If you get a properly designed kit its not an issue. They have been offseting the piston pin to one side slightly to reduce loads. It works to I just pulled my 342 apart and its in great shape.
MadDAWG
If you have to pass a visual inspection in your state you'll be instantly failed for the long tubes. Personally I would go with equal length shorties. There was an dyno in the May 5.0 magazine and the results showed that the ball and socket connection is a big limiting factor for long tube headers. Equal length shorties and 1-5/8 long tubes w/ ball and socket collector made basically the same power. The equal lengths are not that much harder to install. You do have to be a little more careful with the plug wires.
MadDAWG
I used to have equal length shorties and ditched them when I built the 331. Dyno tests show that equal lengths have a slight power advantage in the midrange while unequal lengths have a slight power advantage at the low end and the top end. Given that the overall power was virtually identical and any differences were less than 1%, the installation hassle and extra cost of equal length headers was not worth it (plus the added heat in the engine compartment). I went with the stainless steel Ford headers with ceramic coating.. very high quality and very reasonable (from Gene Evans Ford).
LJH
95GT
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