Help with Condition of this manifold

[Clark K.]

Guys, I am looking for a set of original (not repro) exhaust manifolds for my 1965 L76 4 speed A/C Coupe. The reason I am looking is that my existing manifolds took a big originality hit at the Lone Star Regionals for having been "massaged". Some previous owner had "cherried" up the manifolds for car shows with no regard to retaining the originality, by removing the original casting bumps and bruises. The part numbers are: 3846563 (L) 3797942 (R).

I have attached a photo of a left-side manifold (3846563) that a friend has found for me. It shows some pitting (?) on the forward end that worries me. I am no manifold expert so what I need is for you experts out there to look at the photo and tell me, if you can, whether this manifold appears to be an original and whether the pitting is/will be a problem.
-Clark

[Patrick H.]

Re: Help with Condition of this manifold

I'd keep looking.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Help with Condition of this manifold

I'll second Patrick -- that's pretty severe pitting. But the "563"s are not that rare; after all, they were on essentially all 4-sp 327 cars, except base engine; air conditioning or not. Of course, fuel injection had a different LH manifold as well.

[Jim S.]

Re: Help with Condition of this manifold

I'll second Patrick -- that's pretty severe pitting. But the "563"s are not that rare; after all, they were on essentially all 4-sp 327 cars, except base engine; air conditioning or not. Of course, fuel injection had a different LH manifold as well.

They used a different LH Manifold for 4 sp and auto in 65? I never knew that . They must have stoped in 66. Did they ever go back to that in later years?

Jim

[Wayne M.]

Re: Help with Condition of this manifold

They used a different LH Manifold for 4 sp and auto in 65? I never knew that . They must have stoped in 66. Did they ever go back to that in later years?

Jim

Yes, 1965 was the last year for 2_1/2" small block manifolds. The L75 (300 hp) auto used the 2", as well as the base engine (all transmissions). But the L75 4-sp used the 2_1/2". All higher horse engines (4-sp mandatory) used the 2_1/2".

The '65 manifolds had a long life in SERVICE applications, because of the higher flow possibilities.

[Jim S.]

Re: Help with Condition of this manifold

Wayne ,

That makes sense .

Originally, I thought your were saying that just the LH was different for a 4 sp and an Automatic. In reality both halves were different .You were just discussing the LH per this thread !

Jim