No room b/w V8 and steering gear box! which manifolds fit??

[75toy40]

I recently converted to the chevy 350 V8 in my 1975 FJ40.
I have next to NO room on the driver's side. I need to find headers or manifolds that will clear the narrow space. Anyone done this before? I need help bad. I've gone through several different options and none of them fit.

 

[reddingcruiser]

This same question pops up regularly. About the closest fitting manifold you'll get is the stock "ram horn" manifold, used for years on early Chevrolet motors.

 

[75toy40]

Unfortunately, those ram horn manifolds do not fit either. I tried the speedway motors ones, and then I tried the dorman ones. Nothing is fitting. Any other options?

 

[oldmuddog]

I used ram horns on my early 350 along with a y pipe 2 into 1, this one exits towards the drivers side where I had the local exhaust shop run the exhaust high and tight through a Thrush muffler going straight back.

 

[John Smith]

Unfortunately, those ram horn manifolds do not fit either. I tried the speedway motors ones, and then I tried the dorman ones. Nothing is fitting. Any other options?

Move the motor so you have room.

 

[Fast Eddy]

What was on there before? New V8 install? Seems you'd have some manifolds on there before you welded up the mounts.

 

[reddingcruiser]

How far over to the left did you set the motor, i.e. centerline of the motor in relation to the center line of the chassis?? More than 1 to 1 1/2 inches? What mounts did you use? How about a picture.

 

[Plowboy]

Camero manifold from the 80's work. Exhaust pipe bolt in the back. Also an early 80 Pick up or 305 cui engine has a ramshorn style that empties between the 5&7 plug. Moves your problem behind the steering box. This manifold is hard to find in junk yard. Available for $100 on line

 

[Diskord]

FWIW here is the room I have with block hugger headers, and saganaw box up front. Less than 1 cm between the headers and the steering rod, and the motor is mounted left of center (looking at the front)



Sent from Cygnus X1 on the ship Rocinante

 

[GOPSU]

I like many on this site recently did this. I used the original Chevy 2" ramshorns from older chevy trucks and biscaynes-not the fatter Dorman aftermarket ones. I then used the magical Walker Y pipe and it cleared the factory manual steering and oil pan. I then ran single exhaust and exit out the left side rear. You may need to lever the motor toward the right side one motor mount hole. It's not that hard, remove the motor mount thru bolts and lever the motor with a 2x4x8. I used the AA motor mounts. Hope this helps.

 

[camcruiser13]

Pics might help all of us. But I bet you have room.

Be creative and use your head. That's why we drive a cruza

 

[freewheeling frank]

You could try the outside the frame rail style headers. I think Man-a-fre carries them, or AA.

 

[oldmuddog]

My 2" aftermarket Dorman manifolds clear my stock steering pump by 3/4 ". There are 2 sets of #s on the Walker y pipe,42087 and 0910151.I forgot where I purchased it, I've bought quite a few new parts recently and am losing track. GOPSU is correct on pushing the motor one bolt hole towards the passenger side (also AA motor mounts) . Also I had to order a 2" heat riser for the passenger side so the y pipe would clear the oil pan. That I got from Zip Corvette on the internet. I'm sure every build is different though.

 

[75toy40]

thanks for the ideas guys. i'm new to this site, and i am pleasantly surprised at how helpful it is. i appreciate your responses.

 

[Leaping Deer]

My 2" aftermarket Dorman manifolds clear my stock steering pump by 3/4 ". There are 2 sets of #s on the Walker y pipe,42087 and 0910151.I forgot where I purchased it, I've bought quite a few new parts recently and am losing track. GOPSU is correct on pushing the motor one bolt hole towards the passenger side (also AA motor mounts) . Also I had to order a 2" heat riser for the passenger side so the y pipe would clear the oil pan. That I got from Zip Corvette on the internet. I'm sure every build is different though.

This is info I needed but what is the 0910151. I see the 42087 as the Walker pipe.

 

[Sando Serious]

Block huggers

 

[oldmuddog]

This is info I needed but what is the 0910151. I see the 42087 as the Walker pipe.

The number 42087 was in large type. I guess the other # might have been a sku # for the vendor.My manifolds from Summit were RNB674-500 (left side) & RNB674-503(right side) .Made for early GM 350 (early 60's to early 70's) Hope this helps. Also I did steer myself away from headers because of possible heat issues under the hood.I'm sure there are many who have had no problems with headers but I did not want to put alot of time into an exhaust only to have to redo it later on because of what I read and of potential heat problems.

 

[miker]

FWIW here is the room I have with block hugger headers, and saganaw box up front. Less than 1 cm between the headers and the steering rod, and the motor is mounted left of center (looking at the front)

View attachment 648632

I'm sure there's more than one way to correct the problem, but one thing I see contributing to the lack of clearance is that your steering column is pretty short. In otherwords, its does not stick out very far from the firewall. If the u-joint at the end of the column is a little further out from the firewall, it will give you some steering shaft room at the header/exhaust manifold.

 

[dohcdelsol93]

i used a chevy 2" ram horn on my steering box side.

couldn't use the ram horn on the passenger side and used a stock 70's pick up 350 manifold.

 

[Downey]

I don't think AA Slick Fits work on the FJ40 (with or without stock steering gear box), but you might consider the Sanderson "ultra" block huggers. Most block huggers stick out 4"-plus, I believe the ultra block huggers only stick out 3" to 3 1/2".