276 Desoto hemi exhaust manifold

[akrateffil]

Looking for a factory passenger side exhaust manifold for a 276 Desoto hemi, I am trying not to install tubular headers and also save some money.


Kind of an oxymoron having hemi and save some money in the same sentence

[techinspector1]

OK, as long as you realize that you're giving up somewhere around 50 horsepower with those logs. Best bet in my opinion, Hemmings Motor News. I can never seem to find anything online, so I go by one of the better bookstores, like Waldenbooks or others, and pick up a copy of Hemmings. If you don't find what you're looking for, then buy a "parts wanted" advertisement in the next few issues.

[akrateffil]

Techinspector,

50 horsepower?? I did not think headers versus manifolds was such a great difference. I have always had horrible header experiences (all Mopar motors). This build was going to be stock with the exception of some polished aluminum goodies.
I guess I will have to see if I can pick up a manifold cheap, if not Hotheads has headers.
Thanks,
Andy

[techinspector1]

I have always had horrible header experiences

I don't know the reason in your case, but in most cases it's because guys cheap out on headers. They buy ones with the cheezy thin flanges and thin pipe material, then the flanges curl up like a potato chip from the exhaust heat and leak.

Even the best 3/8" flanges are too thin in my opinion and I wish someone would step up to the plate and make headers with a 1/2" flange and 14 gauge pipes. I would pay the difference to get a quality product and I'm pretty sure others who have had the same problems would also.

At any rate, the best you can do for now is to choose headers with a 3/8" flange and buy the best gaskets money can buy. Dead soft copper works pretty well and these were highly recommended on another forum.....
http://catalog.remflex.com/CHEVROLET...t_p/rf2004.htm

The other trick to keeping leaks to a minimum is to secure the collectors to the transmission in whatever fashion you can as a hot rod fabricator. Maybe make some brackets that come up off the pan bolts. Whatever you can do to keep the weight off the header bolts at the heads.

[pat mccarthy]

1/4 is to thin and only built few set in 1/4. but many times if you use 3/8 plate for header flanges the big tube in a car with narrow frame the tube bends will hang up on the flanges as you need fast bends and the in side bend hangs then you have to rework the flange for the radius of the bend . have had this happen more then one time with the 3/8 is fine has long has there cut and flat .on the smaller tube stuff is 060 wall and thats thick and on a out side bend it is ez the fuse weld it with a tig were the you weld kit bends can get very thin here less then .025. but most race guys do not want headers that are not a 100 pounds a set so there a trade off good u bends are hard to find some are junk. header gaskets i have had good luck with grafoil like the Mr gaskets . the copper will not blow out but they will not always seal less the headers are dead flat most all the time this is not the case the copper embossed can work better but i seen them leak if the bead will not set on the header flange if not line up on the o ring . lot of builder of headers weld o rings round the ports in hopes they seal better but it seams the copper just will not crush to leve out the poor work . some guys use red rtv on them as well .i built a set of headers for a B1 head mopar all he ever used was rtv ? but flanges were very flat

[akrateffil]

I bought a used manifold off of hothemiheads.com classifieds. I think this is the better way until I decide if I want to hotrod the engine.
Thanks for all your guidance.
Andy