exh. manifolds- chevy in a 40 Ford

[joe gaddy]

MII rack, sbc motor. Anyone have any experience with which ones might allow a fairly straight shot between the rack and the steering column? I would like to avoid a third ujoint if I can. Although I would rather use cast iron, I am not opposed to block huggers if they would allow the straightest shot. I realize that how far the column extends into the engine compartment also has an effect. I have not yet purchased a column. Joe

[kennyd]

i just bought a set of new ramhorn style manifolds from speedway motors , they actually look real good and clear great . i am doing a 37 ford , that is the same frame as a 40

[Bob Parmenter]

And "conventional" block huggers are fine too as this photo shows. The steering shaft clears by 1/4" as it passes the top of the head pipe. The cast iron "rams horns" would clear about the same, and there are tube types called "tight tubes" that have a flatter collector that add just a little more clearance.

Of course it will also depend on where you locate the exit point of the column bottom. This example was planned to clear the way it does.

[Bob Parmenter]

This is what the tight tubes look like, they're from Hedman.

[joe gaddy]

Thanks Kenny and Bob. Just the info I was hoping for. What column is in the 36 Bob? I assume the picture is the 36. Kenny does the Speedway manifold allow similar clearance? Joe

[kennyd]

yes , it clears as much as a set of blockhugger headers . i like the look of headers better , but i angle plug heads ,and block hugger headers would not allow enough meat arround the exhaust of the the ported heads , thats why i used these headers so i can port them to match the gaskets .

[Bob Parmenter]

Originally posted by joe gaddy
What column is in the 36 Bob? Joe

I use a mid 60's GM intermediate (Cutlass, Skylark, Tempest, Chevelle) tilt column. It's a 32" column, that I cut the factory brackets off and slide it into a length of 2 1/2" exhaust tubing to clean it up. I shave off the shift arm. It makes for a real clean looking column without any clunky ignition switch or signal lump. Just the two levers for signal and tilt. They're getting harder to come by because of muscle car guys competeing for them, but I bought a half dozen or so about ten years ago at a swap meet. When I run out I'll just go with Flaming River, they've invested in tooling to make the smooth, rounded "bowl" at the top, pretty much looks like the setup I've been building.

I just dropped this in quick to show you, the wires hanging from below the bowl aren't stuffed in the mast as they will be when completed.

[joe gaddy]

Thanks again guys. Your help is appreciated. Joe