Exhaust Manifold Advice

[crutch]

I pulled the manifold to address an exhaust leak and the exhaust manifold flange is in rough shape. I took it to a local machine shop and he didn't have any experience with these and was concerned about how much material he would have to take and wanted to do them in separate parts. The horn ends was another issue of not knowing how to handle. His recommendation was to source a replacement. I'm going to talk to another machine shop but I'm in a smaller town and not sure I'm going to find the right machinist here. I'm not wanting to put too much money into this engine as I'm likely going to do an engine swap in a year or two.

Curious to get your thoughts on options particularly with not being a long term solution. Thanks!

 

[bhsdriller]

use a remflex and hope for the best

 

[Pighead]

Curious to get your thoughts on options particularly with not being a long term solution.

For a quick fix, I'd probably just dress those flanges as best you can. Maybe use power tools. Secretly, I've used a belt sander in a similar situation.

 

[3_puppies]

if you want to get it to Helena, my local guy has done several for me thru the years

if you find a replacement, it will either need to be done also or it was done before buying it

 

[MDH33]

Machine shop should have a large sander to flatten those while bolted together. It won't take too much off. I did this on my Stout manifolds and bolted them on with new gasket and hardware. Cheap fix, worked great.

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

The two pieces MUST be done AS ASSEMBLED if you want it to seal. The exhaust horns will need to be fixtured to prevent twisting - again - if you want it to seal.

You will likely need to shop around as machinists are not made from the same cloth as they once were. The good guys got too old to see well enough to keep doing it, and the young guys that took over were to stupid to listen to knowledge being given to them. You will know you found the right guy when he says, "they got to be done together, and those horns will need to be fixtured" It will cost whatever the man says, and you will be happy. But only if you find the right guy.

These are all NLA, and the used ones are haggard as. If it were me, shipping it would not be out of the question once I found the guru.

HTH - sorry for no quick fixes, or free lunches.

Your only other bolt on option is going to 3F non-US manifolds and carb...

Years ago, when I ran into this same issue, and being the pinchiest penny you could possibly find, I just bolted on some 3FE exhaust manifolds, and ground my intake to fit. Can't say I'd recommend it, but it doesn't leak, and I haven't messed with it in over 10 years.