need a pair of RARE ram-horn manifolds

[jewels.]

took the truck to meineke to change the manifold gaskets (for fear i would break a bolt if i did it myself).....

the ram-horn manifolds are cracked and need replaced....

no one in the area has a good set of used ones.... no one i called from the board suppliers has any either....

Tim Christian can sell me a new pair for $140 (OUCH!), but he had no used ones... he suggested i post on the board.... (thanks for the advice, tim!)

does anyone have a set of used ram-horm manifolds for a 350 chevy small block? (engine is originally from a 72 monte carlo donor)....

before you say "jewels, why not switch to HEADERS?", i have to tell you that headers probably wont fit because my engine mounts are swapped (drivers is on pass side, and pass side is on drivers side) ((its a long story)).... so the engine sits about 4 inches forward of its normal v8 position.... see pic below....

so it looks like i will have to stick with manifolds for now.... right?

does anyone have a set to sell me? i prefer good condition ones (i already have a set with cracks ).... i will have to have a machine shop clean them up, and check for flow and cracks, i assume.....

thanks for all the help in advance!
i wont be able to reply to this thread until after midnight CST cause i'm headed to work.....

ciao!
jewels.

[teeitup]

Jewels, I should have some they may need new studs in them but no cracks $50 a pair plus shipping, Thanks Randy

[roadking]

watch using that RARE word it sounds like your trying to sell instead of buy. lots of good people on the board to buy them from at a fare price, also shop around kc i think you can find some local as well.

[Southpa]

Good used ones are getting a bit rarer, but they CAN be found. On a lark I called the GM dealership near me and got quoted over $400 Cdn for ONE new one. I just had to laugh.

[Slams_58]

I have a really nice pair Al. I lucked out and got a full dual exhaust system on my 72 parts truck. I'm gonna sell them in a few weeks once the snow starts to melt and I can sand blast them.

EDIT: DAMNIT!! I just realized I posted under Shawnas name

[Carl71]

teeitup your best bet. But after you leave there it might cost you more after you see all the parts he has... LOL

[walker]

Jewels, go with Teeitup. I bought one from him to fix a crack in mine. He sent me what he said he would send me. I think mine was $35 including shipping to PHX. Way easier to go with what you have than headers. Also, I thought you had figured this out after reading your posts in the past, nobody can do it better than you. That is, no one cares more about your repair than you do, hence they won't be as cautious or use as good a parts. If you can change out a heater core you can change out a manifold. You are not going to break a bolt( that you can't get out), or rip a spark plug boot(that you can't replace), or ruin a gasket( that you can't buy for $1.59). If you pay someone else to take those chances they charge you for it. They also charge you for the repairs of things they break. I don't want to see you paying a shop for those type of repairs again! Got a problem, type it in here first. Don't think you can do it yourself? ask here for help first.
Sorry for the rant, I hate to see good mechanical talent go to waste.
Good luck, Andy.

[Blue_71]

jewels, if you dont mind moving your exhaust back some, i have a set of manifolds that will work for you. they're the newer "log" manifolds that exit at the rear of the engine

forgot to mention, i know you have different engine mounts, but i have a set of headers that LOOK like they'll work with that

[Longhorn Man]

Header would probably not hit her truck, they would most likely hit her suspention.
Good luck on the manifolds, and remember once you have new studs in it, to use plenty of anti seize compound on everything.

[Blue_71]

i dunno man, the ones i have for my C10 and the ones i had on the K20 both look to have plenty of room even for suspinsion, i know the ones i had on the K20 would, they even work on a 93 1/2 ton 2wd (ever see how close the right side is on those?)

[stepside71]

I have a good pair that need a good home- $ 50 plus ride from the gulf coast. If you don't find any in your back yard let me know.

[jewels.]

Originally posted by teeitup
Jewels, I should have some they may need new studs in them but no cracks $50 a pair plus shipping, Thanks Randy

i will call you first, teeitup, if i purchase a pair from outside of town

Originally posted by JimKshortstep4x4
I have a good left side, $25 to your door if it will help

thanks, but i prob need both at the same time

Originally posted by roadking
watch using that RARE word it sounds like your trying to sell instead of buy. lots of good people on the board to buy them from at a fare price, also shop around kc i think you can find some local as well.

i used the RARE word because they seem to be RARE in the KC area at the moment.... i called lots of salvage yards, a few local suppliers, i called chevy duty, lmctruck, i even called tim christian who is out of town, and he is out of them at the moment.... go figure.... i am still going to post on the local KC board, and see what happens.... sorry to have given you the wrong picture in your mind.....

Originally posted by walker
Also, I thought you had figured this out after reading your posts in the past, nobody can do it better than you...... I hate to see good mechanical talent go to waste.

you have it all wrong.....let me clear this up.... i AM doing the work -- just using their garage and tools.... i walked out with greasy hands today.... plus, just FYI, i DONT have a garage, i DONT have an air compressor with an impact wrench, i DONT have a sandblaster, etc.
i *could* have done all the work in my parking spot at the complex, but it was easier to go use their tools and their lift and such.... that doesnt mean that i'm not there 24-7.... trust me.... i keep an evil eye out! i am still doing the work, and i dont trust very many people around my truck.... but three studs broke off in the process, and it was a good thing that i DID go there.... but thanks for the encouragement!

