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  •  » Tri-Y headers

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    5/22/2025 9:18 PM  #1

    MS
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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
    Posts: 12,442

    Tri-Y headers

    Has anyone found a set of Tri-Y headers for a 65 with a 289 that actually fit properly?  I hear horror stories of ill-fitting headers.
    Anyone have a brand/part number recommendation for this application?
    I am thinking my 65 Shelby tribute would be more like an original if it had tri-Y’s instead of hipo manifolds.

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     

    5/23/2025 7:37 AM  #2

    Greg B
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    Registered: 4/01/2013
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    Re: Tri-Y headers

    I had Hedman classic steel headers on that very first Mustang I owned.  No power steering.   The drivers side fit perfectly, and I beat a tube on the passenger side to make it fit.  But I was young and dumb back then, no telling how much the shock tower was rusted and bent.   

    I mind of looked to see if I could remember the part number, and wow! how much the price of headers has went up.   I remember paying like 79.95 for those things.   I do remember them scraping the ground a lot...

    If multiple things can go wrong, the one that will go wrong will be the one that causes the most damage.
     

    5/23/2025 8:43 AM  #3

    GPatrick
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    Re: Tri-Y headers

    I used Doug's long tube headers in my 66 and have heard good feedback on Doug's tri-y's.  The full length fit well with no mods but I'm running borgesson PS and a hydraulic clutch on a TKO.   They offer an automatic or stick version in the tri-y's.  They used to have painted steel but now it looks like ceramic coating is the low-end version.  Feedback on Doug Thorley headers (his wife won that in the divorce) are mixed at best.  https://www.summitracing.com/search/year/1966/make/ford/model/mustang/department/exhaust/section/headers/part-type/headers?fr=part-type&SortBy=BestKeywordMatch&SortOrder=Ascending&keyword=dougs%20headers

    FPA can build you a set for a price but they also likely have the highest probability of fitting.

     

    5/23/2025 7:47 PM  #4

    MS
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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
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    Re: Tri-Y headers


    These are $115. Look more like original tri-y than other modern version. I wonder if they fit without requiring bfh tweaking.

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
       •Thread Starter
     

    5/23/2025 7:54 PM  #5

    Rudi
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    From: Stuck in the 50's Welland Ca
    Registered: 4/01/2013
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    Re: Tri-Y headers

    For that kind of money I’d givem a try.
    About 25 years ago I got a set of ceramic coated tri-y’s for a round 50 bucks more than those which I had to modify to go past the AOD transmission.

    Good work ain't cheap, Cheap work ain't good!   Simple Man
     

    5/23/2025 8:29 PM  #6

    MS
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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
    Posts: 12,442

    Re: Tri-Y headers

    Details state they won’t fit with AOD. I am planning to use a c4, but want to leave the option open to add an overdrive someday. They are cheap enough…

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
       •Thread Starter
     

    5/24/2025 5:46 AM  #7

    Nos681
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    From: Atlantic Mine, Michigan
    Registered: 7/14/2016
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    Re: Tri-Y headers

    I had Maier racing tri-y’s from early 90’s and did not have to modify the headers for shock tower clearance.

    Based on original design.

    Power steering drop bracket for the factory p/s ram was required.

    Clearance to the accordion boot was really close.

    The headers worked great with early 65 motor mounts too.

     

    5/24/2025 7:25 AM  #8

    TKOPerformance
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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
    Posts: 7,659

    Re: Tri-Y headers

    I'd find out what they are made from.  "Stainless steel" covers a lot of different materials.  For that price my guess is they are 400 series (probably 409), which will 100% rust in fairly short order.  I will only use 409 as a last resort, like if 300 series (usually 304) isn't available.  I would factor in the cost of getting these headers ceramic coated if they do end up fitting.  My experience with exhaust stuff is that you get what you pay for, if you're lucky. 

     

    5/24/2025 10:21 AM  #9

    rpm
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    From: Bakersfield, Ca
    Registered: 9/17/2013
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    Re: Tri-Y headers

    Nos681 wrote:

    I had Maier racing tri-y’s from early 90’s and did not have to modify the headers for shock tower clearance.

    Based on original design.

    Power steering drop bracket for the factory p/s ram was required.

    Clearance to the accordion boot was really close.

    The headers worked great with early 65 motor mounts too.

     
    It would be nice to have those headers to use to make a fixture to fab up some headers.

    Bob. 69 Mach 1, 393W, SMOD Toploader, Armstrong  steering, factory AC.
     

    5/24/2025 10:58 AM  #10

    Nos681
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    From: Atlantic Mine, Michigan
    Registered: 7/14/2016
    Posts: 3,407

    Re: Tri-Y headers

    If can remember when I make it to garage…over 100 feet away, I will look.

    I don’t think they made the last move…maybe they did.

    Update…

    Headers nowhere to be found at new place or old.
    It’s been almost 5 years…I tried…and cried a little too. 😂

    I know I will look again later just to be sure.

    Last edited by Nos681 (5/24/2025 12:15 PM)

     

     

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