Engine is in, bolted up to the trans using motor mounts that I already had here. The pictures you guys posted helped a LOT.
Off topic but...I like the color of the Dakota in this picture:
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Back on point....
Installing these engines in the early A cars poses some exhaust clearance problems as you all know. I have an assortment of manifolds from cars and trucks but the first setup we tried was from a mid to late 70s Aspen/Diplomat or some 318-360 V8 car. The LH has the outlet below # 5 and 7 port but the body of the manifold was against the steering coupler. In another car (64 Valiant) these guys used a universal joint coupler for that setup. I wanted to see what other combinations might work with what I have here.
An early 273-318 LH cleared everything. They fit fine on an early 318 but this 1987 318 has those air injection holes below the exhaust ports. The flat spot for the air ports prevented the manifold from sitting flat to the head. I've seen this before. In the past, I just took a grinder and shaved off some of the flat spot until the manifold fit.
This time, I ground through the casting and made a hole....Yeah, right into a water jacket. It could have been a matter of core shift or a thin spot like I've heard of in some cases.
The fix....?
The hole in the head could probably be brazed. It is about 1/4" x 1/4". If not, we have other heads to use. The guys are going to use the 318-360 manifold and the universal joint steering coupler.
That is unless someone knows of another manifold that fits these cars without modifications.
What about the rear outlet manifolds from Dakota and 5.2-5.9 full size trucks?