This '65 driver's side exhaust manifold flange has three holes, two for the head pipe and one for maybe a brace I have never seen installed.
A brace attached to what?? The exhaust manifold expands at a different rate than the block or any other metal surface. It could break if it's braced to the wrong surface.
That's the driver's side 273 early A body manifold and it needs that bolted "somewhere" or the manifold will crack from the weight of the outlet hanging way off the end.
I'm not sure what application (year, make, model) but this photo shows the third hole being used in an interesting arrangement.
There should be millions of these "supports" laying around. Where are they? I guess the same place all the factory bumper jacks are to be found.
The photo in post #4 shows two supports. I am beginning to believe the factory only installed the forward one. Edit: Above statement wrong--there are two braces, not one. Per diagram in FSM page 9-1: "Engine External Parts (V8 Cylinder) - 273 Cu. In. Displacement and per parts listing in FSM page 9-46, section 9-48-155: Brace, Exhaust Manifold, Left to Cylinder Block, V2, L2 ... 2465 162 Brace, Exhaust Manifold, Left to Cylinder Head, V2, L2 ... 2465 161
Not to worry, have ran early A's without long time. My 273's driver side don't have the third mounting hole (1966) maybe this is early version?
yep, those crazy crooks at the bottom of this casting, along with the braces, disappeared by 66 or 67. Lesser turns are in the downpipe.
Finished fabricating/painting a pair of each brace (the front one is shorter than the rear one). I have two '65 A bodies without 'em.
