Ram Horns, Sparkplugs and Starters

[gator2511]

Heres a question for you guys running ram horn exhaust manifolds on your trucks. How easy is it to get to your plugs when its time to change them and can you drop your starter without pulling the exhaust manifolds? I have a 72 4x4 with headers and its a 5 hour ordeal to get at the starter. Plugs are a nightmare and I seem to always be doing some thing around them. If the ramshorn manifolds are easier then I might switch over to them when I get my exhaust system done. I already have one manifold off my 327 solid lifter engine in my 64 Vette so I would only need to buy one.

[Captain Knievel]

The only problem I had with the plugs were the two nearest the brake booster. It's a pain to find a good spot to make them snug. I thought I had them snug until a friend noticed one was pulsating.

Not too much experience trying to get at the starters. Although I did try one day and gave up rather quickly. I'm not sure the rams horns were the cause, though.

Hope this helps.

[lpaine]

The rams horns are a good choice; if you've already got 1 rams horn, (is it a 2 1/2 " outlet?) then you only need to find 1 more obviously. They are a pretty free flowing manifold as I understand, and will last almost indefinitely, (unlike steel headers -i.e rust) and I believe changing plugs, or a starter would be much simpler with factory rams horns- should not be a 5 hour ordeal.Best of luck, Lew

[neonlarry]

I just put plugs in mine (ramshorns) took all of 15 min. Starter takes a little longer 20 min (but I have a newer perm magnet delco starter also).

[dave2953]

I have factory ramhorns but I'm running them on a 305 from an '86. I couldn't get the starter off w/out removing the y-pipe. (I did away with that eventually) I haven't ever had problems with plug removal, though.

[toms68cst]

I have factory ram horns AND factory smog piping going into them. Changing pluges is a PITA but not that tough.

[Sport/Truck]

Are you guys using the factory heat shield to protect the plug wires?
s/t

[gator2511]

Thanks for the information fellas. I think I'm gonna be going to the ram horns later on. The one I have is 2 1/2" outlet.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by Sport/Truck

Are you guys using the factory heat shield to protect the plug wires?
s/t

Yes, I have them on mine. I don't have any problems changing the plugs at all, very accesable. The starter is easy to unbolt, but a little tricky to get out, but it can be done.

[fourty1]

not to hijack this thread, ( just saves more room for others posting new topics )
Plugs are easy to change.. it's my RAMHORN that's needs changing...
looks like MT. ST. Helens, ready to blow...

[48 ish]

I just changed the starter in my 48 p/u with Nova front clip and Ram Horns, took about 15 minutes As for the heat shield, I use a Ford starter solenoid in addition to the heat shield. I mounted mine by the battery with an emergency jump switch mounted low on the inner fender well. You might want to mount the solenoid higher if you have a history of battery problems so you can hook jumpers to the teminals. Chevy starter solenoids have a history of not wanting to engage when they get hot, the Ford solenoid can be mounted outside the heat source and almost never fails.

[OLDIRON69]

I will put a heat blanket on my starter when I put my new engine in, the ramhorn is only about an inch away, besides that, no problems changing plugs. I'd take em over headers any day.

[glock35ipsc]

Plugs are simple to get to. One of the things that can/will determine how easy the starter is to get to is how the exhaust was ran. I can just unbolt and drop my starter, but I have seen some downpipes that are bend at the bottom in a way that makes the starter difficult to remove. I used heat shield wraps on both downtubes on mine, one for looks and two because the right side pipe is real close to the starter. Go with the ram horns!

[mexgrhd68]

go with the rams, plugs are easy to get to, starter is also easy, depending on how you route your exhaust

[oldgold70c10]

Ramhorns are the best, plugs are easy to get at, no starter problems, much quieter under the hood. I had the displeasure of changing the plugs on a friend's '70 c/10 sbc with headers: talk about a pain. I'm not doing that ever again. Go ramhorns.

[NICK3757]

They are really expensive, but the stainless ram horns that speedway motors makes are just so neat looking.