Rams Horn Dilemma

I picked up a good set of 2" rams horn manifolds the other day although I was looking for 2.5" manifolds. I am not overwhelmed with my purchase but I have next to nothing in them and it frees up some much needed cash in the hot rod budget. I have a mild 350 for my T coupe. (350 hp, 375 ft.-lbs. tq.) Will the 2" manifolds breathe well enough or should i spend the money and get the 2.5"? I'm not building a race car here but if I am cheatin myself outta some performance later to save a few bucks now I don't want that either. Will the sound be dramatically different between the two? Will the performance difference be noticeable? What do you guys think?

 

Others may disagree. But a 350 really needs the larger manifolds. You have to be very careful (or somewhat lucky) when buying used exhaust manifolds. Fatal cracks are not uncommon. Speedway sells new for about $60 each.

 

2 inch should do more for a 283, 305, or 307. Or maybe one of those low powered 350 crate engines for truck use. I'd find a bigger set someplace if you truly have 350 horses.

 

Don't know about $60. each, Speedways ad.
Price: $299.99



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Item #:
9300300

Price:
PR
$299.99



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Unless you're racing it, the "seatof the pants'ometer" will never know the difference.

Devin

 

i bought em for 59.00 each...stock 2.5 inch.no rusty ,broken, striped studs...

 

There is a stock repop 2.5" cast iron maifold for the $60. Try the summitt racing site

 

Any reason you wouldn't run headers? Ok, not so trad looking but the shorties would probably flow more than the 2" rams horns. No reason to choke that 350.

 

I'd bolt up the ones you have.... You'll have alot better low-end torque for round town cruising. Then when you got enough green, buy the bigger ones.

 

Dorman make some for that price try a Napa store that is where I got mine.

 

Test fit them. I tried to fit 350 manifold on a 283 and the end holes didn't line up.

 

Here's a couple links to the lower priced repop's:

http://www.midwayautosupply.com/m-114-dorman-exhaust-manifold-kits.aspx

http://www.performanceexhaustplus.com/0/19/0/126/shop_by_category.html

I have a set of the 2.5" versions on my 283. They're not a perfect 'visual' copy, and they don't have any GM part numbers or markings. They're good enough for the price though.

 

were talking about the difference of .5 inches.. on a manifold that has runners what 11 inches long.. max???

if you dont want the 2 inchers.. send them to me..

 

Thanks guys for the awesome info. I am trying to keep it looking traditional so I definitely want to use a cast manifold. I only have $35 in my 2" set and they are pretty nice. If I dont use these I was going to run the 2.5" cast ones on ebay that dont have the alt. bracket. Do you think it will affect my exhaust sound as opposed to the 2.5?"

 

I bought a set of those 2 1/2"s from Speedway for my '49 truck , could'nt make 'em clear the steering shaft from the rack-n-pinion . Had to use a ramhorn that angles back at the dump , not really what I was wanting , I might try a set of block huggers and see if it will breath any better @ higher rpm's , IF those will clear the steering !

 

you all are over thinking this .... bolt them on , hook up some exhaust and have fun

you will be just fine , you will be able to spin the rear tires

 

Yup. Everybody worries about horsepower while sitting in a traffic jam, or cruising in a 30 mph zone!-MIKE

 

I say keep what you got. I went with the 2.5's on my 327 and bought the 2.5 pipes to go with it. Alot of money for little, if any, gain. But there in lies the rub. If you go with the 2.0's then you will need bigger pipes later if you switch up.

I was also suprised by how much space the bigger pipes took up. I have a stock routing and it gets pretty tight around the rear axle.

 

So you had the 2 inch system,and changed to 2-1/2 and noticed no more power?
There a lot of discusion of this stuff on other forums dedicated to Camaros and such.The Internet has a lot of **** but the general opinion seems to be that Ram's Horn manifolds work ok for 325 hp .When you get into higher tuned engines and more rpm ,some sort of tube header is better.Some say to the tune of 30-50 hp on top end according to dyno tests done by performance magazines.Even stock engines seemed to benefit across the power band from headers.If you can believe tests in magazines.I guess the if you plan to use Rams Horns don't get to wild on the engine build.

 

The Speedway ones ... You folks talking about these beauties?

Stainless Tru-Ram Exhaust Manifolds



Small Block Chevy Cast Iron Ram Exhaust Manifolds



They're a bit pricey, yeah, but they sure are pretty, especially the polished stainless ones.

 

I have regular 2" Rams hons on my roadster. It has a 301 (283 bored out .125) About 12 1/2 comp. Runs great with straight exhaust out the back. The 2 1/2 " rams horns were the corvette ones but are kind of pricy if you can find them. Its nice to keep the stock location on the generator also. Believe me you can't tell the difference with a stock 350 chebbie. Use the KISS theory...keep it simple stupid.