Issue with Exhaust manifold

[SevenOFF]

Hey guys, I just joined the forum and I’m looking for some help. I’m not really an expert on Mopar/A-bodies since I’m from France, and Mopars are pretty rare over here, lol.


I’ve got a ’68 Barracuda notchback with a 318ci that I really love, and I wanted to swap out my exhaust manifolds with something like this kit:

The issue I noticed is that the left-side exhaust manifold isn’t the same as the right side. The right side looks normal, but the left side is a bit longer, kind of like this:

I can’t seem to find any kit that bolts up to these, or any info on how to make a kit like the one I found work with my setup. Has anyone run into this before or knows more about these unequal exhaust manifolds? Any advice would be greatly appreciated ! ^^

 

[ch1ll]

I wouldn't waste my time or money. Shorty headers produce too little of a performance gain to justify the cost or maintaince. You will be happier with cast iron manifolds or full length headers. Performance gains can be found by porting the best cast manifolds you can find if you need to spend money, but for me, I'd spend it on long tube headers.

 

[Ant]

I can't recommend shorty headers unless it's good price to performance, but long tube headers are better at that. The question is, why do you want headers? If your car will just be a calm cruiser, stick with manifolds. If you are hotrodding and doing more than just upgrading the exhaust, maybe go with long tube headers if you want.

 

[SevenOFF]

I wouldn't waste my time or money. Shorty headers produce too little of a performance gain to justify the cost or maintaince. You will be happier with cast iron manifolds or full length headers. Performance gains can be found by porting the best cast manifolds you can find if you need to spend money, but for me, I'd spend it on long tube headers.

I mean, the issue hasn’t changed — it’s not plug-and-play, and I’m looking for something easier. I know someone who has a used one for sale for $200, so…

i wanted to put some long headers but i don't even have the space for it :

so even if i take some shorts one or long one, how am i supposed to install them ?

 

[remytherat]

En gros t’as 3 options:

Dougs D453/TTi long tubes (assez chers)

TTi shorties (plus facile a installer mais ils coutent presque la même et ils sont pas beaucoup mieux que ceux que t’as)

Hooker/summit (pas chers du tout, mais pas super bien construits)

 

[SevenOFF]

En gros t’as 3 options:

Dougs D453/TTi long tubes (assez chers)

TTi shorties (plus facile a installer mais ils coutent presque la même et ils sont pas beaucoup mieux que ceux que t’as)

Hooker/summit (pas chers du tout, mais pas super bien construits)

ouais mais ducoup, j'ai vraiment du mal a concevoir comment ca s'installe, c'est quoi j'doit soudé directe dessus j'fait comment ?

 

[SevenOFF]

I can't recommend shorty headers unless it's good price to performance, but long tube headers are better at that. The question is, why do you want headers? If your car will just be a calm cruiser, stick with manifolds. If you are hotrodding and doing more than just upgrading the exhaust, maybe go with long tube headers if you want.

long tubes is what i'm looking for but idk how i'm supposed to install these knowing that my exhaust go all the ways to the engine bay and that i don't even have the space for it

 

[remytherat]

ouais mais ducoup, j'ai vraiment du mal a concevoir comment ca s'installe, c'est quoi j'doit soudé directe dessus j'fait comment ?

T’enlèves les collecteurs d’échappement et tu coupes le tuyau puis t’installes les nouveaux et tu les soudes…

Regarde sur youtube si tu comprends pas. C’est assez compliqué. Souvent it faut détacher le moteur et le lever un peut

 

[RustyRatRod]

Here's my recommendation. If you cannot figure out how to modify your car like MILLIONS of other people all over the world have done since cars have been made, then leave it alone.

