[Skip Fix]

All the 409 repop manifolds are in the $900-100 range-use Pontiac guys have been lucky!

[kathiek]

Look like the same old castings from Classic Reproductions with the same CM in place of the Gm...ports are mediocre but they fit. If Ames won't handle the so-called "new" design then they are the same. oh well

[njsteve]

Definitely not the same old parts. $359 for a 2-1/2" outlet manifold with ceramic coating.

None of the other brands come with a ceramic coating at no extra cost. I shopped around and the other versions charged at least an extra $200 for anything other than bare cast iron which makes a $400 set end up being well over $600.

They fit great and the car runs awesome. Massive difference in power compared to the factory 1975 logs I had on there and the restrictive parts store exhaust system from the 1980's. I am more than happy with my purchase.

[68 Firebird]

Would like to buy if they come out or a 68 Firebird 400!!!

[lugnutx2]

Other than the higher price, are there any quality control issues with the ones made by RARE? I'm getting ready to order a set of manifolds or possibly Doug's Headeders.

[kathiek]

Hay, if you can get good ceramic for free...thats a deal. I got a bare pair. Compared them to our friends RARE pair they just received, ports weren't as good as RARE's and they weighed 10lbs more than the RARE castings. They also weighed 10lbs more than stock originals he had. Good Luck

[lugnutx2]

Originally Posted by kathiek

Hay, if you can get good ceramic for free...thats a deal. I got a bare pair. Compared them to our friends RARE pair they just received, ports weren't as good as RARE's and they weighed 10lbs more than the RARE castings. They also weighed 10lbs more than stock originals he had. Good Luck

I'll stick with the RARE. Thanks!

[tempest1964]

Originally Posted by kathiek

Hay, if you can get good ceramic for free...thats a deal. I got a bare pair. Compared them to our friends RARE pair they just received, ports weren't as good as RARE's and they weighed 10lbs more than the RARE castings. They also weighed 10lbs more than stock originals he had. Good Luck

Just curious, were these the newer version MAX/PYPES that Ccass referred to in post #3 or the earlier version that had some bugs?
Thanks,
Tony

[jon greenwood]

Checked both sets @Ames last week. Pypes and there own. The casting was much better on the Ames set. More money but bought for my 65 as they will fit.

[jon greenwood]

Stopped at Ames last week checked both sets. The Ames set more $s but had much better casting, so bought a pair and fit on my 65.

[The Boss]

What's the point of the double post 23 hours apart?

[crustysarge]

Who was the guy in Dallas selling them years back? Probably 20 or so years ago I remember being on leave and buying a pair from at his house. He advertised in some magazines back then.

[njsteve]

Pypes now has a sound clip of the system that was installed on my GrammaCar, on their website...well a little more than just sound......;-)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptAu...ature=youtu.be

[sixty8ragtop]

Originally Posted by lugnutx2

Other than the higher price, are there any quality control issues with the ones made by RARE? I'm getting ready to order a set of manifolds or possibly Doug's Headeders.

Ram Air Restorations D-Port header feedback thread: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=737036

[The Boss]

Originally Posted by njsteve

Pypes now has a sound clip of the system that was installed on my GrammaCar, on their website...well a little more than just sound......;-)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptAu...ature=youtu.be

Nice, looks like Paul Spotts marks are still there.

Here's mine with the Pypes exhaust system....no burnout, just a hint of what could be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdw8viZ0dSk

[Ccass]

Originally Posted by kathiek

Hay, if you can get good ceramic for free...thats a deal. I got a bare pair. Compared them to our friends RARE pair they just received, ports weren't as good as RARE's and they weighed 10lbs more than the RARE castings. They also weighed 10lbs more than stock originals he had. Good Luck

Per pair they may be 3-4 lbs heavier but the lighter weight is not magic. Iron is iron for the most part. There's just less material in the RARE manifolds. Unfortunately it's not taken from chambers where increased flow could benefit performance. It's mostly in the output ports where the gaskets can easily blow out because there's not enough iron for the gaskets to adhere to.

Everyone can brag about one vs another but the reality is all that is important is if they fit, flow and don't cost a fortune. Both brands were tested by HPP and they tested literally identical.

Link coming to some comparison picks.

[Ccass]

Originally Posted by sixty8ragtop

Ram Air Restorations D-Port header feedback thread: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=737036

Just to be clear, there is nothing wrong with the RARE manifolds. Those manifolds have helped a lot of customers over the years. All I'm saying is that you now have another choice that is at least as good and about 20% less. That's why this is America.....you get to choose.

It just so happens that supporting the new Max Manifolds also supports 20 years worth of free Forums.

Available at Ames and NPD but you must request MAX or you may get CR manifolds which are definitely not as nice. (RARE are only available directly from RARE)