Argentine Exhaust Manifold?

[David_Conwill]

I know I once read that a U.S. Falcon vendor was carrying the freer-flowing Argentine exhaust manifold for those who wanted the convenience of a cast exhaust manifold with a little better breathing. I can’t figure out where I saw it, though, or who might have one.

Can anybody help?

Thanks,

Dave

 

[xctasy]

John and SouthernCross Racer. Ran into supply issues, not related to poor design or unscrupulus people, just that its hard to lock down a pre paid box of heads from South America to the US. And that's the issue with outsourcing. It shouldn't be a problem, Chilie sells flowers to florists, why should a few 70 pound heads cause any issues.

The SP and ME exhasts for the Argie 188 and 221 engines were very efficient. The detachable intake Argie head is an awesome piece of kit, but like most South American imports, its hard to get a stable supply line to a country which suffers from so much inflation. The Argentinians have contributed 47 years of design to those parts since the special four bearing 187 cam out in 1964, and from then with their typical New World flair, there were some really good changes. I have a friend, Nik from Argentina, who drove the NZ Rally, and its nothing to have those guys working 17 hours a day just to survive. First buck I offered him was for a set of 221 headers, his whole issue was how hard it was not to have a container go missing or the port charges go up in an instant. Its not that they are dodgy, but that the climate is so hard, and any change has everyone in the supply chain holding there hand out.

The national debt sometimes in our lives, making the people fend for themselves...

 

[David_Conwill]

So it sounds like the only option at this point would be to hunt Argentine eBay for an exhaust manifold. Any tips on how to locate the good ones?

Also, I thought South America got its inflation problems under control in recent years. I swear I just heard that the IMF was looking for South America to help bail out Europe.

-Dave

 

[sp_alloy_head]

I'm 99.99% sure that the either of Argentine exhaust manifolds will easily bolt up to the US head.

 

[David_Conwill]

I'm 99.99% sure that the either of Argentine exhaust manifolds will easily bolt up to the US head.

But are they all of the desireable, free-flowing type?

-Dave

 

[sp_alloy_head]

That's an egregious error, I meant to say that the Argentine exhaust manifolds will NOT fit.

 

[xctasy]

http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc5 ... e6/995.jpg

Argentine exhast will not fit the stock log or 2V or CI head

 

[David_Conwill]

Thanks for the information, fellas. I wonder how I got it into my head that the Argie exhaust fit the US head?

I really don't want to run a header - tubular exhaust manifolds are kind of a PITA on a daily driver.

-Dave

 

[ludwig]

Au contrair, mon bon homme. I have them on my DD and they are no more problematic than cast exhaust headers. Now the fact that they don't really do much good unless you open up the intake side is another question. I'm curious why you would say that they a PITA. In what way?

 

[David_Conwill]

My experience with headers (albeit on a small-block V8 Camaro) has been that they rust, they don't fit right without tweaking, they tend to want to leak, and that they have an odd ringing noise. None of that seems worth it when most street cars aren't even regularly driven in the RPM range that they are designed for. The weight savings is good, though.

I'm willing to be dissuaded, of course. I do like the way some of the dual-outlet headers look, and I suppose ($$) ceramic coating would take care of the rusting issue. At least on the Falcon six a header won't hinder spark plug access like Camaro headers.

-Dave

 

[ludwig]

That's not my experience but then I live in a dry and warm climate and rust is not an issue on most things -- except the tailpipe and condensation.

 

[ludwig]

suppose ($$) ceramic coating would take care of the rusting issue

That is a common cure for many problems. In my case $$ passed through the hands of a very competent mechanic - since retired - who built race and expensive custom cars between ordinary repairs. The secret was a fat grey gasket with orange gasket sealer on both sides and loc-tite on the bolts.

It actually was kind of trippy to go check on my pickup, the Jeep or my Stang. He built up a full race Wyllis with a tubular chassis and sold it at auction. The last of his projects I saw in one of the bays was a custom beige 1940's Oldmobile with cream leather upholstery. He gave it to his wife for a DD and she managed to drop a front wheel off a curb and dent the running board upward. It wasn't lowered so it would have been quite a drop. His prices were quite reasonable and the car was always fixed for sure. Bummer. Really good mechanic who would explain clearly everything he did.