'70s B and C body BBO exhaust manifolds
January 10th, 2015, 04:45 PM
#1
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'70s B and C body BBO exhaust manifolds
I recently saw a set of Olds 455 W/Y manifolds for sale. The seller said they were factory manifolds from '73-'78 big block B & C bodied cars with factory dual exhaust, supposedly very rare he advertised?
Anyone have knowledge about these manifolds, what are the differences between W/X, W/Z and W/Y manifolds from the same era?
Do they all fit on big block B bodied cars?
I want to expand my knowledge of these cars from this era, thanks.
Anyone have knowledge about these manifolds, what are the differences between W/X, W/Z and W/Y manifolds from the same era?
Do they all fit on big block B bodied cars?
I want to expand my knowledge of these cars from this era, thanks.
Last edited by 73aussie455; January 10th, 2015 at 05:37 PM.
January 11th, 2015, 08:11 AM
#2
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Well, the seller is off a little on his years as 1976 was the last year Olds installed 455's.
I'm not aware of any dual exhaust manifolds used on the 1970's full sized cars. Dual exhaust setups would just block off the crossover pipe.
The 1965-68 A-body big block cars used the dual exhaust manifolds with W, X, Y codes that were open pleniums. Then in 1969 through 72 they used the W/Z manifolds that have the ports separated inside. I'm not positive but believe 1973 was the year that the drivers side went from a W code to an X that looks very much like the W with the port separated inside. So the Cutlass/442 of 1973 into mid-70's used the X & Z manifolds. I have found an X code manifold used on the full sized cars in 1971 but its like the early A-body manifolds with the open plenium. The passengerside mate to this was a T that still has the crossover. Attached is a picture of this X manifold comparing it to the #1 manifold showing the size difference.
P1010053.jpg
P1010054.jpg
I'm not aware of any dual exhaust manifolds used on the 1970's full sized cars. Dual exhaust setups would just block off the crossover pipe.
The 1965-68 A-body big block cars used the dual exhaust manifolds with W, X, Y codes that were open pleniums. Then in 1969 through 72 they used the W/Z manifolds that have the ports separated inside. I'm not positive but believe 1973 was the year that the drivers side went from a W code to an X that looks very much like the W with the port separated inside. So the Cutlass/442 of 1973 into mid-70's used the X & Z manifolds. I have found an X code manifold used on the full sized cars in 1971 but its like the early A-body manifolds with the open plenium. The passengerside mate to this was a T that still has the crossover. Attached is a picture of this X manifold comparing it to the #1 manifold showing the size difference.
P1010053.jpg
P1010054.jpg
January 11th, 2015, 08:56 AM
#3
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 48,229
I recently saw a set of Olds 455 W/Y manifolds for sale. The seller said they were factory manifolds from '73-'78 big block B & C bodied cars with factory dual exhaust, supposedly very rare he advertised?
Anyone have knowledge about these manifolds, what are the differences between W/X, W/Z and W/Y manifolds from the same era?
Do they all fit on big block B bodied cars?
I want to expand my knowledge of these cars from this era, thanks.
Anyone have knowledge about these manifolds, what are the differences between W/X, W/Z and W/Y manifolds from the same era?
Do they all fit on big block B bodied cars?
I want to expand my knowledge of these cars from this era, thanks.
January 12th, 2015, 09:15 AM
#4
Oldsdruid
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southside Vajenya
Posts: 10,531
71-74 B&C body Olds use the same dual exhaust manifolds as their A-body brethren. They'll work on 75-76 too but 1) you need a 71-74 dual exhaust crossmember and 2) you have converter laws to contend with.
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