Swapping stock exhaust manifolds for 85-86, what needs to be done?
#18
Captain Obvious
Super User
Super User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 22,846
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From: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Get the gaskets that properly fit your head. That means, go with the 16V gasket and not he 32V (Aluminium O-rings). The 85-86 manifolds WILL perfectly bolt up to the 16V heads. If you decide to use the 32V catalytics, the passenger side will need to be lengthened by about an inch. Any muffler shop can do that for cheap. They need to cut the pipe just bellow the flange and weld a small extension piece in.
This week I’m replacing the cats on my ’85 32V with an H-pipe. I’ve bought a pair of replacement gaskets at my local parts store for $5 each. They match up perfectly to a Mazda with 3 stud gasket. Just take you old gasket in and they can match it up. The gasket is a standard design/dimension so finding a replacement is easy, and cheap.
This week I’m replacing the cats on my ’85 32V with an H-pipe. I’ve bought a pair of replacement gaskets at my local parts store for $5 each. They match up perfectly to a Mazda with 3 stud gasket. Just take you old gasket in and they can match it up. The gasket is a standard design/dimension so finding a replacement is easy, and cheap.