SBC Exhaust question

Hey all, I'm about to get the exhaust re-done on my recently acquired 62 Impala SS. Currently there's headers under my hood, 20" glass or steelpack mufflers (pretty quiet), and the pipes dump out in front of the rear tires... not really my bag. I'm planning on going to 12" glasspacks and running the pipes all the way to the rear bumper with nice chrome pencil tips.

My question is, should I lose the headers and get some ram horn manifolds? It's not a race car, I'm more concerned about a clean look and cool sound. Are all ram horn manifold the same (generally)? I'm not a huge fan of headers on a SBC.

Thanks in advance for any input... oh yeah, I'm running a Muncie 4 speed as well and want the pipes to sing!

-ns

 

I have a stock 307, cast iron manifolds, 24" Thrush glasspacks, 2" pipe, straight out at the bumper, on my 50 Chevy pickup. The sound is very mellow until I stab on the go pedal, otherwise I never wake the neighbors with this exhaust setup.

I love the look of ram horn manifolds but they wouldn't fit on my setup.

 

I'd get rid of the headers and replace with original manifolds. Make sure you get the correct ram horns with the discharge straight down and if you are running a generator you will want the drivers side manifold with the casting for generator bracket mount.

 

I would suggest that you take it to a custom exhaust specialist with the card files for the old cars. This is an X frame and not the common ladder frame. Not a harry homeowner type job. With years of experience a professional can do a nice job that does not hang down, drag or rattle. You can get away with 2 1/4 tubing but it is tight. Just the hangers are a challenge the first time you do one. Not your average exhaust system.

 

If the headers are the block hugger, down dumps, I might keep 'em. Since the original style exhaust routing can be made to work with them without much hassle. Normal, longer style headers is where guys run into clearance/routing problems. Like said above, the X-frame cars are a little different animal in the exhaust dept. BTW, post a pic, luv them '62s!

 

You will need the rams horns that dump straight down like mentioned above. If you are using cylinder heads with the holes in the ends and a long waterpump with the alternator brackets that bolt to the head and water pump then any of these ram horn manifolds will work. If you are using the short water pump and original alt or generator brackets that bolt to the exhaust manifold then you will need the appropriate drivers side manifold.

 

stay away from oversize exhaust pipe and avoid lots of rattles---not a race car---ditch the headers for the same reason...

 

i'm running ram horns at 2 1/4" diameter, you can find the vette ones at 2 1/2, depending what your going for.

 

Since it doesn't matter either way, and we all have opinions on this, thee ole budget then becomes the deciding factor.

Cost, Availability, and how fast can you get it on the road.....

Even if you did the exhaust right, from the collector back, you can always switch to ram horns once you findum, or funds allow, and the exhaust is still done, you just have to put a bend up to the manifold....

If it where me, I would do the exhaust, cruise and hunt for the ram horns, and switch-um during off season...

 

Rams horns are pretty much the same except for the flange for pipe size.

 

There are a few different one depending on the year. The early ones have the holes for a generator on the side the later ones ave the holes on the end I believe they were used with an alternator. Either will work but if to are running a generator you will want the side holes.

 

PM sent, I have a pair of ram horns for sale...

 

you can by new 2.5 rams horn manifolds from Napa for around $70. each

 

Thanks guys! I'm running an alternator on a long bracket, so it sounds like any ram horns will work.


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