Tbird Exhaust Manifold

[Daddio]

I'm at a car show and this 'Ford expert' starts inspecting my 56 Tbird. “You have the wrong exhaust manifold, that one belongs on a 272, not a 312.”


I wasn't sure. The manifolds certainly look different, one is sort of round and the other a little squarer. So I got a strong light, got the casting numbers off my engine and compared them to the list on http://www.y-block.info/casting/exhaust.html . They are:


ECH 9430 A right hand
ECJ 9431 A left hand


The right hand jives with this chart, but I don't see a left hand for a 312, dual exhaust Tbird ('S' on the chart). The chart tells me my LH is for a 292.


Can someone help me by verifying with their (correct) manifolds? Is my dyslexia kicking in here or something??



Thanks in advance.... Mike

 

[scicala]

I'm not an expert here, but I believe I have read in other posts that the T-Bird driver's side manifold (left) has a different length and angle to the outlet end. I believe for streering gear clearance, and the passenger's side (right) is the same as passenger cars for that year. With the ECJ number, the "J" represents T-Bird. So my opinion is that the other side (ECH) would be for T-Bird and pass. car in '56.

I could be mistaken on some of this, but think it's correct. I'm sure experts on this will comment.

Sal

 

[scicala]

Also, the manifolds in T-Birds in 1956 are not specific to 292's and 312's. They both used the same manifolds.

Sal

 

[Sid]

I am not absolutely positive but I think the flatter on top exhaust manifold did not come out until 1957 and newer. Unless you are trying to keep a car completely stock the later manifold is slightly better for performance.

 

[dmsfrr]

The above comments from Sid and Sal are all correct.

You could pointedly suggest the 'ford expert' donate to you the $$ for his preferred replacement.
His type is known in the scale modeling world as a 'rivet counter', not an endearing term.

Yes the driver side exh manif is T-Bird specific, it arches above & behind cyl #8 to clear the steering column. (photo below)
The linked casting number chart you found is a good one. Haven't come across a better one yet.

The exhaust manifolds were improved/enlarged for '57.

A '57 T-Bird driver side exh manif would have an ECJ-9431-"C" casting number and it wouldn't matter if it was on the base version 2bbl 292 engine or a 4bbl 312. I believe the dual 4bbl and S/C engines used them also.

It's my understanding that exhaust manifolds are much like the heads, they were used on similar engines, grouped by a year or two, and are not specific to a particular displacement engine. Of course there are a few exceptions, but not most of the time.

The only other difference between the 'full sized' car and T-Bird exhaust manifolds I'm almost sure of is the T-Birds (and other 55/57 models with dual exh option) didn't have a fitting on the pass side exh manif for heat to the choke thermostat. The choke heat tube came from the intake manif. The intake mounted heat tubes were a problem in the first few years, and anything could have happened since then.

 

[scicala]

I am not absolutely positive but I think the flatter on top exhaust manifold did not come out until 1957 and newer. Unless you are trying to keep a car completely stock the later manifold is slightly better for performance.

Yes, that is true. It kind of went hand in hand in 1957 when the heads with larger ports and valves were introduced.

Sal

 

[Oldmics]

The left side exhaust manifold used on T Birds for all 3 years (55,56,57) is cast as ECJ 9431 A.

The "A" casting was still used in 1957 along with the introduction of the
ECJ 9431 "C" manifold.

The "C" casting definatly had the larger ports but it is also been reported that the 57 year cast "A" exhaust manifolds had the larger ports.

I would think your "expert" had already been sniffin too much CO2.

Oldmics

 

[bobss396]

"I'm at a car show and this 'Ford expert' starts inspecting my 56 Tbird. “You have the wrong exhaust manifold, that one belongs on a 272, not a 312"."

Did he say that before or after you gave his private parts a kick?

 

[54vicky]

I do not understand you guys questioning the expert after all he slept at the blah blah the night before.he watched a ton of reality shows of restoration programs ad we know they only show things that are gospel.he has a rare 4 door t bird built in 1949 he thinks it says hundaaaa on the fenders but he thinks they were put there to help keep the secret from getting out

 

[Daddio]

I bought this car as an original and have tried to maintain it with 'as original as possible' parts, so I'm happy to hear this 'Ford expert' was wrong.
He almost had me convinced, thanks for your help ... you're the REAL Ford experts!!
So, I guess the chart on http://www.y-block.info/casting/exhaust.html should show ECJ9431A for 'all' 55/56 Tbird engines (not just 292), just as ECJ9431C does for 'all' 57 Tbird engines.