1969 Z/28 Exhaust manifolds

[VI009DZ]

I'm looking at picking up a set of manifolds with smog holes for my 1969 Z/28 (3946826 RH, 3942527 LH).  Dates on the manifolds aren't critical for me (10C '68 car), but I've seen sets on eBay being sold as GM licensed reproduction parts for around $300/set new. (link below)  Both manifolds have the same date.  I'm wondering if anybody has purchased these manifolds, and could tell me if they are really decent parts, or if they are cheap foreign junk.  As much as I love my headers, I'd like to begin piecing my engine bay back to stock dress.  Thank you all.....

-adam

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=8050603702

[Gambitt]

The repo manifolds were brought up in a discussion on here a while back.  I asked Jerry MacNeish what he thought about them and he said they are a pretty nice reproduction part.  I think I will be buying a set too.  Any nice originals go for $1000-1800, so repo's are the only way to go on this for us average joes.

[Jonesy]

I bought a pair of repop big block exhaust manifolds from this seller. They fit real nice and have the real appearance of the originals. I have not bought or used the small block ones. The ones I bought we a perfect fit and the casting numbers looked just like factory on the car.

[Gambitt]

Here is the thread I was referring to:

http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=1612.0

[VI009DZ]

Thanks for the info guys....I appreciate the opinions, and thank you for digging up that link fo rme Gambitt....

-adam

[Gambitt]

No problem, and when you get those manifolds in, please post your opinion on them.  One more thing you might want to consider is sending them to Jerry MacNeish and have them reskinned...that way you would never have to worry about them rusting.   It would be nice to see a side-by-side comparison from someone that has a set of the orignals and a set of the repos.

[pickelnose]

Are original 69Z manifolds with smog tube holes really worth that much.I have a set that I threw in the shed 17 years ago when I went to hedders.Im going to dig them up tommorow and put them in the house.

[Jerry@CHP]

Nice original manifolds are big $$$.  Only if the date codes are good for 1969 production. 

When the repro manifolds came out, there were problems with fit and head bolt clearance but all of these issues have been fixed and they are very respectable now.  We've installed them on customer's cars and they look good.

Jerry

[Dave69x33]

My 69Z had headers on it when I purchased.  During the restoration, I look a long time for a set of originals but they all were pitted and looked bad,  relative to everything else that looked new after the restoration.

I purchased a set of GM Restoration Parts brand repros from Rick 1st Gen.  They fit and look great.  They need to be cleaned thoroughly several times with lacquer thinner then with soap and water and allowed to dry out for several days (or bake the moisture out of them at 200 degree for a period).  Then paint them with high temp paint, and baked according the manufacturers recommendations.

I used Seymour’s "Pit Crew High Temp 1200 F "Cast Blast color, #16-2668.  Eastwood also sell a similar nice product called Factory Gray High Temp Coating #10395Z, $15.99 per 12 oz spray can.  I don’t recall where I got the Seymour’s product.

The pictures of my manifolds show the color which appears very natural.  My manifolds were painted back in 2000 and still look great...no rust!

[Dave69x33]

WOOOPS....too quick on the trigger....see attached.

[Gambitt]

They do look nice.

[Jerry@CHP]

The best paint for any exhaust manfolds is the VHT #SP998.  That is what we use for our reskinning process.  It's the best and will last the longest.  It's about $12 a can so it's cheaper too.

Jerry

[Gambitt]

Do these repo exhaust manifolds have the holes for attaching the heat shields?

[x77-69z28]

i thought the heat shields attached to the block

[Gambitt]

They might do it, I don't know for sure...I have seen several places selling rivets to put them on...but that doesn't mean they are advertising them correctly...if they do attach to the block, that would make things a lot easier.