[thews]

Hi Big car guys. I bought a pair of 62 SD aluminium exhaust manifolds from a Catalina to use on my 69 Firebird. I assumed they would fit with repro collectors and the cool factor is off the charts. Then I read if you run these on the street for 5 minutes at 70 MPH it would melt them... is that true? I love the dual port exhaust outlet and these must sound amazing. Seriously looking for advice. Will these work on a street car and are they real or reproduction? Thanks.

[61-63]

It is said that you can run them on the street if you have them Jet Hot coated with their 1300 Extreme. I know a person who has done that but he has done it very seldom and not highway cruising. I personally haven't tried it and wouldn't. They were made for quarter mile use and all of them that were used much have recession in the mounts where the bolts went through to attach them to the heads and you can see some of that in the set you have.


I doubt they will work on your Firebird? On a block that has a bell housing mounted started you need an upside down starter. In a '61-'63 big car the fit on the driver's side is very very tight. I have to remove the steering box to get that side in and then reinstall it. Power steering would be impossible I would think. You may have to put a notch in the driver's side engine cross member you do in '61-'63 big car.

[Stuart]

Are they originals or the reproductions?

I know a local guy who has a pair of the repros on his 1962 Bonneville convertible. He had them coated (it may be Jet Hot, I"m not sure) and he hasn't had any problems.
As said above, I don't think they'll fit a Firebird.

[thews]

Originally Posted by 61-63

It is said that you can run them on the street if you have them Jet Hot coated with their 1300 Extreme. I know a person who has done that but he has done it very seldom and not highway cruising. I personally haven't tried it and wouldn't. They were made for quarter mile use and all of them that were used much have recession in the mounts where the bolts went through to attach them to the heads and you can see some of that in the set you have.


I doubt they will work on your Firebird? On a block that has a bell housing mounted started you need an upside down starter. In a '61-'63 big car the fit on the driver's side is very very tight. I have to remove the steering box to get that side in and then reinstall it. Power steering would be impossible I would think. You may have to put a notch in the driver's side engine cross member you do in '61-'63 big car.

Thanks. Is it normal to have the numbers inverted? The "4" and "88" are inverted after each part number? Appreciate the input.

[63gpman]

interesting topic, I bid on these early on but bowed out before the last day. I was also curious about running them in a 66 catalina and if they could be used on the street. More so, if they would work better with aluminum heads as the heat would not be as great on the exhaust ports. Here is one photo showing how the bolts sink in on them over time.

[tom s]

The repos are WAY better alu.If they are originals even if they did fit a bird I don't think they would hold up well.As John said I doubt they will fit a bird.They used a 90 degree filter adapter and did use a upside down starter.You might be able to get a mini starter that you could clock to clear.Did you get the collectors for them? You would need them.Tom

[marxjunk]

awfully nice condition..in exceptional condition for 55 year old parts...even NOS dont look that good...id think re-pop...but i am not a 62-3 guy..at all..