Under the hood of an 81 Cougar.

[Anonymous]

Moved the car to a friend's place yesterday, and had a really good look around under the hood. I found some really messed up stuff.

First, there's the bizarre exhaust manifold, with a lump the size of a coffee can cast into it. I've got to assume that this is some kind of catylitic converter or other emissions thing.

I'm no expert on carbs, but I think I've been saddled with a Carter YFA. There seemed to be some extra stuff running to the carb that I think is the idle motor and other non-cool things.

As far as emissions equipment goes, a lot of American manufacturers got it alll screwed up.

Jim

 

[Asa]

i've never heard of anything being cast into the exhaust manifold, are you sure it's not bolted on? where's it at?

 

[StraightSixer]

I went to the boneyard yesterday and saw a 78 fairmont i6 powered. It was the first later 200 I'd seen. The exhaust manifold on it looked strange in comparison with the c3 casting. It looked like it had a large cast-in hump at the header pipe end. Dind't look like any emissions equipment though.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, it sure seemed to be a cast in piece, but there was a lot of rust. From what I've gathered so far, this was the location for the cat. People have reported problems with heat build up, and fuel boiling off in the carb because of this silly lump. I'll have to have a closer look at it when I yank the engine out of the car later this week.

 

[80Stang]

The lump is the first cat and it is not cast, you'll find a second under the car by the tranny. As "the bible" says, the exhaust manifold is no good for any performance use. Change it to an older manifold or headers.

But I looked at it with an idea; might be pretty easy to bolt a turbo to it with an adapter plate (?).

 

[Anonymous]

But I looked at it with an idea; might be pretty easy to bolt a turbo to it with an adapter plate (?).

Good call!