Exhaust Manifold options?
 

I have a 1969 Firebird that I am installing a 1970 WS motor with #13 heads. The car has a 4 speed Muncie. I have no exhaust manifolds so I am looking for options. I would prefer to go with R/A manifolds but I don't believe they are available yet unless something has changed. I really don't want to go with headers due to interference concerns with starters and shifter linkage unless someone makes a great fitting set? Are "shorty" hedders available for my application and any one have any insight on "shorties"? Thanks for any input on this. Dave

RARE shows D-port manifolds in stock on their website.

https://www.ramairrestoration.com/rm...y-headers.html

LB-1F shows in stock but not sure it’s correct.Have a friend that talked to Paul this last week and we’re notin stock yet.Call to be sure.Those are the uncoated manifolds for D portheads.Tom

No room for longbranch manifolds?

Ebay

Fitment?
 

OK thanks everyone. Will the ram air manifolds have any fitment problems in my first gen firebird? The Ram Air website says will fit 2nd gen birds and GTOs.

For first gens you need the long branch,Ram Air is for gen 2 and A bodies

I bought a set of D-port long branch manifolds new from Ram Air Restorations about a year ago. They had just got a shipment in after waiting over a year. So check stock for sure. They work fine and are nice castings. They have the "cool look" and on a stock or mild build are worth 7-10 peak HP over the stock log iron manifolds. They are expensive and require the oil filter adapter for proper fitment. By the time your all done, it's a minimum $1000.00 deal with all the parts for 7-10 HP. Headers cost about the same but always have to deal with fitment issues, rust, noise, ground clearance, exhaust leaks. Decent set of headers on a stock type build probably an additional 5-7 HP peak HP over the long branch manifolds. Decisions, decisions. As HP creeps above 400, headers become more important for best HP. My recent build took a 28 HP hit on the dyno between long branch manifolds and a set of lousy "dyno headers" we had laying around. But my engine was large, 467 CU IN, and just under 500 HP with the headers.

Oops sorry….I was looking at the picture of your 2nd gen Firebird……I need to pay better attention! :sorry:

Update.
 

Spoke to Paul at RamAir, he said he is expecting the Long branch manifold castings to arrive in AZ by 12-31-22 and that it would take him another 4 weeks to have the castings cleaned up and ready for sale. $699 for the manifolds plus another $95 for oil filter adapter. Hope his dates are accurate!

You could try the Sanderson shorty headers. Their exit is near where the factory log manifold exit is, allowing a standard headpipes.

I also talked to Paul,,,foundry sent him some samples and he said they looked good. He said D-port,O-port and long branch are supposed to ship to him before the end of the year like was said..

As a teen I put a set of used Hooker headers on my '68 350 Firebird without lifting the motor. I had to remove the oil filter adapter and the starter but it wasn't difficult to put them back on afterward and oil changes were not bad either. My car had stock front end springs and they never bottomed out on the highway. Not knowing any better I used the steel embossed gaskets and they never leaked either. Overall it was a very positive experience. The boost in power came on at about 3000; it had the 067 cam.

FYI, take this info with some major grains of salt. I had an order in for D-port manifolds from RARE that went unfulfilled for over a year. Paul kept telling me they would be arriving "at the end of the month", and they never did. I waited around 14-16 months before finally giving up and canceling my order because I needed to move forward with my build. Maybe you'll get lucky, and I hope you do, but be ready for a possible delay. They're super nice if you can get them.

The parts place still has them on eBay. That's where I got mine. Why not?

I'm assuming they are not the same parts sold by RARE, which are typically regarded as the superior casting.

Probably not, but I was glad to find a set. Good enough for my driver.

Parts Place O port manifolds out of Stock.