Exhaust manifold choices

[Bowtie001]

OK guys, I have searched but everyone in here it would seem, chooses from stock manifolds, old corvette manifolds or headers. I want to know if anyone has used newer LT1 manifolds off of an F body or vette before they went LS1. They are still the annoying "ram horn" style that makes spark plug routing a torturous task, but they look like they would flow a lot better. I found some on ebay. 230186738647 and 250182531259.

Anyone have any ideas?

I can't really afford good ceramic coated headers and anything less is going to make spark plug access tough and rust and leak, so I am trying to do some fancy swapping.

This is for a 72 w/ column shift, but it could apply to all really...
-Brian

[Old Chevy Mech]

I'm not an engine expert, but the man who built my 350 was IMHO. He built $30 - 50K racing engines and told me not to waste my money on headers. he told me to stick with the ram horn manifolds as they are the best, and dyno-ing proved it to him.

Frank

[Longhorn Man]

I've always been told that ram horn manifolds are the best flowing manifolds ever made, and that they outflow many cheap headers.

[75gmc454]

I just bought an original 350 engine out of a 72, to restore my cheyenne super. The exhaust manifolds were gone. I was wondering what kind it is supposed to have. Are the center dump manifolds correct, because I want a correct resto. Aren't they 2 1/4 also?

[Boog]

I'm no big time engine builder but I believe the horns are plenty for most any stock engined daily driver. Even do very well with some mod'ed engines. For all out racing, headers will always be the choice. But if having headers on a street only dd is what one wants then it's ok. Some just like the sound they add to the exhaust note.

[dznucks]

i asked the same question a couple years ago. Some one directed me to a earlier post telling the specific year(s) vette spark plug set to get. that made all the difference in the daunting task of not burning out plug wires. the front wires are long and can go under the engine as opposed to going over the manifold. i still have to put a insualting boot over cylinder #6 plug wire. that one always burns up.

[Bowtie001]

I understand what everyone is saying (and thanks for the responses) but my question is more along the lines of which manifolds I should get. I was wondering if anyone had compared the ramhorns with a newer style such as the F body LT1 manifolds, which are still ramhorn-ish but dump at the rear and are sure to have benefited from years of computational fluid dynamics... I didn't know if they would fit, but they are less 'hoopy', that is, they don't come up between exhaust ports as much, and they looked like routing spark plugs would be easier, plus they are 2.5" I think.


Anyone?

-Brian

[Old Chevy Mech]

If I were to spend $ on new manifolds I'd buy the center dump ram horns. I've been changing plugs in this style truck since I was 13, and guess I'm just use to it. That would be my suggestion based off my experience. In the end its really up to you though.

Frank

[68C15]

FWIW plug wire routing is no issue at all with the ram horns if you run them underneath like they were designed. they stay cool and you dont burn your hands changing plugs like you do with bottom or top log style.

[aventur1]

So how much difference performance wise is the angle ram horn compare with the corvette rams that go straight down? I have the angle rams now and a set of corvette rams. Is it worth the swap and adjust the exhaust pipe to fit?

[Old Chevy Mech]

I honestly dont know what the difference would be. I understand that the center dump ram horn is a good equalizer for exhaust pressure on each bank. Combine that with an equalizer header just before the mufflers & your engine will "purrrrr" as my beautiful wife says!

Frank

[aventur1]

Thanks, just may have to change out just for the heck of it.

[Boog]

If I'm not mistaken the center dump ram horns are too close to the crossmember on 2 wd trucks but fine on 4 wd ones.

[Texasdeere]

I am not positive on this, but I believe the Vette manifolds are 2.5" dumps and the others (car & truck) are either 2" or 2.25". Most likely 2.25".

If I had a small block 350 or similar with a mild cam and intake setup I would go with the Vette manifolds, if you can still get the custom 90 degree down pipes with mini starter. Otherwise they only fit a 4WD.

[aventur1]

I saw how close they are and how a tight turn it would be to miss. Some where I saw a kit that works with the corvette ram horns for our trucks here on the forum, looked like a 90* pipe with a flange to hook to the ram horn then to the exhaust pipe and out.