Magnum Exhaust Manifolds in an A Body

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I think I've posted this before in another thread, apologies to those who have to read it again:

When someone on here said they would work I decided to pickup a set of the 2 1/8" Magnums before I had really researched it myself because I'm dealing with a '76 four speed car. New enough to need smogging means retaining a cat equipped exhaust. When you add the additional deal breaker of the fast steering arms I got from Dick Ross to the fact I'm old enough now to make me not want to be crawling under the damn thing anymore than I have to, you can see why stock cast iron manifolding seems so appealing.

Trial fitting on the neighbors car (same year /6 Duster with a 318 on Schumacher mounts) revealed the propensity of steering gear and driver side Magnum exhaust manifold to occupy the same real estate. On the plus side the passenger side manifold misses the firewall with adequate clearance and looks to allow routing of the exhaust to miss oil filter, torsion bars, and fast ratio steering arms. The solution to the driver side problem resolved itself in the form of a Craigs List ad for a 72- 74 340/360 driver side A body manifold. Opening up the passenger side Magnum manifold 1/8" matches up the diameter of both sides. Not needing to accommodate headers/collector reducers gives more flexibility in converter and X pipe placement. The ability to run the factory tin hot air enclosure/ hot air pipe to the air cleaner on the driver side manifold will help satisfy the smog inspectors too.
 
I think I've posted this before in another thread, apologies to those who have to read it again:

When someone on here said they would work I decided to pickup a set of the 2 1/8" Magnums before I had really researched it myself because I'm dealing with a '76 four speed car. New enough to need smogging means retaining a cat equipped exhaust. When you add the additional deal breaker of the fast steering arms I got from Dick Ross to the fact I'm old enough now to make me not want to be crawling under the damn thing anymore than I have to, you can see why stock cast iron manifolding seems so appealing.

Trial fitting on the neighbors car (same year /6 Duster with a 318 on Schumacher mounts) revealed the propensity of steering gear and driver side Magnum exhaust manifold to occupy the same real estate. On the plus side the passenger side manifold misses the firewall with adequate clearance and looks to allow routing of the exhaust to miss oil filter, torsion bars, and fast ratio steering arms. The solution to the driver side problem resolved itself in the form of a Craigs List ad for a 72- 74 340/360 driver side A body manifold. Opening up the passenger side Magnum manifold 1/8" matches up the diameter of both sides. Not needing to accommodate headers/collector reducers gives more flexibility in converter and X pipe placement. The ability to run the factory tin hot air enclosure/ hot air pipe to the air cleaner on the driver side manifold will help satisfy the smog inspectors too.

I went with a similar situation, magnum passenger, 68 / 340 drivers side. Looking good, have a compenent exhaust guy who will do the hookup
 
DAMN! same on my 72 Duster too! And I ain't getting rid of my power steering either, no way, ain't happ'nin Cap'n (street talk!) I guess I'll COD me some Spitfires. I know I know already, COD and plan on waiting a while. I just can't swing Dougs right now, outfitting another new tow truck.
 
Here is my experience with the early A-body exhaust (1965, 1966). Power steering must go. I tried the 273 exhaust manifolds, and the drivers side exits rear and points forward to interfere with the power steering gear. My fix is to install a manual gear box, and I can use the 273 manifolds, but now I am able to use the mid 90's Magnum exhaust manifolds. Some mods had to be made to the engine compartment, but what a difference it must make. Headers for this application are over $800, so the magnum factory manifolds will work just fine for me! Will let you know how it works when I run it.
 
Any word if these will work on the 63-64 cars?
 
Here is my experience with the early A-body exhaust (1965, 1966). Power steering must go. I tried the 273 exhaust manifolds, and the drivers side exits rear and points forward to interfere with the power steering gear. My fix is to install a manual gear box, and I can use the 273 manifolds, but now I am able to use the mid 90's Magnum exhaust manifolds. Some mods had to be made to the engine compartment, but what a difference it must make. Headers for this application are over $800, so the magnum factory manifolds will work just fine for me! Will let you know how it works when I run it.
BTW, I am running a 360 with a 904.
 
A '64 is basically the same under the hood as a '65 or a '66. Not sure that goes for a '63 & earlier car though.

The 63 is the bastard child. No V8 was ever offered because it was designed for the slant. The firewall is different. It's different than the 64-66 and certainly different than the 62 and back. At least the Dart is. The 62 and prior Dart was a B body.
 