Originally posted by Blue_71
if you dont mind moving your exhaust back some

sorry, but i do mind

Originally posted by Blue_71
i have a set of headers that LOOK like they'll work with that

sry blue, but looks dont cut it here

Originally posted by Longhorn Man
use plenty of anti seize compound on everything.

is there a particular compound you recommend that will stand up to the heat? i havent heard of one that will stand up to the heat....

thanks for all the replies....
i have four choices here
1. fix the old set (some ppl recommended that to me, but the machine shop here refuses to touch them
2. buy a used good set in town
3. buy a used good set out of town (from teeitup)
4. buy a new set

at this point, i'm leaning towards either 2 or 4..... but i have another question.... will a new set be as likely to crack as a used set? is it luck of the draw on cracks, or is it age that leads to cracks? hmmmm
i guess i wouldnt mind spending the money on new ones at this point if i know that they would last for a long time.....

<-- still debating what to do while the truck sits in the bay at meineke.....

hmmm

jewels.

[fine69]

Jewels, i tried to pm this to you. But your 'BOX' is full. Whoa.

No,you read that wrong. I meant surface the flat part of the manifold that hits the engine.
When a manifold is repeatedly heated to 1200 degrees and the cooled it will take its toll. Try this happening daily or even just a few times a week for 30+ years.
The tough manifold to find is the rights side(passenger)anyway. GM didnt put a hanger close enough to the manifold on these trucks. And the right side always cracked from vibration way before the left side did.
If you get used manifolds. And the studs need replaced(which would be a good idea anyway) most shops charge $15.00 a stud to replace. Multiply that by 6 studs. OUCH. Because you would be a damn fool to not put new studs in. And correct me if i am wrong here, YOU AINT A DAMN FOOL. Oh yea, brand new studs are only a buck($1) each.
I just think that by the time you fight warped manifolds,crusty studs(i said crusty,hehe) and a irritated mechanic you should consider the alternative.
New manifolds= no trouble
Old manifolds= old manifolds=parts that may break next year.
I know one thing, i didnt know new ones were that cheap now. Next time i want manifolds for a SB truck i will call Tim Christian. I aint messin' with old crap.
I know you value my opinion and know that i wouldnt try to spend your money foolishly. I also know that money doesnt grow on trees. It may be printed on them. But didnt grow there. I just think for not much more cash you could have new.

[ZOOMY]

The straight down dump rams are the somewhat rare ones. I never think of the angle dumps as rare.

[Tim Christian]

Hey Jewels, That was $140.00 ea. I could sell a tractor and trailer load at $140.00 a pair! LOL

[Blue Beard]

Replace the studs will require a torch setup to get the old ones out...

[neonlarry]

If they dont have big cracks in them, they are really not that hard to weld if you know how to stick weld.

[Dwaynes56&68]

I have a pile of them under the bench. do you need the angled back type? with air fittings? what about a casted in alt. mount? Let me know. You can have a pair if you cover the shipping.

[gr8scott51]

Hiboy 04 has a pair on the board for $50 and he's in Kansas.

[72MARIO]

Is it actuslly possible to swap motor mounts side to side ? You kinda got me worried because there is aa huge gap between the motor and fire wall.

Mario

[Joesjunk]

I also have a few sets, I am in Independence if that helps you.

Joe

[jewels.]

WOOHOO!!!!
jewels is hooked up!
jewels has a new (used) set of ram horn manifolds!
WOOHOOO!!!

Joe hooked me up with a good pair of used ones.....

now its off to the shop to get them sandblasted, and checked for warping, cracks and such.....

Joe made me a heck of a deal that I couldnt pass up!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU JOE!!!

I promised him I would bring the truck back over so he could see her all shinin and stuff

ok, i probably would normally have bought new ones, like fine69 suggested, but i couldnt see droppin $280 on exhaust that i will probably change in the future anyways..... (I guess I misunderstood from Tim how much the new ones were....so....)

Mike, no hard feelings, but you can advise me on headers when I get ready to put those in.... for now, i'm just lookin at gettin back on the road

so, thanks to everyone! Tim, i promise i will call you first the next time i need a part --- you are an awesome guy! and joe, give me a few days, and i'll bring her out and show her off!

ciao!
jewels.

[Vince M]

Great to hear members helping out other members.....

Another good source for manifolds is eBay. I've bought two sets off of eBay for cheap. Stay away from the rust belt states..they can be really pitted and weak.

[Joesjunk]

Your welcome, glad to help. Let me know how they check out. Good luck with the truck.

[714x4lover]

you know what i used so my studs didnt seize up, it was a set of brass nuts and washers, never got stuck again