thought out. The craftsmanship looks great. You should be proud. Really, really nice. . . .

Pat

Thanks for the kind words Pat. It was an evil job, my garage has been covered with metal shavings for the past two years, my wife is ready to shoot me. But it does give me a lot of satisfaction to create something unique.

Pat M took the words right out of my computer. Excellent job