SO HAS ANYONE MANAGED TO GET THEM TO FIT ? SO FAR I HAVE INSTALLED MANUAL STEERING,MANIFOLD SITS ON TOP OF STEERING BOX.
I DID SOME MEASURING AND CAME UP WITH SHIMMING MY ENGINE MOUNTS BY 1/2". PROBLEM SOLVED.NEXT CHALLANGE WAS CONNECTING
STEERING COLUMN TO STEERING BOX. I BOUGHT A FLAMING RIVER STEERING U-JOINT TO FIT THE MANUAL BOX 3/4"X 36 SPLINE,IT IS SO CLOSE TO FITTING BUT STILL NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO BE SAFE. TRIED MOVING THE STEERING BOX AFTER A LITTLE CUTTING AND GRINDING BUT JUST DID NOT WANT TO PRODUCE THE RESULTS I WAS LOOKING FOR.
THEN I PURCHASED ANOTHER U-JOINT FROM SPEEDWAY THAT IS SMALLER IN DIAMETER THAN THE PREVIOUS ONE AND A STEEL COUPLER 3/4"-36 SPLINE TO 3/4 ROUND 2" LONG WITH HALF BEING SPLINED:disgust:. THIS PIECE WILL MAKE YOUR SHORT COLUMN EASIER TO LENGHTEN WHEN CHANGING TO A MANUAL BOX. HAD TO WALK AWAY FROM PROJECT,TO THINK ABOUT IT SOME MORE. NOT READY TO GIVE UP YET. HOPING SOMEONE ELSE CAN GIVE SOME FEEDBACK ON THIS SUBJECT.
 
Any Pics ???
Ok, sorry I haven't responded sooner. Working on this exhaust is so exhausting. Pardon the pun. I have some pics of the manifolds installed. The manifold numbers are 53010187. and 53010188. They are supposed to be from a 2002 Dakota RT magnum engine with rear dump, but I think they were available for a few more years. They WILL fit in a 1965 A body with mods to the passenger side. The drivers side will require the Flaming River Mopar conversion shaft, and a manual steering gear box. The flow is comparable to headers. I actually fired it up, and power braked it in my garage. I put it in drive, and let it shift automatically. It went through 1, 2, 3, clear up to 6000 rpm and it wouldn't stop until I let off the throttle!! Everything is very tight, but it is possible.
MC
 

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Ok, sorry I haven't responded sooner. Working on this exhaust is so exhausting. Pardon the pun. I have some pics of the manifolds installed. The manifold numbers are 53010187. and 53010188. They are supposed to be from a 2002 Dakota RT magnum engine with rear dump, but I think they were available for a few more years. They WILL fit in a 1965 A body with mods to the passenger side. The drivers side will require the Flaming River Mopar conversion shaft, and a manual steering gear box. The flow is comparable to headers. I actually fired it up, and power braked it in my garage. I put it in drive, and let it shift automatically. It went through 1, 2, 3, clear up to 6000 rpm and it wouldn't stop until I let off the throttle!! Everything is very tight, but it is possible.
MC

nice job,,,this willl help lots of guys with this problem a topic thats been talked about on this board many times,,,with no solid answers,,,glad you made it work,,

why hasnt some one made try Y ,S for the small block A like they do for a big block 67 and up A,,,
 
Just one question why has'nt the aftermarket made a performace manifold meant for these cars with power steering?
 
Ok, sorry I haven't responded sooner. Working on this exhaust is so exhausting. Pardon the pun. I have some pics of the manifolds installed. The manifold numbers are 53010187. and 53010188. They are supposed to be from a 2002 Dakota RT magnum engine with rear dump, but I think they were available for a few more years. They WILL fit in a 1965 A body with mods to the passenger side. The drivers side will require the Flaming River Mopar conversion shaft, and a manual steering gear box. The flow is comparable to headers. I actually fired it up, and power braked it in my garage. I put it in drive, and let it shift automatically. It went through 1, 2, 3, clear up to 6000 rpm and it wouldn't stop until I let off the throttle!! Everything is very tight, but it is possible.
MC


Man I am sooooooo jealous if your success, I tried to get them in my 70 and was prepared to do whatever mods necessary but it won't happen in my 70 with p/s, I had considered cutting them and rewelding them to make them fit with the p/s but gave up it was just too much, Good job........ So...I now have a set of them available(same casting numbers as above), cheap if someone wants them.LOL
 
Oh sure, n' I just bought a set of Hedmans What year body do you actually have them installed in, a '70?
 
I installed these in a 65 Dart Gt. I fired it up, and have just enough clearance. She runs strong! Need to get it to the muffler shop though. The 1965, 66 A body is 1 1/2 inch narrower than the 67 up A body, so it will be easier for you if you have a 67 or later A body.
 
Is it safe to understand then that they will fit in a 71 with manual steering and 727 auto?
 
nice job,,,this willl help lots of guys with this problem a topic thats been talked about on this board many times,,,with no solid answers,,,glad you made it work,,

why hasnt some one made try Y ,S for the small block A like they do for a big block 67 and up A,,,
I'm trying to get a guy here to make or mod an existing header (i.e. A-body hedmans or hookers ) that hang too low out of the box or build from scratch. I even offered my time and welding for free. Have yet to get a response, imagine that.... (I think he's a Blue Oval dude to boot)
 
I have a question is somewhat related. What does a duster 360 with power steering have for a manifold. Is it the same as a 318 manifold, or is it a high performance style?
 
Has anyone thought about putting a flat washer between the PS box and the mount to **** it away from the manifold? How much room does it need to clear the box? One fat washer shouldn't mess the steering geometry up too bad. Maybe two on the top bolt and one on the bottom to **** it down and in away from the manifold.
 
I put the 2-1/8 magnum manifolds in a 1964 dart.
No power nothing and a pushbutton 904. I had to cut the steering collumn, work and weld on my flaming river conversion kit and also had to do a little grinding at the driverside manifold. It took me two days to build the tubings, but now it fits all nice and tight.

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