74 Duster transplant exhaust

John Cailey said
I have a 74 Duster that has a 1996 transplanted 318 Magnum motor in it where a /6 used to reside. It will be a daily driver with a mildly warmed up 318. Not sure where to go with the exhaust system. The stock ( 96 Dakota ) cast iron exhaust manifolds will not clear the P/S gear box. Headers would be preferred as long as they don't go below the steering linkage ( daily driver ) and will clear the stock P/S gear box. Cast iron exhaust manifolds would be ok also if I could find a set that fit the magnum heads and also clear the P/S gear box. Shorty headers would also be acceptable. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. John

Ok, solved my exhaust manifold problem. The stock 96 Dakota 318 Magnum manifold fit fine on the right side, except for the 727 trans dip stick tube. Had to go with a flexible braided tube. The drivers side was the issue as the P/S gear box didn't leave much room. I had a spare set of cast iron exhaust manifolds that came off a 79 Chrysler 300 ( 360 LA motor ). My wife still owns one, and it looked like the same P/S box that was in my 74 Duster, although the 300 was a B body platform. Low and behold, the 300 Manifold bolted right up with no P/S box clearance issues. FYI, the 79 300 was a true dual exhaust car from the factory ( not even the Vette of that year was a true dual exhaust car ) for that year, so I don't know if other Cordoba / B body cars used the same exhaust manifolds. This is a open ( internally ) style manifold and it should flow well with my 318 motor. Now to fab up connections to my existing X piped 2.5" exhaust system.