exhaust manifolds

[marcus_3050]

will putting the new tubular manifolds off the 2000+ cars give any better flow than the ones on the 98. or give more space around the engine.

[Nachius]

From what I hear Yes and yes to both questions..........

they are better overall!

[toast]

They are so much better than the wrap-around manifolds.

[Dan M]

I don't know about your 98, but my 96 had AC components in the way on the passenger side. It's hard to tell without removing the old manifolds, but just so you're forewarned.

Look at headers that are made for our cars - if you notice how, on the passenger side header, the front pipe doesn't go down right out of the engine, instead it travels back, parallel to the engine. Picture (pacesetter's 3.8 prototype from AZ3.8Camaro)

Now, if you look at the tubular manifolds, the front-most pipe travels down right off the engine. This is where I ran into problems - there is not enough clearance there (on my car). My 2002 manifolds. || Upside-down.

This is only for my car, every car is different, and your AC stuff might not be anywhere near the exhaust manifolds like mine is. Good luck, and feel free to contact me.

[marcus_3050]

does anyone know if the tubular exhaust manifolds will work on a 98. or will anything be in the way. also can you use standard sparkplug wires or do you have to have to use the same style as gm oem.

[Dan M]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by marcus_3050:
does anyone know if the tubular exhaust manifolds will work on a 98. or will anything be in the way. also can you use standard sparkplug wires or do you have to have to use the same style as gm oem.<hr></blockquote>

If someone can post some pictures of the area in question, I might be able to tell.

[Banks_2003]

i am debating getting the tubular also....

[Wicked 3800 V6]

Anybody ever figure out if there is something in the way on all years or just 96? I'm thinking 97 as well, darn ...
-Rob

[W68Firebird97]

Im almost positive its a direct swap. I was going to do it and had no problems w/ it mine compared to my friends 00 bird. But if your gonna upgrade just go w/ the headers and not the tubular manifolds. If you have a 99+ fody just keep the stock manifolds cause there will be minimal gains between the two like 5 hp. But for us pre 99 cars we will be better w/ headers and probably no doubt that we would feel the difference. IMO.

[Dan M]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by W68Firebird97:
Im almost positive its a direct swap. I was going to do it and had no problems w/ it mine compared to my friends 00 bird. But if your gonna upgrade just go w/ the headers and not the tubular manifolds. If you have a 99+ fody just keep the stock manifolds cause there will be minimal gains between the two like 5 hp. But for us pre 99 cars we will be better w/ headers and probably no doubt that we would feel the difference. IMO.<hr></blockquote>

You're saying that your 97 bird looked just like your friend's 2000? I wonder if they did actually change the AC around that year...

[Takumi Fujiwara]

I woulda sworn I saw at CIA that they said they got better performance gains on the non tubulars. and Ive seen dynos of the stock cars and the ones with similar intkaes the no tubulars have had better power curves and numbers. Ive been posting this everywhere. From what I see the non tubulars are better. Thats just what Ive seen. Its kinda like the 98 99 LS1 has a more agressive cam timing but the 2000-2002 has less agressive cam timing but the LS6 manifold- Same power on the dyno.I think that its one of the many little things that were changed between our years. 99- have no ram air type intake but better manifold new has nicer intake worse manifold. if u ask me.