Hot Rods Chev Ram Horn Exhaust

I'm getting ready to send my '32 pickup off to the exhaust man and he asked me a question I wasn't sure of........if it was a flat flange or ball style on the collector?

I have a stock older, center dump, no mounting bracket adapters (year unknown) set bolted to my 265 motor....they have the 3 stud mounting on the collector.

I just want to verify.....do all stock ram horns use the ball type flange on the collector or did they also use the flat flange? Mine has a tapered groove inside the collector so I am ***uming this is the ball style, yes?

If it is the ball style....he can make those up for me otherwise I need to acquire the flat flange before he finishes the job.

 

neither. They used a donut with tapered ends, and a steel tube in the center to keep the donut from collapsing. The p*** side had a flat flange, but there was a heat riser valve that went under the flange, and the donut and pipe go under the riser.

It's rather old fashioned, and a lot of guys in the business now don't understand the donut thing, and don't put the pipe in the inside, so the donut collapses and causes perpetual problems

 

Thanks squirrel.
Just to clarify.....my ram horns are not stock to the 265.....I bought them and installed after pulling the original 265 manifolds off.
So, I need to go looking for parts?

 

Could you photograph the outlets, and post the results?

 

Good idea...hope this helps.

 

That looks like a 57-62ish driver side manifold, it has the generator bracket mounting holes at the front.

Is the other manifold similar, but with a flat flange? no recess in the center? if so, then it's the matching p*** side manifold.

 

The other side is the same at the collector...they were a pair.
So, do I need to find flat flanges?

 

I don't know for sure what your exhaust guy will do, but I would use a pair of the original type flanges, with the composition donuts and short internal pipe. You could try flat flanges, but there really isn't enough meat to get a reliable seal, it would be likely to blow out the gasket.

 

If they are identical, it would appear that you have two driver's side manifolds, which totally works.

The exhaust flanges are easy. You need someone who understands doughnuts.

 

The original header pipes for these manifolds had a fold that formed the flange for the gasket to sit on. Just using the donut alone is not enough it will burn out from the inside in no time. Tell the muffler man to make an insert out of 1-7/8 tubing and expand it inside the 2" head pipe. There are some benders that have a special die to make the pipe end for holding the donut gasket like GM did.

 

I looked at the only pair of manifolds I have left, the p*** side has the same recess for the donut, but it also has long studs for the heat riser valve. Interesting...usually they had a flat surface.

 

I'm running 2 right side manifolds on mine without heat risers. Just a flange and a flat gasket. Not ideal but a competent exhaust guy will make it work.

 

If you can find one.

 

Ok....so now I need to find a set of original donut and flange.

here's the right side.

 

and BTW....my muffler man has been in biz a long time......I'm pretty sure he will be able to solve this one.

I just hope I have all the parts he needs if he is unable to fab them.

 

Just tell him on the phone that it uses the old donuts, and see what he says. I bet he'll be able to figure it out if he's been doing this for a while.

 

Thanks squirrel.......he's just a few blocks away from me.

 

What is the diameter of the donuts?

 

Whatever they used on an early 60s Chevy. I think they were 1-7/8" ID. you can get metal ones now too, which should eliminate the need for the inner tube.

 

Be careful with the metal ones. They are cast iron and will break if dropped. I used to buy the fiber donuts 25 to a box. They work on 60s Mustangs and Fords too. There were only a few types back then but there are many different types today. The donuts for the newer spring loaded bolts are different. I ran into trouble trying to get them to seal. Those manifolds take the fiber, beveled on both ends type but need a liner to last.

 

Here's some measurements I took on a set I have hanging in the garage. The bare manifold is 2 inches I.D. The donut with the support pipe is 1 & 7/8 inches I.D. Hope this helps. You should be able to get the flanges and donuts anywhere.

 

265's didnt have rams horns 283's did.

 

thanks oldschool66.

threewindow....my ram horns aren't from my 265.