View Full Version : Looking for 1966 Nova SS Rams Horn Manifolds


Savie
Jun 25th, 07, 11:27 PM
:beers:Hi: I'm am looking for a set of rams horn exhaust manifolds for a 1966 chevy nova ss 327 motor. I have checked all the usual resto places and they are not available. Is there a good substitution, other than the correct ones that will suit my needs, which will receive the alternateror bracket?
Perhaps someone has a correct manifold # that will help in my search. All I have to work with is the information I have provided. If I knew the # maybe I could locate one in a vintage auto yard? Thanks Carl:thumbsup:

LeoP
Jun 26th, 07, 12:08 AM
IIRC, they are still available from your local Chevy store. I also think you have to cut the mount off one cause they are both the same now.

Widetires22
Jun 26th, 07, 8:12 PM
I have a nice pair of ram horns around here. I'll check the numbers on them when I get a chance Carl and let you know what I find out about them.

prefectca
Jun 26th, 07, 9:18 PM
It's been almost thirty years so I may be wrong but I think '71/'72 Chevy pickup use the same manifolds. Might need to be a 4X4 though. IIRC the Chevy ll manifolds both angle to the rear.

oman
Jun 27th, 07, 10:56 PM
IIRC, they are still available from your local Chevy store. I also think you have to cut the mount off one cause they are both the same now.

Not sure about this but I think the 327 equipped Novas used a unique exhaust manifold. Better check a parts book before orderiing the "standard" Rams Horns. My buddy had an L-79 powered 66 that he bought new, It seems to me that the manifolds were Nova specific 2.5 inchers. Long time ago and an old weak memory. Best look this up in a parts book for the 66 cars. If I had one here I could do the research but I don't have one.

Cam
Jun 28th, 07, 1:55 AM
It seemed to me that the Chevy II ram-horn exhaust manifolds were unique - something about the outlet not dropping down as far as on other versions of the ram-horn styles for Corvettes, big Chevies through '70, or light/medium/heavy trucks. If you can find the Chevy II pieces, they apparently are the same regardless of engine (283, 327; 2-barrel, high-performance). Even though the V8 was not offered until the '64 models, around mid-'62 Chevy catalogued all the parts necessary to swap a V8 into a Chevy II, including a special block with relocated clutch bellcrank bosses, special exhaust manifolds and other stuff (it was not a cheap conversion at that time). Maybe I can ask over at stevesnovasite.com to try to come up with some manifold numbers.

onovakind67
Jun 28th, 07, 2:04 AM
The SS was a trim package that had nothing to do with the exhaust manifolds on a 66 Nova.

Cam
Jun 28th, 07, 2:50 AM
Rams-horn manifolds are pretty efficient as far as manifolds go, but an alternative might be block hugger headers or shorty headers. Here's a link to a specific discussion over at stevesnovasite : http://stevesnovasite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21518

As for the manifold part #s, I am looking them up in a Chevrolet Parts Manual (dated 1975, covering '62 through '75). I am finding for all applications from the 283 2-barrel through the 327s, from '64 through '67; 3790729 (LH) and 3890424 (RH). There does not appear to be a case where the a.i.r. tubes were used in '66 or '67 on the Chevy II (other car lines, yes). There also does not appear to be a special exhaust manifold for a high-performance 327.

So there are your part numbers :thumbsup:

DZAUTO
Jun 28th, 07, 8:52 AM
The V-8 ChevyIIs used a unique Ram Horn manifold.
As mentioned, they were angled back at the outlet------------------THEY DID NOT EXIT STRAIGHT DOWN LIKE A REGULAR RAM HORN MANIFOLD!!!!!!!!!!!
There was a truck application which used the angled back manifolds, BUT if I rmembeber correctly, those DID NOT have the cast-on bracket for the alternator mount. ALTHOUGH, in a pinch, you could use the truck manifolds and buy an aftermarket alt bracket such as would be used for headers.
THERE WAS NOT, REPEAT, NOT A 2 1/2in EXHAUST MANIFOLD FOR THE NOVA/CHEVYII-------------------NOT EVEN FOR THE SS. PERIOD! The factory Novas/ChevyIIs (such as the 66 L-79) which came with 2 1/2in exhaust pipe, had the front few inches of the pipe reduced down to 2in for attachment to the 2in outlet of the manifold. Those of you who are familiar with 66-68 Chevelles that came with a FACTORY INSTALLED L-79 know exactly what I'm talking about.
The ONLY, ONLY, ONLY, ONLY 2 1/2IN outlet Ram Horn exhaust manifold ever used in the history of Small Block Chevy engines was 62-65. PERIOD! These 2 1/2in manifolds were used on 300-375hp/327 engines in full size cars and corvettes----------------------NOTHING ELSE, NOT EVEN TRUCKS! You cannot make one of these 2 1/2in manifolds work on a ChevyII/Nova because of interference with the chassis.
I personally have never tried to install the later style manifolds (that go under the spark plugs), such as used on 64-later Chevelles and the Camaros, in a V8 ChevyII, but maybe those would work. The LEFT ex manifold for 64-68 Chevelles (and 67-68 Camaros) is the ONLY one that has the bracket for mounting an alternator. That cast-on bracket was eliminated for 69-later cars.
Hope this helps. :thumbsup:

Greybeard
Jun 28th, 07, 10:14 AM
http://www.castheads.com/log_systems.php#manifolds

Here are manifolds, but no alternator bracket from what I see.

KMD
Jun 28th, 07, 10:39 AM
I have a set of 327 ram horns. I was going to sale them on ebay but ended up putting them in the attic. If this is what you are looking for let me know, I can dig them out.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o286/kmd_album/IMG_0727.jpg

oman
Jun 28th, 07, 11:39 AM
That looks likem a half a set based on the "Castingheads" pictures

oman
Jun 28th, 07, 11:41 AM
The V-8 ChevyIIs used a unique Ram Horn manifold.
As mentioned, they were angled back at the outlet------------------THEY DID NOT EXIT STRAIGHT DOWN LIKE A REGULAR RAM HORN MANIFOLD!!!!!!!!!!!
There was a truck application which used the angled back manifolds, BUT if I rmembeber correctly, those DID NOT have the cast-on bracket for the alternator mount. ALTHOUGH, in a pinch, you could use the truck manifolds and buy an aftermarket alt bracket such as would be used for headers.
THERE WAS NOT, REPEAT, NOT A 2 1/2in EXHAUST MANIFOLD FOR THE NOVA/CHEVYII-------------------NOT EVEN FOR THE SS. PERIOD! The factory Novas/ChevyIIs (such as the 66 L-79) which came with 2 1/2in exhaust pipe, had the front few inches of the pipe reduced down to 2in for attachment to the 2in outlet of the manifold. Those of you who are familiar with 66-68 Chevelles that came with a FACTORY INSTALLED L-79 know exactly what I'm talking about.
The ONLY, ONLY, ONLY, ONLY 2 1/2IN outlet Ram Horn exhaust manifold ever used in the history of Small Block Chevy engines was 62-65. PERIOD! These 2 1/2in manifolds were used on 300-375hp/327 engines in full size cars and corvettes----------------------NOTHING ELSE, NOT EVEN TRUCKS! You cannot make one of these 2 1/2in manifolds work on a ChevyII/Nova because of interference with the chassis.
I personally have never tried to install the later style manifolds (that go under the spark plugs), such as used on 64-later Chevelles and the Camaros, in a V8 ChevyII, but maybe those would work. The LEFT ex manifold for 64-68 Chevelles (and 67-68 Camaros) is the ONLY one that has the bracket for mounting an alternator. That cast-on bracket was eliminated for 69-later cars.
Hope this helps. :thumbsup:

Well I was 1/2 right ...the manifolds are different for Nova but the size was not 2.5. Those were the days when The General discovered that a 2.00 inch mfld could be a Hi Perf manifold with the use of a necked down pipe that went from 2.5 down to 2.00. The General really jumped on that idea using the same scheme on almost all the small block cars, including Vettes

Mike Feudo
Jun 28th, 07, 3:47 PM
I have a set with Cal. smog holes in them. The price will be right.