 

[SevenOFF]

T’enlèves les collecteurs d’échappement et tu coupes le tuyau puis t’installes les nouveaux et tu les soudes…

Regarde sur youtube si tu comprends pas. C’est assez compliqué. Souvent it faut détacher le moteur et le lever un peut

Ouais je vois... Mais bon en ce moment j'ai vraiment d'endroit ou espace où autre pour lever le moteur ou le faire sauté un peu... Ya pas des solution un peut plus plug n play ? Fin moins galère, j'ai les connaissances j'ai deja refait tout le train arrière dessus et tout, mais en ce moment j'ai pas de garage particulièrement et je vie en appartement quoi ^^`

 

[SevenOFF]

Here's my recommendation. If you cannot figure out how to modify your car like MILLIONS of other people all over the world have done since cars have been made, then leave it alone.

I know how to do stuff I’ve already redone my whole rear axle, but I thought that for something like this, I wouldn’t need to jack up the engine or anything. Right now, I don’t even have a place to do it, I stopped renting a garage, so the car is stored in the street rn and I need to find another garage, and since I’m living in an apartment, I don’t have much space at the moment to like jack up and stuff, I was hoping for something a bit more plug-and-play

 

[RustyRatRod]

I know how to do stuff I’ve already redone my whole rear axle, but I thought that for something like this, I wouldn’t need to jack up the engine or anything. Right now, I don’t even have a place to do it, I stopped renting a garage, so the car is stored in the street rn and I need to find another garage, and since I’m living in an apartment, I don’t have much space at the moment to like jack up and stuff, I was hoping for something a bit more plug-and-play

Nothing will be plug and play to hook up to your existing exhaust. Nothing. As far as I know, those shorty headers in your very first picture are correct for your car and will fit. The "rest" is up to the end user.

 

[remytherat]

Ouais je vois... Mais bon en ce moment j'ai vraiment d'endroit ou espace où autre pour lever le moteur ou le faire sauté un peu... Ya pas des solution un peut plus plug n play ? Fin moins galère, j'ai les connaissances j'ai deja refait tout le train arrière dessus et tout, mais en ce moment j'ai pas de garage particulièrement et je vie en appartement quoi ^^`

Comme il a dit t'as pas d'option plus facile.


Tu fais come tu veux. Si t'es assez malin tu peux tout faire sans garage.

Bonne chance

 

[ch1ll]

long tubes is what i'm looking for but idk how i'm supposed to install these knowing that my exhaust go all the ways to the engine bay and that i don't even have the space for it

Reputable header manufactures like TTI and Doug's have instructions as well as a tech line. They are made to fit. It's not easy, but there will be reward. You may have to ding them a bit.

 

[ch1ll]

Comme il a dit t'as pas d'option plus facile.


Tu fais come tu veux. Si t'es assez malin tu peux tout faire sans garage.

Bonne chance

Welcome to the USA. SPEAK ENGLISH, measure in inches and lose the ragtop, buy a baseball cap.

And definitely become a US citizen.

 

[Hellrats]

You're gonna be sorry you took off those manifolds. Headers on an A body are a pain in the ***.

 

[RustyRatRod]

You're gonna be sorry you took off those manifolds. Headers on an A body are a pain in the ***.

I cannot disagree.

 

[SevenOFF]

Comme il a dit t'as pas d'option plus facile.


Tu fais come tu veux. Si t'es assez malin tu peux tout faire sans garage.

Bonne chance

ouais... je vais voir pour louer un pont un truc comme ca je vais me renseigner mais bon c'est pas une question de garage c'est juste que c'est compliqué de faire ca dans la rue ou un parking publique, surtout avec la taille des rue francaise on est pas au US la ^^'

 

[SevenOFF]

Welcome to the USA. SPEAK ENGLISH, measure in inches and lose the ragtop, buy a baseball cap.

