[prophet455]

I am still working on adding a single turbo to the second gen firebird. I have read about a lot of systems/manifolds that simply are not available any longer. I am running the edelbrock round port heads. I am not a big fan of purchasing a set of cast manifolds to run to a Y then back up and into a turbo mount but I am running out of alternate idea. This will be a low boost application - 12lbs max. What is out there that is less headache and time than creating my own from a set of cut up headers or just from scratch? My welding ability will be seriously challenged at that point. If they were D port heads, I would consider a simple log manifold but the factory round port manifolds looks like they are going to put me deep in the bay with making a hard u turn to get the pipe back up to a turbo. Open to ideas ...

[Tom Vaught]

https://www.ebay.com/i/351601075440?chn=ps&fl=a

First you have to decide single vs small twin turbo. With your boost pressure I would think that a T-04 size single turbo vs a larger T-06 turbo would work well.

Ken Crocie did a very nice single turbo install a few years ago. It was a higher hp turbo with a better calibrated Q-jet installation.

I believe he used cast iron manifolds that pointed downward . http://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp-...iac-400-build/

So you have a link to some round port cast iron manifolds and a basic Ken Crocie Turbo Exhaust plumbing example.

Tom V.

[ponjohn]

Do shorty headers work?

[73 TRANSAM]

That would be the cheapest route on turbo manifold. Custom headers for Pontiac does not exists and they are not very easy to fabricate either if you wanted to up and forward or down and forward. The subframe wasnt design with the headers going to the front. I had to cut up my 2nd gen to fit my custom headers. The guy that made my headers kept my mock up one when he made mine. He closed his doors on making headers after mine was completed. It took me 1.5 years to get it. But I need to make it and tack it in place and ship it to him as he made two sets that do not fit. I'm glad I did one before and just sent that one to him so that he can copy it. Goodluck.

[68azbird]

Nobody wants to pay the price for what's involved.
First gen bird frame has much more space. Second gen frames need to be notched and welded back together.

[BruceWilkie]

Originally Posted by ponjohn

Do shorty headers work?

I would think it would be easiest starting point. Join under pan(make a good heat shield.) With a merge for single or an "x" if twin turbos. Go forward or back up from there.

[n2ogpsj462]

Factory manifolds and 2 1/4 crossover will support 1000hp. No need to over think it but fabrication is 100% necessary. No kits for us. Round ports might have you making headers. Abundance of d port manifolds floating around cheap.
I used a center dump driver side under the pan for a passenger side firewall mount but A bodies have more room

[JSPONT]

Originally Posted by n2ogpsj462

Factory manifolds and 2 1/4 crossover will support 1000hp. No need to over think it but fabrication is 100% necessary. No kits for us. Round ports might have you making headers. Abundance of d port manifolds floating around cheap.
I used a center dump driver side under the pan for a passenger side firewall mount but A bodies have more room

A bodies have more room on the passenger side. The driver side is not.

[73 TRANSAM]

Here's my set. The first one was the one I did that I sent to the header builder. He made me two sets and none fit! Even the bolt pattern on the flange was wrong! I was being patient for 1.5 year. If I didn't know how to build one, I would never have gotten a set. You need to pay 100 percent when you place an order! So I gamble and luckily I got my set!

[taff2]

If you need to do it on the cheap- buy a SBC shorty header kit from Summit and a pair of round port Pontiac flanges, cut and shut them to fit your engine bay (just tacking the tubes together) then get them finish welded by a competent welder. It's best to bolt the part fabbed header to an old head if you have one.
Or you could save yourself all the hassle and buy the cast iron headers in the link that TomV gave you, and run a merge and J pipe to the turbo.

[68azbird]

Round ports for second gen. Need to hack the frame to fit.

[ponjohn]

A while back there was a thread where a member was producing a log manifold and was asking 1600 a pair IIRC.

He later shared all of the McMaster part numbers. About this time last year I priced the parts and they were 260 EACH just for the parts.

They were awesome, hung twins right in front, very symmetrical.

[JLMounce]

I believe that was 455 turbo. I have a pm from him talking about them from about 6 years back.

I haven’t seen him around here in a long while.

[v869tr6]

These are the pipes I built for my car.

[Tom Vaught]

I have a set of his Turbos (455Turbo) for a round port engine and the workmanship was 1st class all the way. And I have seen a bunch of first class fabrication in the last 39 years.

Was really sorry when he left the board. WAY WAY AHEAD OF THE GAME FOR PONTIAC BOOSTING. He showed how to do it on fabricated turbo manifolds, in my opinion. The manifolds clear everything and fit within 3/8" of the block. Perfectly.

Tom V.

[JLMounce]

He had offered me a set at 1200 years back but I didn’t have the money at the time. If he was still producing them now things would be different.

[prophet455]

Thanks for all the info guys,
Here is an even worse question. Has anyone made a set that was able to keep power steering? Notching the frame to some degree is not a big deal but going to a manual steering box is definitely a last resort.
68azbird, that’s a good looking set, I am assuming those came right through the steering pump area?
I’ve seen 455turbos setup- I have no idea on the story why he left but it’s too bad they are extinct - they look like they were extrely well thought out and executed..

[ponjohn]

Originally Posted by Tom Vaught

I have a set of his Turbos (455Turbo) for a round port engine and the workmanship was 1st class all the way. And I have seen a bunch of first class fabrication in the last 39 years.

Was really sorry when he left the board. WAY WAY AHEAD OF THE GAME FOR PONTIAC BOOSTING. He showed how to do it on fabricated turbo manifolds, in my opinion. The manifolds clear everything and fit within 3/8" of the block. Perfectly.

Tom V.

I saved all the drawings and text from the threads. Very nicely done for sure.

[ponjohn]

Originally Posted by JLMounce

He had offered me a set at 1200 years back but I didn’t have the money at the time. If he was still producing them now things would be different.

Any more expensive but they are nice pieces.

[73 TRANSAM]

My set is made to retain the power steering. The problem with mine was the front motor plate that covers the heads. But I made my crossover to clear the gear box.