[drewm]

Just looking for insight of the RAR manifolds, which everyone seems to acknowledge are the best ones made, versus the ones that our host sells. I've been trying for months to purchase a pair of RAR oversize d-port 64-67 as well as some accessories, but phone calls don't seem to work and now I am trying to order them on the website and it won't calculate the shipping so the order cannot be completed. I originally placed a verbal order back in February when they started coming back in stock. Then tried again in May and still have heard nothing.

Are the cheaper castings that much worse? I don't mind grinding the casting flash to pretty them up, but I was curious if there is any info on flow characteristics or is it so minor that it doesn't make much of a difference?

[JLMounce]

None of that really matters, because those manifolds are simply not available. They haven't been for many years. I would call them vaporware at this point.

I did speak with them about a month ago regarding long branch manifolds for 67-69 birds and it was the same thing I got years earlier. They had left sides, no right sides with an 8-12 week expectation, which is more than likely just a lie.

I don't think the produce you get from Ames is going to leave you stranded. Having the larger collector is nice, but that doesn't matter if, as stated above, the product isn't actually available.

[steve25]

How much hp are you looking to make and with what heads and in what body car will these be used in?

[drewm]

Originally Posted by JLMounce

None of that really matters, because those manifolds are simply not available. They haven't been for many years. I would call them vaporware at this point.

When I spoke with him in February, they were coming available, and again in May they were in and orders were being processed. They also show up as in stock on the website.

[drewm]

Originally Posted by steve25

How much hp are you looking to make and with what heads and in what body car will these be used in?

66 gto convertible. Just a run of the mill 461 with home ported 6x-4s. Not sure about HP, but I think 400+ should be do-able.

[JLMounce]

Originally Posted by drewm

When I spoke with him in February, they were coming available, and again in May they were in and orders were being processed. They also show up as in stock on the website.

caveat emptor

[unruhjonny]

400+ is doable on standard logs;
you don't even need a stoker motor to get there!

(iirc Dennis Jensen posted a dyno thread on a near stock 77-400 that did this)

[drewm]

Originally Posted by JLMounce

caveat emptor

Im getting that vibe no doubt. And lots of threads about it to back that up...

[JLMounce]

Originally Posted by drewm

Im getting that vibe no doubt. And lots of threads about it to back that up...

Sucks for sure, because the product is highly regarded. I'd been trying to buy long branch manifolds for over 5 years...a good bit before all the supply issues caused by the pandemic. Always the same song and dance, every time I'd reach out.

[PAUL K]

Years ago we put a lot of effort into building a stock looking big power Pontiac engine using d-port exhaust manifolds. At the time we flowed every pair of reproduction manifolds available. The RAR' manifolds were not the best flowing. IMO their a great choice, high quality and convienant because you can get them with the 2.45 outlet that definetly helps with power.... But if they aren't availble there are other choices.

[mgarblik]

I had to change my entire build plan and go from round port heads to D-port because of the year's long round port long branch delays. I guess they never did happen and that was nearly 5 years ago now. I finally got a pair of D-port long branch from RAR. I have to admit, they are very nice, fit great, don't leak and look and sound great. But they don't make any power on a larger engine. My 468 Cu In. engine made almost 20 more HP and 30 more ft. lbs of torque on the dyno with the worst set of headers ever put on a Pontiac. Little 1 5/8" headers for a Pontiac 350 I had laying around. I guess you just have to pick your poison. At my age, I wasn't going to wait another 5 years or forever for exhaust manifolds.

[drewm]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

Years ago we put a lot of effort into building a stock looking big power Pontiac engine using d-port exhaust manifolds. At the time we flowed every pair of reproduction manifolds available. The RAR' manifolds were not the best flowing. IMO their a great choice, high quality and convienant because you can get them with the 2.45 outlet that definetly helps with power.... But if they aren't availble there are other choices.

Our host sells 2.5 inch manifolds, part # N179GC, which I assume are similar to the 2.5 (2.45) inch RAR manifolds?

[drewm]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

I guess you just have to pick your poison. At my age, I wasn't going to wait another 5 years or forever for exhaust manifolds.

I dont mind waiting a little. I havent even started on my motor, so I have time. But I am trying to spread out the costs and when the RAR manifold seemingly came available, I thought it would be a good time to get them, before they go out of stock again for who knows how many years...

[unruhjonny]

I’m going to be a counter point to that last post;
The shenanigans that cause supply interruptions are likely to not happen again any time soon.

[KSZR]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

Years ago we put a lot of effort into building a stock looking big power Pontiac engine using d-port exhaust manifolds. At the time we flowed every pair of reproduction manifolds available. The RAR' manifolds were not the best flowing. IMO their a great choice, high quality and convienant because you can get them with the 2.45 outlet that definetly helps with power.... But if they aren't availble there are other choices.

How did the rest compare?

[PAUL K]

Originally Posted by drewm

Our host sells 2.5 inch manifolds, part # N179GC, which I assume are similar to the 2.5 (2.45) inch RAR manifolds?

I wasn't aware they offered them with the larger exits.... Looks like you found a solution to your wait.

[PAUL K]

Originally Posted by KSZR

How did the rest compare?

Not sure I understand your question. We flowed them and used the pair we thought had the most power potential (highest flowing). We weren't really comparing them. The ones we used were purchased from a reproduction supplier.

[KSZR]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

Not sure I understand your question. We flowed them and used the pair we thought had the most power potential (highest flowing). We weren't really comparing them. The ones we used were purchased from a reproduction supplier.

You said you flowed every pair of manifold available right? I wondered what the results were?

[PAUL K]

Originally Posted by KSZR

You said you flowed every pair of manifold available right? I wondered what the results were?

Yes we did. Some flowed better than others.

[KSZR]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

Some flowed better than others.

Funny