Projects 1957 Chevy Pickup Pt. 2 "El Trucko"

Wouldnt the engine perform a lil better with headers though?

 

I can't find the original "El Trucko" thread and I don't remember what engine you're running. I'm guessing that you aren't planning on dropping $300 or more on headers. Also, most headers are 1 7/8" to 2 1/4". Unless you're engine is really high performance and you're trying to squeeze every last little bit of efficiency and power out of it, you really wouldn't notice the difference. However, a buddy of mine who built a pretty stout 383 stroker and was originally running fairly inexpensive 2 1/4" headers switched over the the Corvette 2 1/2" exhaust manifolds and noticed that his engine bay ran cooler and his performance stayed the same. I've also seen dyno results before and after with 2" headers vs 2 1/2" 'vette exhaust manifolds and the result was only a 5 hp loss with the rams horns. I'm running a 327 that was putting out 410 hp with 1 7/8" cheapo Hedman headers (poor engine was suffocating) and with the 2 1/2" exhaust manifolds I expect that my performance will actually increase.

Headers may look cool, but rams horns are still traditional and in my opinion, given the hassle factor of headers and the fact that this is not a high performance application, 'vette exhaust manifolds are the better choice. Speedway has them for around $60 each. I smoothed mine out and as soon as I have the coin I'll have them extrude honed and ceramic coated. I know...with the honing and ceramic coating the price goes up to the price of expensive headers, but I still don't have the leaking and fitment headaches to deal with....AND it looks like a sleeper. My guess is that honing and coating will make these as good as, if not better than, headers.

 

Im running a tired 283. I'll look into it. Do you have pics of yours in the truck?

 

Here's a shot of it from the front...the passenger is in but obviously not the drivers. They fit nice and you only have to worry about fitting a 3 bolt collector and a single 2 1/2" down-tube. I'll try to find a photo from the side so you can see where the manifold ends in relation to the block.

 

Heres that hood I picked up a couple weeks ago. I filled in all the holes. Its gonna go on the truck soon as I get a chance!


No more holes...

And the fins all filled in...

 

Good work on the hood. As far as headers go, you can find a set of rams horns manifolds for CHEAP. I would run em on mine but they interfere with my front clip. And a decent longtube will outperform a manifold. dont waste your time even looking at shorty headers. Cheap and cool, manifolds are the way to go

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Thanks man! Ya Im thinking Im gonna go with the ramhorns w/staight pipes til I lower it and run my pipes out the back....

 

But make SURE you use ones that are minimum 2", 2 1/4", or (preferably) 2 1/2" (like the Corvette repops you can get at Speedway - $57 ea last time I checked)...the 1 7/8" manifolds are too restrictive.

 

Awesome, Ill be sure to get those ones!

 

Are these the ones you are talking about?

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Dorman-2-1-2-Inch-Corvette-Style-Exhaust-Manifolds-Pair,58966.html

 

I got my new hood old hood on! There's a few gaps here and there, but its pretty close! Just need to mess with it a little....

 

That hood looks great, I just pulled mine off tonight and yanked out the motor.
I always look in the garage sale section of speedway for deals.

Check this out, I ordered these yesterday, less than 100 bucks shipped for vette manifolds
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Garage-Sale-25-Corvette-Style-Exhaust-Manifold,57145.html

 

Truck is looking good. Are you coming out to Secret Santa at Papa Z's this Saturday?

 

Damn thats a deal! Whats the difference between those ones and the more expensive ones?

 

Thanks! We'll see, I have work on Saturday.

 

The cheaper ones say that they are "garage sale" priced due to some irregularities....I wouldn't risk it. These manifolds (the $114 set) will likely need cleaning up (grinding and smoothing) for them to look nice. I smoothed mine because otherwise I would have cringed every time I opened the hood. It's easily done...takes about an hour or so to do each one. Don't bother trying to use a Dremel type tool...put a grinding stone in a decent electric hand drill, lock out the trigger, and go for it. You can also try a die grinder, but with as long as you will be using it continuously, you'll end up with a lot of moisture coming out of the tool and your compressor will be cycling constantly....plus you won't get the torque you'll want out of an air die grinder.

Also, I'm sure you noticed that both sides have the extension / provision for an alternator mount. You'll only need it on the driver side...I cut it off the passenger side and rounded it / smoothed it so that it looked the same as the stock manifolds.

 

Cool, gonna order em soon! Do you have a side view picture that shows how close they get to the steering box?

 

Got the exhaust manifolds ordered! I also got some bumper guards for Xmas, but I dont think they fit right, they tilt way forward and they dont sit flush with the top of the bumper. Anyone have pics of some bumper guards on?

 

Here's mine with the bumper guards

 

Thanks! You wouldnt happen to have a close up shot would you?

 

Does anyone make the bumper guards UNchromed?

 

Ive never seen any that aren't chromed.

 

I figured... but would LOVE to find some

 

You can get a chrome pair and take a wire wheel to em or something.

 

Funny, I JUST picked up a used set with flaking chrome

 

Nice! I just got mine on and one sits leaning way forward, and the other fits perfect....cheap Taiwan crap. Im not even gonna post a pic because Its so shitty. Back to the parts store to find one that fits!

 

Got my new manifolds in the mail! Now Im gonna get my steering box rebuilt so it'll drive straight, and then flip the axle in the back. No use in lowering it when it wont even drive straight haha. After thats all done I'll put the new manifolds on and run my pipes out the back!

 

Couple of random pics I took....

 

Cool pics, weather looks nice there...... Asshole ahhaha. Its hit the low teens here overnight. Cant wait to see the axle flip. I wish i could run rams horns but the stupid front clip..... Im debating on 2" or 2.25" exhaust too. Dudes on here say the 2" has more the classic glasspack sound. Idk. Whats on urs ?

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I think I'm gonna bag the back now haha. My buddies have me convinced Im gonna get tired of just static drop, plus I think these trucks look so rad with the back end all laid out haha. We'll see what happens. I think my exhaust is 2". I have those Magnaflow glasspacks and they sound like dog shit taco minus the taco....