And definitely become a US citizen.

yeah sorry ^^'

 

[SevenOFF]

You're gonna be sorry you took off those manifolds. Headers on an A body are a pain in the ***.

that's what i'm seeing yeah... looks like a real pain in the ASSSSSSS

 

[Michael Harrington]

Mopars are much much more difficult then Chevy models when it comes to headers. As you see the space is incredibly tight. The shorty headers you posted are a "Universal" design" and most likely WILL NOT fit any stock" manufactured for the motoring public" Mopar. TTI and Dougs make full length headers that fit and are of excellent design and quality, but they are expensive. Hedman Hooker and the others (Jegs and Summit) headers are full length- more affordable but most likely difficult to install and have a couple tubes that hang so low it will sour your opinion of them and create regret. Now, TTI is known for great fitting long tube headers BUT they also make a shorty header. Again- not cheap but the quality of TTI is legendary. https://ttiexhaust.com/TTi34025.htm

 

[66fs]

The exhaust manifolds are not the problem. Get yourself a good exhaust system with either dual exhaust or a copy of the 67 Barracuda Commando exhaust, 2 1/2 to the the muffler and 2 1/4 tail pipe and use two straight thru mufflers in series. Your drivers side manifold is not an A-Body manifold.

 

[furrystump]

I’m running low 11’s through 340 manifolds, you are probably NOT out flowing the 318 manifolds. The quickest I know of the 340 manifolds is 10.18 at a STUPID 135!!! Want to make it quicker, follow 318willrun on here. He’s one of the guys working with the 318 and is getting a bunch out of them. Dont get me wrong, there is a time for headers. You’re just not there yet.

 

[4mulas]

Any kind of a header, is a pain in the butt to install and not my first go to if you’re looking for extra performance. I think the shorty headers are useless and not worth the asking price. Long tubes yes, add performance but can be ill fitting unless you buy TTI or Doug’s headers, the rest I would avoid.
( @Newbomb Turk ) will now disagree and chime in how great hooker headers are as they are his hands done favourite, but unless you’re building an all out race car hookers are not worth the effort, plus they are hard to find in good shape and are only available used, the model he likes anyway. They have new models available but they are the one that are a complete pain to install.

If you are looking for extra performance, ease of install, I would look for factory high performance exhaust manifolds made for A body mopars. I have a set. This is what I would recommend weather you buy them from me or not.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

Any kind of a header, is a pain in the butt to install and not my first go to if you’re looking for extra performance. I think the shorty headers are useless and not worth the asking price. Long tubes yes, add performance but can be ill fitting unless you buy TTI or Doug’s headers, the rest I would avoid.
( @Newbomb Turk ) will now disagree and chime in how great hooker headers are as they are his hands done favourite, but unless you’re building an all out race car hookers are not worth the effort, plus they are hard to find in good shape and are only available used, the model he likes anyway. They have new models available but they are the one that are a complete pain to install.

If you are looking for extra performance, ease of install, I would look for factory high performance exhaust manifolds made for A body mopars. I have a set. This is what I would recommend weather you buy them from me or not.

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We don’t disagree at all about Hooker headers. There are SOME apart numbers of Hooker that fit and don’t hang low and all that crap.

But there aren’t many of them. For the A bodies there are only two part numbers and thats 5204 and 5303, not withstanding W2 headers. And neither of those fit with power steering and can be a BEEEEEOOOTCH to install but when they are on the fit and work AND you can get to the plugs easily and the plug wires on 5 and 7 don’t get smoked and burned on a regular basis.

Out side of those two part numbers the rest of the Hookers are straight garbage. All the things I said above that the other two part number do and do well, the other part numbers don’t do any of that.

If I had power steering I wouldn’t use a Hooker header with a gun to my head. They are no better than the $59.99 Hedman and other brand cheap junk headers. And yes, Im THAT old and I know it every day because my wife cant go a day without reminding me lol.

I’ve tested on my engine dyno a bunch of headers on small blocks, and every single time I’ve done it the TTI header was the biggest power loser of all of them. And one set I have is one of those 1980 $59.99 headers. They fit like crap and I have to use plug wires with 90 degree boots so I can loop the wires under the header so they don’t get smoked warming the engine.

So we don’t disagree about Hookers that much.

But, if I couldn’t fit the 5204 or 5303’s which BTW neither of which are made new any more I’d use Doug’s and not consider the rest and that includes the over priced TTI.