Early A-body Headers

[RustyRatRod]

340 manifolds on an early A-body?

Yessiree, they're tight, but they fit. Both styles, early and late.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I couldnt agree more. No proof of any HP gains...but common sense would say they probably flow better than stock manifolds. Still though, poor business practices RUIN the whole shoot and match for me. I mean God forbid you have a warranty issue. Talk about a nightmare.

I do not see advantage of stuffing those ugly headders into my 65 cuda? WHere is defineable flow testing to tell me I gain Hp on my 318. The cuda runs great with my original exhaust manifolds with heat risers cut out. I can still change plugs and car puts out plenty of power, where is the gain from these headders? What does the dyno show compared to stock exhaust? I could spend that money to do other things!! I have a custome done dual exhaust that flows great, I would have to redo that also costing more money to redo welds existing. It does not compute to spend money not needed! I can use that for body, paint,cam ect. No gain = bad investment!!!

 

[cjh]

Hughes Engines have a set of headers to fit early A bodies....$776 USD.....and they ain't ugly either.

 

[abodyjoe]

sorry but way to restrictive, i would bet not much gain over a good set of magnum manifolds
Dodge 29

ps i would have a hard time making a 440 cubed small block breathed thru those

i'll bet a 440 small block would have a hard time breathing through a magnum manifold too. so whats the point?

 

[abodyjoe]

I do not see advantage of stuffing those ugly headders into my 65 cuda? WHere is defineable flow testing to tell me I gain Hp on my 318. The cuda runs great with my original exhaust manifolds with heat risers cut out. I can still change plugs and car puts out plenty of power, where is the gain from these headders? What does the dyno show compared to stock exhaust? I could spend that money to do other things!! I have a custome done dual exhaust that flows great, I would have to redo that also costing more money to redo welds existing. It does not compute to spend money not needed! I can use that for body, paint,cam ect. No gain = bad investment!!!

depends on your combo like anything else weather or not you'll gain anything.. i know stock early a body 273 manifolds choke the hell out of anything mote then a stock motor. hell they probably choke the stock motors pretty well also.. those spitfires do help quite a bit over stock 273 and even the 73 style 340 manifolds. you can choose to believe it or not. i know for a fact on djvcudas car they were a huge improvement over the 73 style 340 manifolds he was running.. he has bee mid 12's with them. will they flow lie a full length header? i highly doubt it, but for a mild build they are sure better then manifolds.

 

[abodyjoe]

So, what this appears to be is a cloning of the Spit Fire Headers built by Harold Johnson, right? If this manufacturer has a licensing agreement with Harold then you are golden. If not, better do some research and see if Harold took out a Patent on his design. I just installed a set of Spit Fires on my '65 Valiant and they were no picnic to install, especially the passenger side. Found these on eBay so nobody get your hopes up about Harold shipping again.
Bob

just change one little thing and your in. they wont be exactly the same..

 

[abodyjoe]

I am in touch with a local header manufacturer who has fixtures for the famous shorty headers for early A-bodies. This is a pretty large scale business that prototypes and makes headers for retailers (Mopars and Brand X). I would have to buy 10 sets for him to produce them. Would there be enough interest from FABO members to step up and get these made? Retail price would be $399. If you have questions or comments reply or send me a private message. I have not installed these headers, but many other members have. Check out the installs at the top of the page.

$400 then shipping on top of that?? gonna be a hard sell man.. if ya got them closer to $250-$300 i think you would have no problem selling them. seems to be a decent market for them..

got my set for $90 at e-town a few years ago.. never even bolted on a motor... they are just out in the shed sitting on a shelf waiting for a car to put them on one day..

 

[Commando66]

Does anyone have pictures documenting the installation of 340 exhaust manifolds and head pipes installed in an early (63-66) a-body? A friend and I tried, but the driver side would not work. As far as the Spitfire/Layson headers, the price could come down if I ordered 20 sets. That is a big chunk of change out of my pocket for what seems to be the most hated Mopar product of all time. I was just trying to get a feel for market.

 

[abodyjoe]

What year 340 manifolds were ya trying to use?


I hear ya on trying to help on the headers. Whatever ya do don't order any without pre payment from anyone that says they want a set. Seen too many time on too many different forums guy shelling out their own money for something only to have half the guys that said they wanted something back out. It would be nice to have another source for those headers out there though.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Does anyone have pictures documenting the installation of 340 exhaust manifolds and head pipes installed in an early (63-66) a-body? A friend and I tried, but the driver side would not work. As far as the Spitfire/Layson headers, the price could come down if I ordered 20 sets. That is a big chunk of change out of my pocket for what seems to be the most hated Mopar product of all time. I was just trying to get a feel for market.

Search is your friend.

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=103592

 

[Commando66]

I would not be comfortable taking prepayment on these headers just because of the history of them. As far as pictures of Magnum and 340 manifolds, I saw one top pic of the 340 with no detail and the car with magnums has the wrong insulators and NO clearance on the column. What other sacrifices were made to get these manifolds to fit? The problem with early a-bodies may not be the cars themselves.

 

[abodyjoe]

I would not be comfortable taking prepayment on these headers just because of the history of them.

you better get some kind of deposit before you get a bunch made. it would suck to see ya have a bunch of sets laying on your shelf. but hey its your money. if you want to and have the cash to lay out and risk who am i to argue. just seen this happen too many times in the past of various forums.. everyone is yea i'll buy right up until the part is made and money need to be sent. protect yourself man..

 

[lilcuda]

Does anyone have pictures documenting the installation of 340 exhaust manifolds and head pipes installed in an early (63-66) a-body? A friend and I tried, but the driver side would not work. As far as the Spitfire/Layson headers, the price could come down if I ordered 20 sets. That is a big chunk of change out of my pocket for what seems to be the most hated Mopar product of all time. I was just trying to get a feel for market.

I have pictures of my friend's 64 Barracuda with a 340 with 340 manifolds installed. They are on my work computer. I will try to remember to post them here next week. His car is a 4 speed and the only mod he had to do was to remove the stock steering coupler and weld on a Flaming River u-joint coupler. He used Schumacher motor mounts.

My car currently has a late 60's 318 manifold on the driver's side that I port-matched to the 340 heads. Not great for flow, but better than the stock 273 manifold. Passenger side is a 72 340 log style which is essentially the same as the 273 pass side manifold, but bigger I.D. Head pipes are 2 inch custom bent, connecting to 2 1/4 exhaust. This setup will all go away when I put my Spitfires on.