I believe the rams horns didn't make regular production until 1957. 55/56 were the log type with the possible exception of the '56 240 horse 265. My questions is "if they are date coded what would be the approximate date (the exhaust manifold) on a mid-May assembled Corvette?"
I have seen exhaust manifolds with and without casting dates. The standard rule is the dates should be within 3 months maximum prior to the final production date.
I myself haven't seen any that are date coded. The cast # will tell you whether the manifold is left or rt. side,the number of years it appeared and on what type of engine. :anim_25: :bowtier:
First design engine or second design engine? I don't know about first design. Won't speculate. If it is second design, they will likely have no date code. The first date coded second design manifolds started in April so there is a slight chance it had an April date code. However, the date codes are on the inboard side and unreadable when the engine is assembled.
Hi David - sorry for the confusion, I thought you meant the "Corvette Forum" which deals mostly with newer, late models. I don't think it needs to be moved, seems appropriate to be where it is on this site.
Mike
The reproductions are date coded too. So don't get tied up with date codes here. If you're concerned about originality, concentrate on using the original castings, because you can spot the reproductions a mile off, yet you can't see the date codes on reproductions or originals.
Here is the situation on 1956 Corvette exhaust manifolds.
They are NOT the same as passenger car manifolds (except for the 2x4 car manifolds).
1956 Corvettes used two different types of exhaust manifolds:
1st design 1956 Corvette engine used what is called a two bolt ram horn manifold (pictures attached. They are very rare, and very expensive. The set in this picture were sold for $2K. Casting number is 3725633, and left and right are the same.
2nd design 1956 Corvette engine (and 2x4 passenger car engines) used a 3 bolt ram horn set of manifolds. They are one year only manifolds. The pipe mounting flange is flat. Left manifold is 3731557, right is 3731558. These are also rare and expensive manifolds. They look a lot like the 1957 and later manifolds except for the flat pipe mounting flange.
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