Know I can use Sanderson but thought maybe I'd like it to look a little more traditional. What's everyone using successfully? Thanks!
Rams Horn manifolds work great and are traditional. Depending on your motor mounts you may need to use the pick up units that point backwards instead of straight down. I have used the left side on the right and it pointed forward then the exhaust pipe curved to the rear. Chevy made about six versions for different applications and you should be able to find a set that works.
it all depends on your suspension, with stock suspension and steering Sanderson is your only choice for headers other than some adapted fenderwell headers.
Do what the nephew and I did with his 51 Bus Coupe. We used 96 Caprice Cop Car exhaust manifolds. Remove the tin covers, and plug up all the AIR injection/Emissions ports (soft plugs or brazing worked for us). You may have to drill an extra hole in the exhaust flange, depending on whether you have 6 or 7 bolt heads. These are almost a cast iron header, that sweep up, and back, then down to the rear. They look good, sound good, and are't tinny sounding like tube headers are. The down pipe exhaust flange is metric, and we had to make an aluminum "gasket" to help seal the connection. Wish I could post pics, it would sell you on the idea. These manifolds are also used on later model Camaros/Firebirds, and truck also. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
They just have a long arch to the top of them and come up from the ports. With stock steering you need something that comes up, the manifolds that hang down usually wind up sitting on the pitman arm, and it has to dump at the very back and at an angle so the arm doesn't hit the pipe.
Or one could make a set of custom headers. Easy wire-feed welding project. Flanges, collectors and tubing pieces are for sale on the web. I've learned to place the collectors downstream rather than up by the exhaust ports like typical shorty pipes. Easier to get to the bolts and less likely to crack from high temps from a lean fuel mixture. I also really like the Earls pressure master graphite foil gaskets. I've used those with a set of self locking fasteners and they've never leaked. If the primaries are welded on the head side of the flanges, the welds can be sanded down with a flapper wheel and flat filed to perfection. No welding will be visible up by the engine. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
^^^ designing a set of headers to clear that funky steering in these cars would be no easy thing to do unless you had a set of Sandersons to steal the design from.
My 51 has stock suspension, stock steering and, a 350 that's snug up against the firewall. I've been looking for a pair of headers for months that will work and, can't find anything. I think there's 70's truck exhaust manifolds on it now. I'd love to replace them with headers. This winter, I was thinking about buying a header kit and, trying to copy the truck manifolds.... Haven't looked into it much but, it may be a lot of work. Dustin
You want pics, here you go. I am Butch/56sedandelivery. I had my nephew come over and do the pic transfers; they are stored on this here computer, but posting them is something I've never taken the time to learn. Any questions about the manifolds, just ask. It's hard to see, but each "port/runner" are actually separate until they reach the ".collector", where they converge. You can see the "aluminum gaskets" we made for the manifold to header pipe connection; we'll probably redo them in copper sheeting. We used Ch***is Engineering engine/frame mounts placed exactly where the instructions said; they could have been moved forward just a little so the valve covers would have had more room by the firewall. Radiator's in the stock location, though it's a Champion made unit. Before anyone comments about why we used a generator, it was because we tried to make it look like an earlier build as much as possible (that was before the nephew bought all the chrome pieces for the engine). Full exhaust to the rear bumper with 36 inch long Cherry Bombs; it really sounds good, and rappy (NOT musicwise!), but not harsh. We looked into Sanderson Headers, but did't like that they were so different side-to-side. We also did't care for the rear dump, under the plug manifolds, although many guys go that route. Oh, and the Edelbrock/Weber/Carter AFB was actually ***embled from THREE separate carburetors. This was a car I bought right here off the HAMB cl***ifieds about 5 years ago, and started to lose some interest in, but I did't want to sell the car. So, I offered it to my nephew as long as we would build the car, and he would help with mine. I also supplied the NEW, mildly built 350, one of my built Powerglides (used to build Glide's for the local Bracket racers), and an all new parts 56 rearend with 4.88 gears on a Positraction unit, traction bars, big and little Cragar S/S wheels/tires, all new brakes, shocks, and a ton of little parts/pieces. The new wiring harness was an E-Bay win meant for a 48 Chevrolet P/U truck I paid $25.00 for! Some wires were shortened, others lengthened, but it works great; plus the car got turn signals to boot. There you go. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
Thank you for all the info and pictures Butch. Do you think those manifolds will bolt up to the earlier style heads? Dustin
Yes, they will bolt up, BUT, you'll have to drill one extra hole in each manifold to fit them to the earlier, 6 bolt exhaust flange heads. This is what we did with the nephews project. Cast iron, so it drills very easy. These heads also have a "D" shaped port at the heads exhaust port; nothing to worry about, and if you do worry about it, they can be port matched very easily. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
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