What's This
 

Attachment 657804

I removed the engine from my 1968 GTO with 45000 original miles on it for a rebuild [cam wiped out] and noticed this brace on the oil filter housing.
Is this a factory item?

Yes it is. That's a stop for the exhaust manifold heat riser valve. The right side manifold with the valve was replaced with a regular manifold in production sometime in Mar-Apr 68.

bracket
 

You are the 68 GTO man.
That makes sense, I did remove the stock [cracked] manifolds and the valve was frozen open.
Time to order Ram Air exhaust manifolds.
thank you for the info.
Attachment 657813

OG,
So they did away with the heat riser valve in early 68?
There was nothing to encourage exhaust flow through the intake?

I had no idea. The set of manifolds I have on my (April 68) GTO have (had) the riser, but they are not original to the car.
I removed it and plugged the holes.

Manifold
 

My 68 GTO was born in 11/22/67
Great info, I should put my bracket in a glass case, so when someone wants to build an early 68, I got what they need:whoo:

Service Bulletin

Heat riser
 

I wonder if the manifold cracking in that area was also a reason to discontinue the heat riser? Mine was cracked at 45000 miles or earlier.

cracked
 

OG, thank you.

So with my YS 789663 engine I've got the wrong RH exhaust manifold, I should have one with no riser.
I assume the "heated air intake system" mentioned is the tube from the air cleaner snorkel to the heat shield thingie on the left side exhaust manifold.

What's your EUN Data?
549847 and above will (should) not have the riser valve

Yes, the cardboard hot air tube.

Engine number is 789663.

When I got the exhaust manifolds I remember thinking that I didn't remember my GTO originally having the riser, but then that was like 50 years ago :)

I've always been torn between the 68 and older versus the 69 and newer standard manifolds. The older ones have the troublesome heat riser but the later (69 plus) don't have the end bolt holes to better seal to the heads.

That’s a shame the cam went after only 45k miles. What oil brand/viscosity have you routinely been using?

In all my years with all the different Pontiacs I have never seen one of those before .
Very Cool !
64-67 had the flappers too , but no stop brackets like that.
Must have started with the new 68 models.