manifold repair

big_red_man · Aug 29, 2010

Today's topic is repair of cast iron manifolds. Sometimes a manifold is missing entirely and a replacement cannot be found. Years ago I had a motorhome with a Dodge 440 gas engine in it. The manifolds weren't available. My mechanic had "headers" (such as are made for race car engines) made. They worked great. I know it would NOT be original, but couldn't this replace a manifold (even to attach a carburetor if needed)? kelly

Jeff Z. · Aug 29, 2010

I'm sure you could make it up.
Size would be the issue for the gas/air flow to the cylinders.
If they made them from cast iron I don't see any reason why one could not be made from steel.

Bob · Aug 29, 2010

A lot of "classic" tractor intake/exhaust manifolds are a one-piece casting or are joined together so the heat of the exhaust warms the intake for better fuel atomization and to prevent carb icing. That would have to be a consideration when "fabbing" from scratch.

As to repair, George md, who posts on several of these boards, has often posted photos of some of the difficult manifold repairs he's done.

One of his posts showing what CAN be done to repair a rare exhaust manifold is linked below.

Looks like his email is open, should you want to contact him for more information.

(Sorry it's tangled up in an annoying thread by Chucker40!)
How an EXPERT does it...

Jeff Z. · Aug 29, 2010

Bob, I went to that post and you are right.
That post got ugly.

Jg20601 · Aug 29, 2010

If you can find someone with the ability, a repair is possible and is a good choice.

My late uncle had a 1961 404 with a discontinued manifold, but we found the same manifold gasket was used on 140s in the late 60s.... so we were going to use that 140 manifold and muffler and see if the carb would fit.

I also had a Ford LTD with a horrible carb - would never run right, failed emissions new one was $1500. Found the same base gasket fit an earlier Ford Granada - got a used one for $50 got rid of the vaccum hose spagetti... this was where we got the idea to check the gasket nubmer

george md · Aug 31, 2010

Bob,

Thanks for the compliment . I don't like to
get into the mix with tr40 ,but that time he
was so mouthy and had no idea what he was
talking about , I had to get in.
One of the answers for jeff below is that
the steel pipe gets so much hotter than the cast
head that it is bolted to and has a much greater
coeffient of expansion than cast,that it would
be difficult to keep gaskets from leaking.And
also the steel tubes would burn out rapidly
like exh pipe.

This is a link to many photos 300+

http://www.imageevent.com/gmachine

Below is link to partly redone website

george
web site

sflem849 · Aug 31, 2010

My Grandpa made a manifold/headers (I don't understand the difference) for a 173/198/226 Hercules motor on his (now my) engine driven air compressor. (I am not sure which ci the motor is, but it is irrelevent. I just looked at the manual and those were all the four cyls)
He has used it that way since '88 when he built it. He got it cheap bc the construction company that owned it rolled it over. He couldn't find a manifold for it so he built one. I just bought it this summer and it has worked fine for me. If it was going to blow up it would have done it by now!

manifold repair

big_red_man

Member

Jeff Z.

Well-known Member

Bob

Well-known Member

Jeff Z.

Well-known Member

Jg20601

Member

george md

Well-known Member

sflem849

Well-known Member

Similar threads