Ram air exhaust

[formula46two]

Is the only advantage the ram air exhaust have over headers the ease of installation and ground clearance?

[aussieta]

quieter in engine bay
less heat in engine bay
looks better imo

[Wallington]

easier to work on anything in or under enginebay and last longer.

[tajoe]

All great points above. But it comes down to priorities.
 If you're racing, and you want the best possible flow out the eng., a tuned set of hedders can't be beat for the most HP. If you're looking for that "cool" factor, the looks of hedders hanging down on a drag car, and the sound of open hedders still makes me smile.

But if you wanna be practical, and you're not looking for the above criteria, RA manifolds are the best compromise between racing, and looks, and making your life so much easier with filter and starter changes, bolting them on, and longevity. A cast iron manifold should outlast a set of hedders 10-1. This is course assuming you actually will "drive" the car.

[formula46two]

All good points. I will probably go with the manifold but can't get any until March!

[scarebird]

You may want to examine the gains with RA manifolds - IIRC they are not as much of you would think compared to the log manifolds.

[formula46two]

You may want to examine the gains with RA manifolds - IIRC they are not as much of you would think compared to the log manifolds.

Really? I will do some research thanks

[tajoe]

SB is correct in that factory manifolds, logs or RA won't provide much of a difference, in normal drivability. And if your eng. combo is relatively mild, with a stock drivetrain, and all you do is drive a few miles to a cruise nite, and show off some shinny paint, and you have a limited budget, then I would think twice about the investment.

"But", (and this is just me talkin out loud), if you've reworked your carb, and distributor for performance, have a step up cam, with some gearing in the back, and like to beat on it, (of course "legally", at a certified race track... ), then the  RA manifolds will out perform the logs. Will it be noticable seat of the pants? Guess it depends on how old your pants are. But if you've ever put the two beside each other for a comparison, the visual difference alone is noticeable. And I'm sure the Pontiac engineers. when they designed them, wouldn't have cast them for their performance engs, if they didn't provide a benefit.

[5th T/A]

I purchased a built Pontiac engine about two and a half years ago from another forum member. The engine was built by Butler Performance, came with RA Restoration manifolds and a FAST EFI system. The manifolds look great, and as TAJoe mentioned they must do something to increase performance or Pontiac would not have gone to the expense to add them on RamAir engines. I agree if you are going to race the car then go with long tube open headers. I purchased a 1973 TA brand new, added long tube headers, I thought they ruined the car so I pulled them off. Yes the car ran noticeably better with open headers. But when connected up to a full exhaust system it wasn’t that noticeable. But that was with stock exhaust and the front pipes were only 2” in diameter. With some of the current aftermarket systems it might make more of a difference.

One option not talked about here is shortly headers, they might be a nice compromise. I had Ram Air manifolds on my 75TA and loved them. I am very happy with the Ram Air Restorations manifolds on my 1980 TA. On that car I am running a stock 1974 Super Duty exhaust system, 2.5” pipes to the mufflers. But they are not cheap and there could be a long wait to get them. I had mine ceramic coated, that raised the price I think another $200.00.

[roadking77]

Yikes, not what I wanted to hear about the RAIII exhaust. I called the manufacturer in Aug and they told me then that they had one side in stock and the other side was to be back from the foundry in Sept, available for sale in Oct. They were supposed to call me when ready. I am still waiting on the call but never expected them to do so. I guess I will call them to get info from the horses mouth so to speak. I have them on my 77 and have no complaints, but I have never run the stock so I cant compare. Rumor has it my motor will be done soon and I hope I will need some exhaust I sold the original manifolds from my car but think I may have another set sitting around.

[roadking77]

Just called them and yes he confirmed that d ports will not be ready until march.  A bit of a dissapointment but what else can one do? I didnt bother leaving any info as it didnt seem to make any difference when I called in Aug.

[5th T/A]

I thought I read somewhere they had to find a new foundry for the castings. It also seems like they keep pushing the target date back a few months, I hope I am wrong. Technically the TATA had log style manifolds anyway, so in a pinch I guess you could go back to those.

[formula46two]

I'm just going to run tube headers  through dumped mufflers until I can get the ram airs

[roadking77]

I had the original manifolds for my TATA but after putting the RA's on my 77 I knew thats the way I was going. I sold mine off to a buddy of mine that has a 79 4sp he is restoring and needed a numbers matching set. I have one other option to look at, hopefully it will pan out with a phone call. I do have another stock set that I think are from my 77 I can use. My motor guy asked for them yesterday as he needs something in place to dyno my motor