Better 370, 429 Or 460 Exhaust Manifold?

[chris401]

I am looking at adapting a pair of factory iron 385 family manifolds to my pickup's 430 MEL. From what I have seen and heard it seems the MEL factory manifolds are prone to crack.  At this time I do not have anything to work with other than the 1/2" steell adaptor plate. I do not remember a lot of manifold issues from the fuel injected era or the big truck with the 370.  Any recommendations?

[gregaba]

Hi Chris
I have a extra pair of 429 stock exhaust manifolds in the shop if I can find them. Off a 70 T-bird.
Greg

[chris401]

Hi Chris
I have a extra pair of 429 stock exhaust manifolds in the shop if I can find them. Off a 70 T-bird.
Greg

Thanks Greg. Is this passenger side the same as yours? I am mocking all this up in the F-100, once everything is in place I will have a better view. If I end up using the automatic it will work for sure.

[gregaba]

Criss
i won't be able to get into the shop untill tomorrow but will check.
Will let you know something tomorrow.
Greg

[WConley]

I am looking at adapting a pair of factory iron 385 family manifolds to my pickup's 430 MEL. From what I have seen and heard it seems the MEL factory manifolds are prone to crack.  At this time I do not have anything to work with other than the 1/2" steell adaptor plate. I do not remember a lot of manifold issues from the fuel injected era or the big truck with the 370.  Any recommendations?

I remember doing a stint at Ford in the Dyno building.  One week we were running truck 7.5L (460) engines.  The old time dyno operator was showing me how much fuel those engines burn out the exhaust ports.  The later 7.5's had cast stainless manifolds for that very reason.  Man those things would get red under any kind of load!

[Falcon67]

The 460 stockers are also prone to cracking.  Ask my F-350 while it's warming up - cho-cho-cho-cho-etc.  Put stainless steel headers on it.  If/when I replace mine I will not go back with stockers.  As noted, the exhaust on those 460s get really hot.

[gt350hr]

The 460 stockers are also prone to cracking.  Ask my F-350 while it's warming up - cho-cho-cho-cho-etc.  Put stainless steel headers on it.  If/when I replace mine I will not go back with stockers.  As noted, the exhaust on those 460s get really hot.

    I carry a spare cast iron manifold in my F350 car hauler for that exact reason

[chris401]

I am looking at adapting a pair of factory iron 385 family manifolds to my pickup's 430 MEL. From what I have seen and heard it seems the MEL factory manifolds are prone to crack.  At this time I do not have anything to work with other than the 1/2" steell adaptor plate. I do not remember a lot of manifold issues from the fuel injected era or the big truck with the 370.  Any recommendations?

I remember doing a stint at Ford in the Dyno building.  One week we were running truck 7.5L (460) engines.  The old time dyno operator was showing me how much fuel those engines burn out the exhaust ports.  The later 7.5's had cast stainless manifolds for that very reason.  Man those things would get red under any kind of load!

I replaced some in the carburetor era pickups. Seems the problem area was between the passenger rear ports. I take it the 90's has the cast stainless?

[Falcon67]

Ours is a 1993 EFI unit - no stainless, cast iron.

>I carry a spare cast iron manifold in my F350 car hauler for that exact reason

I'm not touching it - I just let it warm up and it's fine.  That's a project for some other day LOL.

[machoneman]

Yeah, I'd skip the hassle of iron stuff and go to SS headers or at least coated steel headers.

Funny, but BBC's in motor homes at least also badly cracked the OEM iron manifolds as well. A long-ago neighbor asked me to look at his 396-402 BBC and I found one of the manifolds badly cracked and not even welding would have fixed it.

[gregaba]

Hi Chris
Here are a couple of pictures of what I have.
The numbers are C9VE 9430A right side
C9VE 9481A left side.
Let me know of you can use them or if you need more picture's.
Greg 

[chris401]

Hi Chris
Here are a couple of pictures of what I have.
The numbers are C9VE 9430A right side
C9VE 9481A left side.
Let me know of you can use them or if you need more picture's.
Greg

PM on the way.
Thanks

[chris401]

I was originally looking at these but I am not sure if it will clear my cross member. After moving the engine mounts the factory Ford FT center dump manifolds are close to the frame. On a wider engine with adapter plates I figured something like this would be even closer.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/FOR-429-460-FORD-BBC-BIG-BLOCK-STAINLESS-SHORTY-HUGGER-HEADER-EXHAUST-MANIFOLD/400893582365?hash=item5d571e9c1d%3Ag%3AXF8AAOSw3RZaPcFc&fits=Year%3A1970%7CModel%3AThunderbird%7CMake%3AFord