2.5" Rams Horn Exhaust...are they worth installing over headers?

I've had my share of headers over the years, and though they may breathe better, I'm tired of the leaks and the excess heat. Seems as though every pair I've had came loose no matter if I double gasketed them or used "locking" bolts, and the underhood heat was excessive. From what I've heard about the 2.5" Rams Horn cast manifolds that were used on the old smallblock Chevy's they seem to flow well and don't bust a gasket or need retightening too often, and heat is lower due to being thicker cast iron. Anyone here used them or know anything about them?

 

I have had the same problems. For the SBC in 54 Ford, I couldn't find any rams horns around here so I went with manifolds off a 70's pickup. The easiness was worth any power trade off.

 

I found them, just not sure it's worth the hassle of redoing the exhaust. I'm wondering if I'll notice a significant loss in power, and if they're worth $200...

 

I think most of the heat generated by headers is caused by the length of the pipes.
It would be my guess that in most cases you wont notice any difference in performance unless you have an engine that really needs to breath.

Gary

 

I think 35 Chevy is right.

 

It's a small journal '67 327 running 10.25:1 compression and I believe either the .268 or .289 cam, a 68 Z28 hi perf manifold with a 4bbl 650cfm and 202 fuelie heads....

 

The new 2.5" manifolds from Speedway are $60 ea and seem to work well for me. You do have to cut off the generator bracket if you aren't using it, but it only takes a few minutes with a saw and grinder to make them look good.

 

I saw those for $59 in the Speedway catalog...that's a great deal. I called them and it seems that shipping most anywhere in the U.S runs around $25 to $35.

 

check your local chevy dealer. last ones i purchased were from gm out of oregon

 

Why not the Sanderson Iron manifolds?? Other than the cost .

 

Do a search on sanderson....I found it enlightening

 

Maybe this will help? Kind of a best of both worlds type deal:

http://www.castheads.com/corvette_systems.php#manifolds

Al in CT

 

I'm not sure why the Brzezinski guys at the link above are charging so much more than Speedway for the same manifolds, and I wouldn't pay $75 to have them match the ports...I'd just open them up myself.

 

It's a lot about the look I think. These are 2.5 in. and I ran 2.5 in exhaust all the way back. I wish some one would make them without the damn brackets. I'm trying to find a match to this one.

 

Sanderson are $480 cast and $640 ceramic coated! Too rich for my wallet...

 

The brackets are easy to cut off and grind smooth. For $59 from Speedway you can't beat 'em...

 

Yeah, I did that on one set but it changed the texture and I didn't like the look.

 

bunch of options....but do the vette one's flow as well as a set of headers? kinda wondering the same thing before i sneak to my dad's house and steal a set....

planning on a mild blown 355 SBC... steal manifolds from dad = free.....buy headers = $$$$

 

Yup, I did that to my pair, and detailed them up a bit with the grinder too. Got them from Riley Automotive, he's an Alliance vendor and Speedway dealer.

 

Attached is a picture of a set from Speedway that I cleaned up . I bought 2 right side manifolds, & cut the bracket off of 1, to use on the left side. They come in a Dorman Box, but I don't think you can beat the Speedway price. Bob

 

I think you can fix that with dryer sheets

 

But seriously folks; if you gotta ask if headers make more power than manifolds, then you probably don't need them. I think the breaking point is in the cam, but let me tell you that even a stock motor digs some headers(and a curve kit). The thing about making them not leak is in the details, and if I told you I'd haf ta,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

I have early 2 inch rams to give it the old look. I did however port them out cause I didnt wanna loose any perf. from the switch. They now measure 2 1/4 outlet

Instead of getting the 2 1//2's you can pick the 2s at almost any yard for old cars and with a lil time & porting would probably flow better than (clone) Corvette 2 1/2's. Some of those clones arent realy 2 1/2 so make sure your payin for what you ordered.

If you dont want clones Hooker makes 80's factory style Corvette tuned rams in 1 3/4 -3 inch outlet versions that look good. part #2061hkr from summit.

 

Been on the fence between block hugger headers and ram horn's too. Headers for me have always been the same deal; loud and bolts backing off.

 

I used stock GM 2 1/2 rams horns. I cut the mounts off and polished them. Had them coated by Air Born. They look good and work great. Bolt them on with the high heat silicone and no gaskets. Been on about 1 1/2 years with no leaks.

 

There was a recent article in one of the mags which stated that there was no power improvement between ram horns and block huggers. You would need full length headers to see a benefit. There was a company that sold extrude honed rams horns but I lost track of them.

 

This leads me to a question I have been pondering: Couldn't I make a set of tubular manifolds? (Not exactly headers, more like a steel-tube version of the Speedway "tru-ram" manifolds.)
They'd look cool, be cheap to make (do it all myself), and I'm guessing I would not have more heat than iron manifolds because the surface area would be about the same?
If anyone can tell me why this would be a good or bad idea, please let me know.
Otherwise, I'm also going to go with the factory manifolds.

 

That is about the same specs as my 65 327 350 HP Corvette Coupe and it came with ram hornes and it still runs great all the way up to 6000RPM. The only thing i would do with them is grind them smooth and have them cermic coated and you will love them

 

In my humble opinion the only time you need to be concerned about exhaust flow is at wide-open throttle at high rpm.

99.9% of street driving is done at low and moderate engine speeds.

Most cast iron manifolds, especially well designed ones like Chevy rams horns, are plenty adequate 99.9% of the time, they don't leak or produce anywhere near as much engine compartment heat as headers.

So... If you're a racer (or a wannabe racer) headers might make sense.

But if your rod or custom is primarily street driven, save yourself the hassle and go with cast iron manifolds.

Just my $.02

 

i had 2.5 rams horns in my 65 p/u w/ chev 400 thing pulled like a freight train
never leaked and they were on there for 12 years did grind the bracket off and it was noticable but that may have been due to my skills more than anything
i did swap to long tube headers truck louder now also leaned out the carb so headers do flow better but now i am always tightening replacing gaskets
if you just want to drive it and with less upkeep i think u would be happy with the rams horns
but if you get an old set look for cracks they meet at the outlet