Thread: New Ram Exhaust

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Well I am just trying to gain some torque on an otherwise mild 350 SBC. Yesterday I looked over a set of stock rams horn manifolds at Joe Butler's machine shop and compared several dyno sheets on the SBC. I am learning from several threads that the exhaust path is the weakest link on the SBC and a buildup of a Goodwrench 350 found 17 Additional H.P. and 53 ft. lb. of torque at 3500 rpm by replacing the iron manifolds with Hooker headers of the long type, not shorty tight-fit type. So with the advice of experts here can we get any comments on experience with the "Chassis type" long headers. Speedway offers two headers with 1 1/2" primaries (not 1 5/8") that do not merge until after making the bend under the frame. Maybe these have to use the smaller diameter tubing to make a total of only slightly more than 3" overall diameter? The Speedway catalog says these fit the '28-'48 Ford chassis so what can I expect in a '29 frame? Then there is the question as to whether smaller diameter tubing actually helps low rpm torque and the comparison between shorty headers and the longer chassis headers. The folks on this forum certainly have seen both types of headers over the years so I am asking is there any way to actually pick up torque and still clear the power brake unit on one side and the starter on the other. I can't quite visualize how it will be to change the oil filter with chassis headers, any problem there? Maybe someone has a picture from the bottom? The picture of the bottom of Magoo's '29 roadster shows just about everything is a tight fit!

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder