Tublar exhaust manifolds on a 97

[bluex]

Been lurking here waiting on my account to be activated. Will a set of the 99+ tublar manifolds work on a 97? I did a search and all I found was about headers. I'm sure they will bolt up to the engine and all, but do they fall in the same place for the crossover pipe? According to GMPD catalog the crossover pipe is the same for 95-01 3.8s. Just wondering if anyone has done it?

I bought the car a 97 firebird with a blown engine and I'm in the middle of swapping it out for a 06 grand prix engine, just looking to make a small improvement while its out. Cant really afford headers, so not looking to go that direction at all. Unless someone has a set really cheap!

[cam98aro]

Re: Tublar exhaust manifolds on a 97

they should fit

[bigbrian442]

Re: Tublar exhaust manifolds on a 97

Been lurking here waiting on my account to be activated. Will a set of the 99+ tublar manifolds work on a 97? I did a search and all I found was about headers. I'm sure they will bolt up to the engine and all, but do they fall in the same place for the crossover pipe? According to GMPD catalog the crossover pipe is the same for 95-01 3.8s. Just wondering if anyone has done it?

I bought the car a 97 firebird with a blown engine and I'm in the middle of swapping it out for a 06 grand prix engine, just looking to make a small improvement while its out. Cant really afford headers, so not looking to go that direction at all. Unless someone has a set really cheap!

No. The crossover pipe is different. The drop for the tubular manifolds is less then the log type manifolds. No gains to be had between the two anyway.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: Tublar exhaust manifolds on a 97

Been lurking here waiting on my account to be activated. Will a set of the 99+ tublar manifolds work on a 97? I did a search and all I found was about headers. I'm sure they will bolt up to the engine and all, but do they fall in the same place for the crossover pipe? According to GMPD catalog the crossover pipe is the same for 95-01 3.8s. Just wondering if anyone has done it?

It can be done, but will require modification to the A/C tubes coming off the back of the A/C compressor. The lines were changed to provide clearance for the tubular headers. Do a search - this has been discussed before. However, the effort is not worth gains.

Been I bought the car a 97 firebird with a blown engine and I'm in the middle of swapping it out for a 06 grand prix engine, just looking to make a small improvement while its out. Cant really afford headers, so not looking to go that direction at all. Unless someone has a set really cheap!

I hope the GP engine is the NA version, and not the S/C one.

.

[bluex]

Re: Tublar exhaust manifolds on a 97

I did do a search as I said. All I found was threads dealing with swapping to headers or the gains that could be had from them. I tried every key word I could think of searching for over 45 mins before I posted this. If you know where the thread is, point it out...


Yes the GP engine is NA. I read all about that while I was waiting a month for my account to be activated so I could post.

Thanks for the info that it is not worth the trouble. I will save that $$ then. :D

[flamingchicken]

Re: Tublar exhaust manifolds on a 97

i just did the series 3 swap, its a pain!!!! lol, have fun!

[bluex]

Re: Tublar exhaust manifolds on a 97

Well, I have a set of manifolds on the way thanks to pewter02camaro.

Since I have been searching for days and have only found the same information already stated in this thread with no pictures or further information about why this is not worth the effort, I'm going to take the opportunity since this thread has been made a sticky and document what exactly needs to be done to install these.

I will not be doing any dyno time to see if there are any gains. I dont have the $$ for any of that. I know its not going to be any huge gains anyway. I do think it will be worth the effort though, espically with my series III swap with the larger exhaust valve. My bet is 5 hp at most.....

Please try and keep this tread as informative as possible so others can see what all is needed to do this and determine for themselves if they want to or not.

Thanks,
Paul

[bluex]

Re: Tublar exhaust manifolds on a 97

Here are the differences in the a/c lines. I know the picture for the 97 is correct, but I'm not sure about the 01. The pictures are from auto zones web site. Note the difference in the ends that attach to the condensor and dryer. They are different, so swapping lines would mean swapping everything else.

[bluex]

Re: Tublar exhaust manifolds on a 97

Ok mocked up both sets to check the differences between the two. The tubular manifolds Come down about 2" lower and about 3" back towards the bellhousing.

Pictures of the passenger side are attached.

[bluex]

Re: Tublar exhaust manifolds on a 97

Here are pictures of the dr side.

[bluex]

Re: Tublar exhaust manifolds on a 97

The EGR and Y-pipe connections are different as well. I did manage to bend the EGR and get it to fit, but not without cracking the pipe....

I will cut the Y-pipe to fit and have it rewelded at the local muffler shop. In the picture this is the dr side. I have the pipe bolted up to the pass side as it would be normally. I'm going to wait until everything is in the car before I make any changes to the pipe. I'm probably going to have to take some out of the overall length of it as well since the tubular manifolds come back farther on the engine.

[dmw319]

Re: Tublar exhaust manifolds on a 97

good work.

[Ratchet]

Re: Tublar exhaust manifolds on a 97

If you had the stock ypipe that went to the tubular manifolds those should bolt and fit, right? There wouldnt be any modding for that I assume.

[Pewter02Camaro]

Re: Tublar exhaust manifolds on a 97

correct^^^

Also Bluex, wanted to reming you that the driver side flange is tapped 1/4-20 while the passenger side remained stock thread for the stock bolts. Reason being the bolts broke off in the drivers side and i had to drill and tap it. Just wanted to remind you if had forgotten.

Jeff

[bluex]

Re: Tublar exhaust manifolds on a 97

Thanks I had forgotten that. I'll pick up a bolt locally, I didnt see any in the package.

Ran into another issue yesterday. The Oil Level dipstick will not fit with the tubular manifolds. Tried bending the tube to get it to work then the dipstick itself wouldnt go through it. Right now I'm using the one from the 06 GP that my new engine came from. Not sure if the level will be right on the stick or not but it will do until I can locate at 00+ camaro/bird one.