Technical SBC ramshorn exhaust manifold ( Update )

I'm using 2 1/2" Ramshorn exhaust manifolds on my roadster. Originally you would use a doughnut with a flared exhaust pipe and a slip flange. Getting those pieces here locally is like finding hens teeth. Is there an alternative such as a flat gasket and a stationary flange . Has anybody used something else that worked ? Thanks, Bill

 

maybe post a picture or link showing the exact manifolds you have? Some have a flat surface to mount a heat riser valve, some have an angled flange for the donut (often the pass side has provision for heat riser, driver side does not).

If there's enough flat surface, you can use a flange and gasket, but it would want to be a thick flange, so it won't warp.

 

I wouldn't thing the flange and doughnut gasket would be that difficult to find. Most exhaust shops have those parts.

Sent from my E6782 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Any Corvette Resto parts outfit that does mid year cars should be able to supply the original style.

 

Have you tried rockauto.com?

 

Here's a picture Jim . These are imports

 

Both local Napa & Advanced list 'em here. Neither in stock though, have you tried calling the stores in Weirton?

 

You could probably get away with a flange and gasket on those, but use a good thick flange, and a good gasket.

The original setup has a donut, and inner tube, and an outer tube with the flared end, and the flange that holds it all in place.

although there are metal donuts, and metal core composition donuts available. I've seen several instances where an exhaust shop doesn't include the inner tube, and the donut slowly collapses and won't stop leaking.

 

I went to the local Monroe muffler ,I took the chrome manifold . I asked the guy if he could flare a short piece of pipe and did he have a doughnut and slip flange ? What is this for? I say it's for a 327 sbc that is in a Model A roadster. I get the deer in the headlight look So I tell him that an early to mid sixties Corvette is close to the same. He says our machine is broke and the company won't fix it because there isn't enough demand( this is my translation ) Ok , would you happen to have the doughnut and a slip flange ? No we don't carry anything like that. You might check Advance Auto down the street. So I go into Advance Auto carrying this chrome exhaust manifold and ask for a doughnut . What's this for ? Try a mid sixties Corvette with a small block. He goes in back for about five minutes and comes back with a modern style half doughnut. I says that won't work , needs to be a doubled sided doughnut . Well the only thing we could do is try to order some thing from headquarters. I said I'd check back. . There is another muffler shop in town that I went to about fifteen years ago and asked for two pieces of mild steel exhaust one 2 1/2" and one 3" both 4' long . He gives me nasty look and says yea I got that, it will be $100 . I just turned and left vowing that I would never go there again

 

I'm I totally agree with ya Jim Thanks , Bill

 

Apparently, this is rocket science...

 

Yes, I was in Weirton yesterday. Where are you located? Bill

 

Jim, Locally , You would think this to be true Bill

 

I know you see different things in different parts of the country, but this blows my mind. Has it really been that long since nearly everything on the road had this type of system? Every exhaust shop did this all day every day?

 

Around here, when you go into any business and they ask what's this for and you say ( fill in the blank ) hotrod ,street rod , race car. You're already in trouble. 95% of the time, to them you are wasting their time (and yours) My trip to Weirton yesterday was a waste of my time except for buying a 7/8" dowel rod at the Busy Beaver so I can mock up a steering shaft. Bill

 

I know what you mean. I always look up parts on the internet before going to the parts store.

 

Try these $3
https://m.summitracing.com/parts/fel-8194

Different style cone shape.
https://m.summitracing.com/parts/wlk-31554

 

Let me show you guys the whole story

 

Ummm-Is that the new motor mount by 'Skyhook Industries'?
The exhaust can be cured with some(ghast...) block huggers or tight mounted full length headers-but that's not what you want to hear-might need another piece of steering shaft,another universal and a bearing to get under the exhaust flange.

 

I am not sure that story has a happy ending.

 

As you can see ,I need to make a very sharp turn right away. I'm thinking even if I had the proper pipe ( with doughnut, flare and slip flange ) there isn't enough room to make the bend. If I can use a flat gasket and heavy flange ,I can start the bend quicker ?? . Here's the rest of the story. I could use blocker hugger headers but I don't have anything against them , I just don't want them on this car. I could even use later sbc exhaust that dumps toward the back, but not on this car. I could use lakster style headers but only as a last resort . I'm not that fond of the sound of baffles and I'm not fond of the exhaust dropping down to slip under the frame , especially on a 32 style frame. It blocks the scenery if you know what I mean. I like that on a channeled car but mines not channeled. I sure am blowing a lot of hot air it seems Thanks to you guys. Bill

 

Or move the steering box back to where it belongs.

 

I bought them at Summit. Energy Suspension . Bill

 

Cross steer, Vega box
I have the drag link set up parallel to the tie rod on both planes( looking down and looking back from the front)
Isn't this right ? Bill

 

Here's what I would do:

For now, pull out the steering shaft and u-joints. Put them aside for later.
Get, or, or make, a copper gasket that will fit the manifold flange, and and exhaust flange that will attach to it. I realize that you were going the doughnut route, but you have a severe space issue, and they will be a liability.
Get three 90º mandrel bent elbows, bent on the tightest radius that you can get.
On the first one, cut off just about all of the straight part on one leg.
Put the three bolt flange on the manifold, and tack weld on the that first 90º elbow with the horizontal leg pointing at the point where the oil filter pedestal meets the main body of the block.
Take the second 90º elbow and shorten its legs so that you can attach it to the first elbow, without it getting either too close to the block, or blocking where the steering shaft will go.
Attach the third 90º elbow, shortened as necessary, to make the run to the rear of the car.

Then, shorten your steering column tube so that it is much closer to the firewall. Put the u-joint back on, add a support bearing, and another u-joint, and then finish the run to the box.

 

Could you use the rams horn manifolds off of a pickup that sweep back?

 

something like this:
https://www.magnaflow.com/products?partNumber=16434 &searchTerm=16434

 

digging through some more pics... maybe this helps maybe it doesnt. Hard to tell but looks like your engine sits lower. I have no trans hump or firewall setback, with my 327/T5 so you should have room to raise it... might help ya out in a couple ways.

-Tub is a couple states away right now or i would snap you a good picture...

 

That's what I'm using with my project and they make a world of difference versus the straight down dump.

 

I was thinking that we were pretty close . I was going by the height of your distributor in relation to the gas tank flange. If you are running a Delco type distributor.