Thread: 1929 Essex Highboy

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Next project was splitting the exhaust manifold. I had read a lot of posts where folks said a real GOOD sound could be had with a straight six by splitting the manifod and adding a second outlet giving dual exhaust and add two glass packs! Soooooooooo, fool that I am, here it is. And with a lot of help (emails) from my Mentor, I cut a slot up into the bottom of the manifold and machined a 1/4" thick piece of steel to fit up into the manifold. Thus blocking off three of the six ports. I then bought some high nickel content stick rod and 'tried' welding in the partition and closing the slot.
What a horror scene that was. It made an UGLY mess. Oh Dear, what have I done? I was near ready to toss the whole thing and find another manifold, then forget the idea of splitting it. Then I called an old friend who does a lot of welding, he also went to welding school in the Navy. I discussed the mess with him and told him what I was using for rod. He said he preferred a different kind of rod and told me where to get it. So I bought a pound of that and went to his shop with the manifold (which I was sure was ruined) and the rod. He didn't blink an eye. Stuck a rod in the stick welder and proceeded to weld the whole mess, partition and slot. I watched him through another hood. Sure looked easy the way he did it. WOW, was I relieved! So then I went home and proceeded to add the second exhaust outlet.