Stock HP exhaust manifolds - 360?

[Gumby]

Is there such a thing? My headers, Hedman, sit a good 3" below the car. The tubes are already half crushed. I want to go with Stock manifolds and dual exhaust. Car is a 72 Challenger with late model truck 360, converted to carb. I have a set of old school Thrush side pipes, including the Thrush chrome covers that I am contemplating putting on. Actually, am going to do. Maybe use a T/A style muffler and just run straight pipe through the side pipes. Or use 2 bullet style mufflers per side in the side pipes. I HATE headers. They sound good, but are a PITA. Don't be a hater, just please advise. Thanks! lol. 

[MEK-Dangerfield]

I'm not much help, but can we at least verify that you haven't lowered the car?

[Gumby]

I don't know. Won it in a raffle. It is awfully low to me, but I drive a Suburban everyday. haven't been in a car in years. The headers physically hang down way beyond anything else on the car, you can even see it from the sides. A friend commented on it. I didn't put the dents in the tubes, it was as delivered. Way low. Car looks "normal" height. I

[PlumCraZRT]

Is there such a thing? My headers, Hedman, sit a good 3" below the car. The tubes are already half crushed. I want to go with Stock manifolds and dual exhaust. Car is a 72 Challenger with late model truck 360, converted to carb. I have a set of old school Thrush side pipes, including the Thrush chrome covers that I am contemplating putting on. Actually, am going to do. Maybe use a T/A style muffler and just run straight pipe through the side pipes. Or use 2 bullet style mufflers per side in the side pipes. I HATE headers. They sound good, but are a PITA. Don't be a hater, just please advise. Thanks! lol. 

Do you have cutouts in the rear valence?  If you do, it will look goofy with no exhaust coming out of them.  If not, you may consider turn downs as well.

[Road_Runner]

You could get a set of the AAR/TA syle HP manifolds.  They are pricey though, but not any more than a good set of coated headers.  Here's a pic:

[Gumby]

I DO have chrome tips sticking out from the rear. I looked into getting a plain valance (wow, Pricey!) The TA manifolds look nice. Any re-pops? I just figured that if B-block motors had HP exhaust manifolds, so would the small blocks, and some would would repop them cheep. This engine isn't gonna stay here forever, I have a 400 that I want to stroke and drop in. Just looking for cheep alternatives for right now. I mocked up the side pipes just on wood blocks, and they actually look really darn good, different, and "day 2" type stuff. I know tti makes bolt on down tubes. Don't know anything about small blocks, though. Thanks for all the replys, keep them coming...

[Road_Runner]

Chryco has suggested some later model truck manifolds that he said perform better than the TA style and can be picked up super cheap.  Seems like he said 1978 or something close, I'll let him give the details.  The TA/AAR manifolds are anything but cheap and repops are in the $700 range from what I've seen.  For short term, definitely go with the truck versions.

Later, Jim

[Gumby]

Do you have cutouts in the rear valence?  If you do, it will look goofy with no exhaust coming out of them.  If not, you may consider turn downs as well.

The Thrush side pipes have a cast aluminum front inlet section, a finned 3 1/2" tube, and a cast aluminum turn down outlet section that has the Thrush name cast into them. The turn downs exit in front of the rear tire. The chrome cover has Thrush stamped into it, and has a series of louvers in the front section. Very nice, looks to have never been installed, and the chrome is in beautiful minty condition. They really are nice pieces that I bought years ago off ebay. The original 5 foot long mufflers aren't any good any more, however. I will replace the rear valence if I put them on. This won't be a hack job. I am picky.

[Gumby]

OK Chryco, where are you? lol.

[burdar]

Mopar Muscle Mag did a test of 318, 340 HP, 340(72-73) and 360 manifolds.  I can't remember what their test engine was but basically, they didn't see much of a gain from the base 318 manifolds.  Even the 340 hp's didn't add much.  For a mild build, I don't think the engine is going to care if you have a pair of 340HP manifolds on it or some 360 logs.  The HP's do look a lot cooler though. 

[Chryco Psycho]

We have used the Magnum truck manifolds , they fit well & flow very well ....... so 92 & newer 360 , there is suppesed to be 2 sizes , the larger ones are rare & I am not sure which years but all flow well

[Super Blue 72]

My  - I think sidepipes would look killer!  I sometimes look for sidepipes on craigslist for cheap but nothing shows up.

The only issue I have is I don't like drilling in the body, especially underneath on the floor pan where rust may form (I'm in the northeast, lotsa salt on the roads). For short term, throw on any set of manifolds you can find for cheap, hook it up and have some fun!  Should sound nice!

Dunno if you need mufflers but these guys might be able to help you:

http://www.classicchambered.com/classic/products.html

[Gumby]

Thanks! to Super Blue and Chryco, and everyone else. Very good reccomendations. Some people are absolutley vehement against side pipes on a Mopar. I bought these to use on my Coronet, because I couldn't figure out where to route exhaust if I mini tubbed it and moved the springs in. They were too short for the Coronet, but would look perfect on the Challenger. To each his own. They look really cool mocked up on wood blocks under the Challenger. Perfect. I live in an isolated area, and everyone will know my car, and this will make it stand out that much more. Purple, rear window louvers, and sidepipes! lol. I'm sure everyone that sees it will tell me what a nice Charger I have. (like they have already done) so what's the big deal? lol. Day 2! Thanks Super Blue for the chambered exhaust thread! (by the way, I'm a dyed in the wool Mopar fan, I just like side pipes, and they will be on my car) deal with it.

[Chryco Psycho]

It is silly to me but most small block headers go under the steering ... WHY   The big block headers all fit above the steering , so you have 2 choices use TTI or Dougs headers or go to the magnum truck manifolds , using sidepipes I think the shorter manifolds will work better for you though

[Gumby]

Thanks for the tip Chryco. The manifolds are the option that I am choosing.