Ok, so if your like me and have no interest with the headaches of headers, or are just on a budget perhaps you may find my build useful.
After snagging a pair of manifolds from a pal for $20, i figured id try and replicate the "Log" manifolds that Castheads.com sells that are ported out heavily for circle track guys. With a carbide bur and an angle grinder in hand i went to work on them.
I first started by gasket matching the runners to a set of Mr.Gasket header gaskets since they have a larger opening. Then i hogged out the collector to 2 1/4", removing the flange for the doughnut gaskets and any other rough ridges.
Then at work i traced out some templates in the shape of the collector, and had a friend cut me some new collector flanges on the plasma table out of 3/16" steel. Following that i made gaskets out of some 18 gauge steel out of scraps, and cut to fit on our beverly shear.
With the hard stuff behind me, i sandblasted and painted them with Eastwood factory grey manifold paint. Will be installing them on friday (i hope) along with my new exhaust kit, which is 2 1/4 mandrel bent with straight thru mufflers.
Once all is said and done, i have about 6 hours into this project. Obviously they wont flow like a set of headers but i dont care. Some may see this as a waste of time but whatever. Considering that the exhaust necks down to 1 7/8" at the doughnut gasket flange, im sure it will help at least a little 🙂 besides, the trip to the dyno in a few weeks will tell the whole story. I bet my 327 will appreciate it, and at least they wont burn my spark plug wires and will clear my 4 speed linkage!
thanks for reading
After snagging a pair of manifolds from a pal for $20, i figured id try and replicate the "Log" manifolds that Castheads.com sells that are ported out heavily for circle track guys. With a carbide bur and an angle grinder in hand i went to work on them.
I first started by gasket matching the runners to a set of Mr.Gasket header gaskets since they have a larger opening. Then i hogged out the collector to 2 1/4", removing the flange for the doughnut gaskets and any other rough ridges.
Then at work i traced out some templates in the shape of the collector, and had a friend cut me some new collector flanges on the plasma table out of 3/16" steel. Following that i made gaskets out of some 18 gauge steel out of scraps, and cut to fit on our beverly shear.
With the hard stuff behind me, i sandblasted and painted them with Eastwood factory grey manifold paint. Will be installing them on friday (i hope) along with my new exhaust kit, which is 2 1/4 mandrel bent with straight thru mufflers.
Once all is said and done, i have about 6 hours into this project. Obviously they wont flow like a set of headers but i dont care. Some may see this as a waste of time but whatever. Considering that the exhaust necks down to 1 7/8" at the doughnut gasket flange, im sure it will help at least a little 🙂 besides, the trip to the dyno in a few weeks will tell the whole story. I bet my 327 will appreciate it, and at least they wont burn my spark plug wires and will clear my 4 speed linkage!
thanks for reading
