[judger69]

I did a search but could not nail this down.

Are all the original 1969 & 1970 RA 3 exhaust manifolds date coded? I've seen lots go by on ebay claiming to be original, but no date codes. The repops are starting to look pretty close. It sure is buyer beware on evilbay so I've been educating myself on stuff (mostly though this forum) but have read different opinions on this. Some say they shouldn't have a GM3 over the casting code, but I have a GM4 on my original 4234 intake.

Any insight?? or even pics of originals?

Thanks in advance.

[unruhjonny]

I can check for you;
IIRC the passenger side manifolds are the same between A & F bodies;
The driver side one has a small relief in it for the F body, but I have put the A body one in my car in the past.
I have two or three spares hanging in my garage to check...

[Gordon Church]

The repro's are based on the 69 design the 70 manifolds only have three mounting bolts and are definitely date coded

[judger69]

Johnny - thanks - I'd be interested in seeing what you have. I always thought the firebirds had more of a long branch header on the R/A 3's. Maybe I'm thinking first gen birds.

Gordon - didn't know that about the 3 mounting holes on the '70's. That and the date code makes it easy to spot a '70 as I think they share the same casting numbers as the '69's.

If anyone has some info they'd rather not share on here, I'd appreciate a PM too.

Thanks to all !

[unruhjonny]

long branch are definitely 1967-1969 Firebird.
Second Gen Firebirds essentially uses the 1969 GTO manifold.

I don't know if I have your contact numbers, but if you have a smartphone, please PM me your number, I can shoot you several pictures of my loose RA manifolds.

[3goats]

judger69
i have a set of 69 originals off the engine(judge ra 3) that I can snap picks for you and post.

[Beige1968GTO]

For what it's worth, the 1968 HO GTO I have (with essentially the same type manifolds as '69 RA III manifolds) has date codes on both. So if they used date codes in 1968 and 1970 its likely a safe bet to say they did in 1969.

Ron

[johnta1]

Have you seen the banner above the thread for Pypes and Max teeming up for Max manifolds?
(it rotates so ad may not be there every time)

Looks like they are selling RA manifolds?

[judger69]

Originally Posted by 3goats

judger69
i have a set of 69 originals off the engine(judge ra 3) that I can snap picks for you and post.

That would be great Glenn, thanks !! Are you going to the High River show this weekend? A couple of us from here are making the drive on Sat.

I'm hoping to get some pics of the Mint Turquiose '70 Judge with red guts that was there last year. Ill see if I can post them.

Dion

[judger69]

Originally Posted by johnta1

Have you seen the banner above the thread for Pypes and Max teeming up for Max manifolds?
(it rotates so ad may not be there every time)

Looks like they are selling RA manifolds?

Yes I saw them John, I already have a very nice set of 1968 R/A manifolds but again no date codes so likely repops ?? The one driver side stud was very close to the Upper Control Arm so I am looking for a set of originals. Most everything else on this car is date coded correctly.


And Ron - I agree it makes sense if the 68's and '70's are date coded the '69's should be as well. Its just that there have been so many go by on Evil Bay that are claimed to be originals ( Isn't everything on ebay? LOL !) but are not dated. If its just that easy as no date code = not original then I should be able to find that here on PY but an exhaustive search didn't tell me for sure.

That's why I threw this out there.

Thanks again to all !!!

[unruhjonny]

iirc the originals are quite distinguishable from repops - as the repops are of much higher quality, and often used 3 bolt head pipe flanges, where the originals would often be 3 & 2 bolt flange.
I do believe that the presence or absence of a date code is a key way to discern if it's a repop - I do not believe any repop manifolds (intake or exhaust) have date codes - but I might be wrong.

[judger69]

UnruhJonny, thanks for the pics of the late 1969 cast 3 mounting hole manifolds.

Anybody out there with an original late 1968 or early 1969 cast 5 bolt hole ram 3 exhaust manifold that does not have a date code cast onto it? No pics necessary just want to know if they were ever done that way.

[3goats]

Hey Dion
I didn't here about a car show in High River? Maybe I should run up there Sunday and check it out.
I will get those pictures of those manifolds for you tonight when I get home. I just got busy and to be honest I forgot! LOL The engine is on a stand in my shop covered up and I walk pass it everyday so you'd think it would of reminded me..
Any ways i'm workin on it and post them the next day

[judger69]

Originally Posted by 3goats

Hey Dion
I didn't here about a car show in High River? Maybe I should run up there Sunday and check it out.
I will get those pictures of those manifolds for you tonight when I get home. I just got busy and to be honest I forgot! LOL The engine is on a stand in my shop covered up and I walk pass it everyday so you'd think it would of reminded me..
Any ways i'm workin on it and post them the next day

Yeah Glen, its usually a good one. Last year there was somewhere around 1000 cars but the weather was nice. There were a few nice GTO's there. I forgot it was Sun not Sat.

No worries on the pics man. Im really not in a hurry. I still haven't installed the flywheel I bought from you or put my engine in yet .

[judger69]

There is a 1969 WS engine right now on Evil bay claimed to be original from carb to pan never rebuilt. No date code on the 1637 exhaust manifold. It also has the GM3 above it. I am confused now. This car was on the road for 11 yrs, engine never rebuilt. It is possible the manifold was changed, but..........

Ebay link. You can zoom in better.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1969-GTO-Judg...3D122091378318

[unruhjonny]

FYI
http://rivercityclassics.ca

[Gordon Church]

rotted off

[unruhjonny]

ok, so i finally looked - wow $10k for that pile of parts - really!?

[judger69]

Originally Posted by Gordon Church

rotted off

I wondered that too Gordon, but the date location of the 478140 (1970 equivalent to the 1637) is right where the GM3 would be. Perhaps the 1637 in my last picture had the date somewhere else? I have never seen a date on a 1637.

Perhaps someone could confirm or deny the date location of the 1969 DS 9791637 manifold. That would be helpful.

Thanks everyone.

[judger69]

Thanks to Unruhjonny for this picture of the date code on a 478140. It is right where the GM3 was in my previous posts (including my first post of this thread). Could the date code be in a different place on a 9791637 ? I have yet to see one.