VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 GM Cast Iron Headers

I have a '54 Bel Air that has cast iron headers that were intalled by a previous owner. I never paid much attention to them I assumed they were Fenton headers. Yesterday I looked at them closer. They are not Fenton and they have GM part number on the rear header. It is GM5 in large font with the part number 3236587 under the GM5. I guess these are early Corvette?
I'm betting Gene will know the answer.
Cleon

I'll bet Gene will know the answer, as well.

How does this guy do it? He's a chevrolet encyclopdeia!

Bob :vcca:

3835587 is the casting number for a 235 1950-62 exhaust manifold. (note -its 3835587) Someone just "split" a stock manifold. Double check the number.

Gene the numbers confirm the manifold but you would not belive what a great job someone did on this thing. You can't see any welds. I tried to take pictures but it is very difficult. But I will try to post a link to them.
Thanks, Cleon
http://good-times.webshots.com/album

Well as usual my link did not work.
Cleon
2nd try

I can't find any good pictures of the Corvette manifold but when MikeM sees this he wil have some comments. He has a 1954 Corvette.

Here's a pic of a '53/'54 Vette split exhaust. The split exhaust is NOS mfg'd in '58. Manifold is NOS from '55 and the carbs are NOS from '55 to '56.

Thanks for the picture 46 Aero It has been a long time since I saw one of the manifolds and I thought that GM retained the intake manifold heat as your picture shows. Anyway who ever fabricated these was a real artist with a welder.
Cleon

46 aero,

That is one beautiful system you have there. Sorry for butting in here, but had to tell you.

It really looks super.

Bob :grin: :vcca:

the 6 cyl corvettes of 53 thru and including a limited # of 55 vettes, all used exh manifold cast # 3836108. i agree whoever fabricated this split manifold out of a single exhaust maifold is a cast irom welding wizard.mike

Several years ago there was a shop in Kansas that could built a factory like split manifold in several configurations for $165 You shipped a good stock manifold up to him with $165 and he did the split and sent the manifold back for that one measly $165. I had one all ready to ship and got a notice that they weren't in the split manifold business any more.
I shed a tear or two, now and then, when I looked at the pictures on their website.

Bobg; Thanks for the compliment. I had the exhaust manifold ceramic coated in the cast finish. Only way to go in my opinion. It was quite a feeling when I fired up the '59 235 for the first time knowing that I was the first one to bring life to the carbs, intake and exhaust manifold. My 46 Aerosedan is staying all original except the motor. The original 216 is oiled up and put away waiting for a rebuild.