I want to replace my factory exhaust manifolds on my 69 Bird, 350 engine with the RAM Air headers found in many of the reproduction catalogs. The car was previously converted to dual exhaust. Will these simply swap out or will it require exhaust welding/work to get them to fit on the existing pipes? Thanks.
You will have to cut and have new flaired ends on you pipes. The long branch are longer (who would have thought). Not a hard job but one that you might want to take to an exhaust shop. Other than that you don't need to do anything with your exhaust. Don't forgot about the oil filter adapter. You'll need one of those also unless you are running a remote oil filter already.
Restoring a 1968 400 4spd, numbers matching Firebird Coupe, Verdoro Green. Larry
Plus you'll need a mini starter to be able to remove the starter with the LBM's in place. Otherwise with the stock starter you will have to unbolt the manifolds & lower them.
First off, do yourself a favor and buy them from R.A.R.E so you will get the larger 2-1/2" openings instead of the 2-1/4" that everyone else sells and for the same price no less.
Second, you can still use a stock starter with NO issues at all even with LBMs. I don't know why everyone assumes you have to go to an expensive high torque mini. I ran a $39.99 stock starter with a lifetime warranty from AutoZone with a stock heat shield on my bird for 6 years. I never once had to unbolt my LBMs on my Bird or any others to get a stock starter on or off.
As mentioned, you will need the oil filter adapter, you can get this from R.A.R.E. as well and do yourself a favor and get the install bolt kit for the LBMs and the oil filter adapter and a manifold gasket set from them as well all at the same time. The guys there will treat you right!!
As for the high heat coatings, I've bought them both ways and had mixed results. My first set the coating did not hold up. HOWEVER, I mentioned this to the guys at R.A.R.E. in passing and they told me to send them to them. I did, they recoated them and sent them back. I had to pay for shipping to get them there, that was all. Those LBMs are now on a 61 Safari wagon and holding up quite nicely. So maybe the first coating was not as good, I don't know.
Another set I bought and put on another car, I did not opt for the coating and coated them myself with a product from Bill Hirsh paints. So far the results are EXCELLENT and much cheaper than having them coated by R.A.R.E. so that would be a judgement call.
Also, do yourself a favor and buy the correct/matching 2-bolt flange and bolt kits for bolting up your exhaust pipes to the LBMs. People often skip these parts to save money then expect their exhaust shop to make their existing system mate up tightly to the LBMs. Having the correct flanges will allow the exhaust shop to do this correctly and makes for a nice, clean professional install vs. a sloppy, leaky crap install.
As much as like Ames, when it comes to LBMs, these are the guys to deal with:
By the way, I am hoping to soon be ordering a set of H.O. manifolds from R.A.R.E. for my 67 LeMans, very similar to the LBMs just not as long and were designed specifically for the 66/67 "A-body" cars. I can't wait to get them on my car along with a nice 2-1/2" dual exhaust kit from R.A.R.E. Their exhaust systems absolutely blow away the ones from Pypes IMO. I've seen them side by side and there is no comparison.
LBMs have been tested time and time again and every time they always win over every brand of headers available in every aspect. They flow much better, produce more hp, sound MUCH better and they do NOT leak, tick or have heat issues. They are basically the ultimate factory header hands down! Then to top it off, there are headers out there that cost as much or more, why anyone would opt to go that way is beyond me...
Same goes for Pontiac intake manifolds and heads too. Bottom line, Pontiac engineers knew what they were doing. Look at the flow bench test results over the years that have been done on stock Pontiac intake manifolds, heads & LBMs when compared to aftermarket products. In almost every single case the stcok, cast iron Pontiac parts out performs the aftermarket parts. This can not be said for ANY other division or any other auto mfg. The Pontiac guys from back then were amazing engineers!
They do not flow better than a quality 4 tube header but, up to a certain hp level they do not hold you back. Cam profiles make a difference here too. Good advise to avoid the headers until you you know you need them. As mentioned the RARE longbranch manifolds are excellent pieces. Make sure your heads have all the needed exhaust bolt holes drilled and tapped. All D-port heads use the same pattern but on some heads not all the holes are drilled and tapped. The boss may be there but no machine work done.
According to every article/test I've ever seen by High Performance Pontiac over the years, the LBMs have always flowed better in tests than any header and produce more hp. In fact, some of the articles go on to say that the Pontiac LBMs were the greatest manifold/header EVER made by any mfg to date. Based on personal experience in owning and having both on my bird, I agree...
Dude, Joe, seriously, go back and re-read. We're all friends and man I hate to point it out but I bet they said they flow nearly as well but not better. I'd like to read that and vaugly remember that HPP article. Unless they we're comparring some crappy 3 tube headers or similar there is no way. The full length headers simply have longer primaries and offer more exhaust scavenging. When does that help depends on hp level and cam overlap.
I'm sure I have it somewhere but for me it's not worth taking the time. I've had both and I've seen both on the dyno first hand so I would always opt for the LBMs based on the fact that they sound ten times better and zero leaks and no ticks! That alone makes them better in my opinion any day. LOL
I guess my point is I could never imagine why anyone would opt to pay as much or more for headers when LBMs are as good or better and have none of the issues that headers have. I guess that what it comes down to for me...
IN order to make headers flow better than long branch you have to do some head work. Pontiac heads have connected center ports that cross over in the intake manifold so all 4 center cylinders are connected. Headers work best if every cylinder fires into its own tube.If you fill the crossover in the heads with aluminum you will see a gain with headers.Other wise LBMs are just as good.