Exhaust manifold glands

[nkaminar]

The Model T exhaust manifold would warp without the glands. Cast iron will expand when repeatedly heated. The exhaust manifold on the Model T was designed with more metal on the top so that it would warp down at the rear over time and the rear hole would not be aligned. The Model A exhaust manifold is a lot better design and will not warp nearly as much. Even so, some additional material was added in 1931. The glands are a carryover from the Model T.

 

[daren007]

I have a waffle manifold. No warpage . I leave it on the year around but remove the housing in the summer.

 

[Conaway2]

Thanks, Jim. Indeed, after looking at the manifold after I got it off (old, pitted, crusty, the muffler sealing surface was way pitted), I decided to bite the bullet and get a new one. (Intake manifold is fine, did the requisite breaking off of the bolts holding them together, cleaned it up and the paint is drying as we speak.) Bratton's actually has a fact sheet on fitting the gland rings - I guess I could have avoided this whole thread if I'd just done more research first. But I learned a lot.

Thanks for your help.

JayJay

I’m happy to hear your experience was much like mine.
Jim

 

[Bill G]

I don’t use them anymore. I also don’t have a manifold gasket leak problem. So I think it’s a waste of time. IMO

Me too. Besides, I have an Autolite waffle manifold that hasn't sagged in all these years, it probably won't with my 5 or 6k miles per year either.

 

[JayJay]

Follow up report - the new exhaust manifold finally arrived (five days late, thank you FedEx), I dry fitted it with the old intake manifold and the assembly was straight and consistent within about 0.003". When I fitted the assembly to the block with glands installed but without the gasket it snugged down just fine. So on with the gaskets and tightened to 35 ft-lb. We'll see how it runs once I get the gooseneck back on (had a radiator leak I'm working on at the same time, took this opportunity to clean up the gooseneck.)

JayJay

 

[J Franklin]

We'll see how it runs once I get the gooseneck back on (had a radiator leak I'm working on at the same time, took this opportunity to clean up the gooseneck.)

JayJay

Be careful installing it as the ears on it are fragile. I have snapped them off more than once I think.

 

[JayJay]

Be careful installing it as the ears on it are fragile. I have snapped them off more than once I think.

Thanks. New gaskets, and I ran the four nuts up about a quarter turn at a time. I also figured that while tightening the two manifolds might want to move independently of each other so I left those two bolts loose until the manifolds were seated. It felt good.

JayJay

 

[alexiskai]

Thanks. New gaskets, and I ran the four nuts up about a quarter turn at a time. I also figured that while tightening the two manifolds might want to move independently of each other so I left those two bolts loose until the manifolds were seated. It felt good.

JayJay

I think J Franklin was talking about fragile ears on the water outlet (aka gooseneck). Not that you can't snap the ears on the manifolds, but it's much less common.

 

[Hitman]

Thanks. New gaskets, and I ran the four nuts up about a quarter turn at a time. I also figured that while tightening the two manifolds might want to move independently of each other so I left those two bolts loose until the manifolds were seated. It felt good.

JayJay

The two manifolds need to be securely bolted together before you assemble them to the engine. You need to bolt them together, and mill the jointed manifold surface straight and flat.

There's a decent amount of weight hanging off the intake and exhaust manifolds. You'll have trouble keeping them sealed against the block with your method.

 

[JayJay]

I think J Franklin was talking about fragile ears on the water outlet (aka gooseneck). Not that you can't snap the ears on the manifolds, but it's much less common.

Hmm, OK, Thanks.

JayJay

 

[dmaxweb]

Do the machine work first and then measure. Some find cutting their own rings from steel pipe works better than the rings you can get nowadays as they would be solid round. Personally I would test fit without the gasket.

Mild steel or stainless? NAPA sells 1.5" OD aluminized mild steel exhaust tubing by the foot.

 

[J Franklin]

Mild steel or stainless? NAPA sells 1.5" OD aluminized mild steel exhaust tubing by the foot.

Buy a foot from NAPA and make some for yourself and a couple of friends.
Somewhere on this site is a thread about making the rings but a search will have to be made.

 

[Gene F]

Same as Bill (#24) for me.