Hello all,
I spent quite a bit of time searching threads and saw some references to the lack of headers available for the 1965 Starfire. I have a 1965 442 Convertible that the prior owner swapped a 455 from a 1974 Delta 88 into. The 455 has Edelbrock aluminum heads. 3 speed automatic with floor shifter. We pulled the motor today to get the car ready for paint and see that the headers that are on the car had a fair amount of "massaging" of the tubes to get around everything. There was essentially no clearance between the driver's side header and the steering shaft. I'm looking for a simple replacement of the headers. Is it simplest to go back to a stock manifold and will that match up with the existing heads? If so, I saw the manifold link for Fusick's in one of the CO threads but it looked like it went to a Starfire. I'm not racing the car but smoking a tire every now and again.

i saw Joe's consolidation of threads in a posting but I couldn't find a reference to my situation.

Thanks for the help. This is my first time pulling a motor out and having a great time with all the grease and grime. Will be cleaning things up and painting the block before putting it all back together.

 

The factory manifolds for a 1965 442 looked like this:

 

But the 1969-74ish manifolds look like these. Since your not needing to go stock these are a little better manifolds to use. I know these will fit in the 1965 with stock heads. Sorry, I don't know enough about the aftermarket heads to say for sure if they will fit. Some one else will have to help with that.

 

Thanks for the pic. Are those still available and would they fit on the 455 with the Edelbrock heads?

 

Yes, they are available reproduction or several members here probably have used ones. I'm not sure if they will fit on the aftermarket heads or not. Someone else will have to verify that.

Here's one source for the early ones. Exhaust Manifolds 400, Pair - OldsParts.com

Here's one source for the later ones. Manifolds, Exhaust, 1969-72 Oldsmobile @ OPGI.com

There may be a source for the Thorton manifolds cheaper than OPGI but I'm not coming up with it right now.

 

Thanks for all the help John. According to Edelbrock, the stock manifolds should bolt up. With your comment about the manifolds fitting in the '65, I'm going to plan on the '69-'74 version. Lots of cleanup to do on the motor in the meantime. But so much easier to get to with it on the engine stand!

 

If you'd still like to try headers, ARH(American racing headers) have a pricey stainless set that they swear will fit the 64 & 65.
(I believe the owner HAS a '64)

-peter

 

those manifolds will bolt on the aluminum heads

 

Thanks for all the input. A friend of mine threw me this link and I was wondering if anyone has dealt with the seller or heard of Doug's Headers. They say they are made to fit the 65 but after seeing the threads on Classic Olds, I have my doubts.
Peter, thanks for the find on the ARH but that is out of my price range. Great looking headers though.

 

imo if you arent going to uncork them at the dragstrip headers arent worth the trouble

 

People who don't want to be bothered by the problems with headers shouldn't run them. If you want to make HP, use real, full length headers. Equal length headers flow better than any cast iron manifolds. Using even W/Z manifolds on aftermarket aluminum heads defeats the purpose of the better heads. An engine is a system, and all the parts need to be matched. I am mystified by people who spend money on intakes, heads, and other induction parts then negate it all with a crappy exhaust system.

 

Joe, I would rather take the header route. Do you know of any that are out there and available? Or will something need to be fabricated or modified to work? Thanks

 

ARH are the best. They are not inexpensive.

 

Holy moly, those are expensive! They sure look great though.

 

Will the Thornton shorty headers work in the 64-5 chassis? Not quite as effective as long equal length tubes but a lot less aggravation installing.

 

The Thornton short tube headers take up the same space as the W/Z manifolds so if you're confident the W/Z's will fit in your '65, the short tubes will fit. We've all discussed short vs. long tube performance many times on this site. If you're going for the best performance, find long tubes. If you're OK with the manifolds, the short tubes should work for you.
One thing I've heard about the reproduction W/Z manifolds is that the center ports are not divided as they were with the original W/Z's. I don't know this for a fact, only saying I've heard it. To me, that would make a difference and I'd find an original set over the reproductions if I were going that route.
I've purchased and installed a set of the Thornton short tubes (on aluminum heads) and can tell you from first hand experience there really was no performance benefit (from the original W/Z's). Quality is excellent and, in my opinion, they're definitely worth it over the W/Z's.