Ram Air Restoration factory headers

[SafariWagon]

I "modified" some headers by cutting and welding to fit my car but I am still not pleased with the fit (a little tight in some places) plus after seeing how this car could see daily use I thought it might be better to go to the Pontiac factory headers. So on ebay for $349 I could buy a set through Ram Air Restorations. Called to ask about fitment to G-body plus the 2 1/2 dia. Vs. 2 1/4 for my application. Normal business hours no answer. Left a message and the guy calls me back today. Since the ones on e-bay sold with buy it now. Today the price is $389 plus undisclosed shipping. I kindly ask about the ebay price and explained what happened. I got a SOL response from him. I'll have to pay the extra $50 or so. He said "sales have a begining and an end" BUT during the next meet he goes to he'll probably have them on special again.

Is it me or does this guy sound like a major A-hole to you? I am not sure I would ever want to buy anything from him, because of his price waffling. He knows I want them and decides to gouge me the extra $. I have had similar things happen on Ebay before and the vender has always honored the sale price. Anybody have a reccomendation where to find Pontiac manifolds?

 

[84GP455]

Try Ames performance http://www.amesperf.com/ you can get a free catalog and i know that they sell the factory Pontiac exhaust manifolds there. They are like Pontiac heaven! :wink: What kind of Pontiac motor do you have? I have a spare pair in my basement because they are hard to find and the ears on the stud break easy but i would choose them over headers ANY DAY! I put my Pontiac manifolds on my motor in 1991 and have never had to change them or the gasket until i did my exhaust over 2 years ago. They are much better than headers in my opinion and they fit on any car/motor combination.

 

[SafariWagon]

Thanks for the info 84GP455. I checked Ames performance and they are $429. At this point if I found them for $389 I would buy them, but not from Ram Air Restorations. Guy just seems a little shady for my taste. The 2 1/2 dia. exit port is not factory. I believe they were 2 1/4. You can buy those through "The Parts Place" for $250. What ones do you have? I have a 75 Pontiac 400 block with 70 Ram air III D-ports, casting #13's. Yes, part of the reason for wanting to make the switch was after all the "custom" cutting and welding I figure they will rust from the inside out pretty quick and soon I'll have headers with holes in them.

 

[84GP455]

Oh you really wanted the Ram air manifolds? I thought that you wanted regular Pontiac manifolds but were buying them from Ram air Restorations,,oh i get it now. I only have the regular Pontiac manifolds for my 4X heads but i would love to get a pair of the Ram Air ones for the "D" ports. Why do you want the Ram Air manifolds verses the stock manifolds? The stock ones are about half the price and they flow pretty good, as good as tube headers. They did a comparison in High Performance Pontiac magazine once and tested that theory. You could get the 2 1/4 ones and step up the header pipe>>>>>no? I have the stock 2 1/4 and my header pipe goes from 2 1/4 to 2 1/2.

 

[SafariWagon]

Specials have a beginning and end. 'Sorry you missed it. We will have similar special at GM Nats(Carlisle PA)

Here are some facts...we manufacture these ourselves and they are the best castings that can be run on traditional Pontiac engines. We can change prices or have specials anytime we desire. We could give them away for free if we choose to.

The responses I got from Paul at RARE.

It's this kind of customer service that has led me to find a different supplier. The Paddock sells Ram Air manifolds with a 2 1/2 outlet for $365. Not sure if they are the same castings or not, but I really don't care they are going on a 81 Lemans Wagon Not an original #'s 70 GTO. Thanks for the help.

 

[shotgun]

Also take a look at Performance Years.

I took a set of RARE manifolds to Chris (owner of PY) while he was prototyping his to compare to stock and his 'new" ones. I shared my opinion on them.

The first ones where rough, so he sent them back to the foundary with a list to fix.

"The stock ones are about half the price and they flow pretty good, as good as tube headers. They did a comparison in High Performance Pontiac magazine once and tested that theory."

Details are a little mixed up.

On a mild, sub 400 horse , logs beat SHORT tube headers, not full length.

Ram Airs bested both.

Above 400, things moved around:

2 1/4 PY, then the shorties, then RARE 2 1/2.

In all cases good full length headers bested them all.

All the other suppliers are selling the same one, except RARE.

With the improvements Chris was making to his, there will now be 3 different manufacturers.

I will speculate that they will hang in or better RAREs version. Maybe I will stop in tomorrow and check for ya!

 

[84GP455]

I agree with you Shotgun, but i thought that full length tube headers wouldn't fit on our Gbody's do they?

 

[shotgun]

If you got the coin $ 🙂 $ 🙂 $ 🙂 $

G & G Perfromance Parts
(937)307-6586

 

[SafariWagon]

Thanks for the info. Shotgun. Yes, please check on them for me. The paddock is on back order 2-4 weeks.

 

[grant's prix]

headers

I have run the repro RAIII manifolds since the early 90s in 2 1/4 and only ever replaced the gaskets once or twice. THey are excellent fit in the G body. The gut I spoke with who makes them told me the difference with the 2 1/2 is that he made new flanges and grinds the outlet on the manifold to match. Same castings for both used. He said since mine were in the car for so long he could send me a pair of the 2 1/2 ends but I shouldn't grind the manifolds as they may crack from the long years of use. These were sold to me as lifetime warranty as well. Don't know if they still are. I am extremely happy. My brother in law is using a shorty header on his 79, I think they will flow about the same.