70-81 RA exhaust manifolds on a 68 Pontiac block?

[68bird]

I was looking into changing out the bulky (difficult to put on and take off) headers on my '68 Firebird (which I intend on switching over to a Ram Air II or IV eventually) and someone told me the Ram Air manifolds look a lot better than the stock ones do. So I went looking around and found I liked the look of the 70-81 manifolds a lot more than I liked the 67-69 ones.
I was wondering if I can get those on w/o much difficulty or should I just stick w/ the headers I have?

[BonzoHansen]

I'd be more concerned with chassis fitment. The 1st gen steering box behind the crossmember, commonly called rear steer. 2nd gens are front steer so 2nd gen manifold design does not have to allow for the steering box.

The words ram air conjure up thoughts of expensive old parts, I'm not sure how many 2nd gens were ram air cars. Certainly nothing after 75 or so. So I'm not really sure what you mean by 70-81 ram air. There has to be decent aftermarket headers and manifolds out there

[68bird]

Huh...ok I'll look in to that while the engine is out.
Ames and Classic Industries have a reproduction of both 1st Gen and 2nd Gen manifolds.

I just wanted to put something in that would look better than the old stock manifolds but wouldn't be a pain in the butt to put on and keep up with. Everyone I've talked to says that no matter which kind of headers they are they're going to be a pain to install.

[BonzoHansen]

Headers aren't that hard while the motor is out.

Another option is check out Sanderson for headers and manifolds.

[68bird]

They hit the firewall when we try and put them on the engine first

[BonzoHansen]

sometimes you have to lay the headers in the engine bay, drop the engine in and then bolt them up.

[68bird]

That's what we've been doing but the space to tighten the bolts up leaves much to be desired.

[BonzoHansen]

Yeah, well, welcome to old cars lol

[usp55]

sometimes you have to lay the headers in the engine bay, drop the engine in and then bolt them up.

thats exactly how i had to do it. I had to pull the motor up a few inches to drop them in. Its never easy to do anything that looks or sounds easy on these cars

[68bird]

Yeah, well, welcome to old cars lol

Don't I know it. lol

[68bird]

I may try and get a drivers side regular (standard, non RA) 2nd Gen manifolds and mock them up to see if I can work an exhaust system around it w/o hitting the steering box. Since the exit locations should be about the same....I think :shrug:

[68bird]

I think I'm going to stay w/ the headers for now. But I may change to the 1st Gen manifolds later since the 2nd Gen ones seem to be more of a pain to get to work then the headers that are on the car now. Thanks guys.