sophinity

Hello all.
Project TPI Miata is going well.
But I am having huge problems with my headers I welded up and frankly am sick of having to jack the motor up off the mounts everytime I want to pull the header off. I also have massive spark plug changing woes.
Sooooo My brother had a set of Ramhorn manifolds he gave me,
They fit so well I am going to now use them in place.
My question however is this,
Where do I get flanges/collectors to bolt up to these so I can incorporate them into me exhaust system. I have the old 60's style with the 2" exit. (all that will fit in my setup) Anyone know if these used a ball flange style seal?
Any help is appreciated.....

bluegrassz

iTrader: (3)

You should be able to use a donut gasket. I had them on and old truck. I dont remember them having the ball flange. Just the standard flange like the stock TPI/TBI y-pipe.

You do have to have the 3 bolt flange that slides on the pipe like a header. You should be able to get them at any exhaust shop.

You might want to port match them for more flow. Eastwood has a great coating for them also.

scuzz

If you put them on a center bolt type valve cover head, they will hit valve cover and melt gasket.
I ground the S__t out of the top and inside and bought a set of header flanges to use for spacer to jack them out about a 1/4" from heads. I've been running them for 18000 miles and no trouble.

sophinity

What style ram horns were you using? I hope I don't have the same problem,
But I test fit them without gaskets and they seemed to fit fine with space enough to be happy????? Were yours actually hitting the valve covers? Mine have space to spare but I will recheck with that thought though?
I hope that isn't the case as I have no room to space them at all/ My whole issue is that I have little/ no space to work with so pretty much anything is a PITA to fit.
Thanks for the info!

Vader

The older style cast iron ram horn exhausts may have clearance issues. The newer stock Corvette tubular ram horn manifolds should clear, and have AIR fittings.

scuzz

I was using the early 60's vette, camaro type ram horns. I also tried pickup ram horns with the swept back bottom pipe. All them hit.
I did now have access to the big later 60's vette type.
But they've been on for 6 years and 18000 miles.

Rob Wade

Any exhaust shop will have a 3 bolt 2" flange. Get a solid (flat on both sides) and have the surface of the manifold machined flat. You will be able to run a flat collector type 2" gasket. This will seal better for you. OR you can just use a standard 923 (Midas) donut gasket. I would have a ring (if you go with the donut) made up to go inside the gasket and the pipe. This will keep the gasket aligned with the pipe at all times and will not allow it to rotate and misalign on you. Any exhaust shop worth there salt, can make this ring for you, takes 2 minutes. I would go the flat gasket route if you can because it will give you more room. The donut gasket forces your flange farther away from the manifold which could give you clearance issues. PS I ran center dumps with air on my center bolt TPI motor for 3 years with no issues

sophinity

THanks so much.
I was going to go down to my exhaust shop that I know does awesome work and see what they had/could do for me. I am surprised that you really can't find 2" collector style flanges on the net or on Summitt/ Jegs etc..
You would think they would have them?
But oh well.
I will rebolt them today and see about the clearance issues and I'll post what I find along with the casting #'s of the ones I am using. I bought one off 1-A auto and I have one. I am using two of the same with no bracket. Looks like the 1-A auto part is a nice repop of the 60's style but has AIR fitting machined into them. I'll post pics of my results.
I'll try and update my site with the progress too hopefully this week.
Thank You again

Rob Wade

Try your exhaust shop....they should have them in stock for when they do custom work. 14081238 is the casting # on the manifolds I was running. Heres another option try sanderson cc303 (?) headers. Go to they're website or try this link and look at them on my L98 TPI motor in my jag. I cut the flange off of them and ran mandrel bends down to relocate the flange underneith, like a regular long tube header.
http://www.jag-lovers.org/v.htm?1146619600

sophinity

Sweet looking Setup Rob,
Those look darn close to what I made, Although they don't look like they hug the block quite enough to work. Possibly though, What is the measurement from head surface to widest center portion of headers? The Ram horns are like 3 1/4" If I remember correctly...??? I really have absolutely no more room than that to work with, I am also using the stock Camaro type clamsheel motor mounts. (cause issues with Vette stock headers. Hit flange)
Thanks for t he info.

Rob Wade

Sanderson's site has all the dimensions. These are actually tighter than a "block hugger" style as the center two don't "loop over" the outside two AND the outside two don't loop out as far before turning towards the center. I'll try to get you #'s tomorrow but I'm getting married so time might be a little dicey.

sophinity

no worries I'll check out the sanderson site
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BTW congradulations!!!

kevlar8in

Amazing photos Rob.
Where did you pickup your air assembly items? I just lumped a xjs also, and don't like my current setup.

Many thanks,