79 Exhaust Upgrades

[Bunnet]

Ok, so I'm trying to purchase or at least find an performance exhaust manifold for 79's spider, but after searching and searching I found nothing. Suppose you can use the 1800 exhaust, but do you have to have the heads from 1800, because I don't, then the other question is. Has anyone found an exhaust manifold that work for the 79 and its improvement without too massive of modifications?

[RRoller123]

Check Mark Allison's web site, and AR, Midwest Bayless, etc. I think they all carry these. The 4-2-1 FIAT is considered pretty good in its own right too.

Pete

[Bunnet]

Thank you, for those site I'll shall be visiting them and inquiring about the proper exhaust system modifications.

Does the 4-2-1, bolt up to the 79' unique exhaust system without any further modification?

[toplessexpat]

I've got the Abarth replica exhaust on my 1800 - runs very nicely indeed. Came from AutoRicambi.

A

[RRoller123]

I am no expert, but I think the 4-2-1 will bolt up to any 2L block/Head combo, but if I carbed, the port for the O2 sensor would have to be plugged, and vice versa. Someone with way more knowledge than I will have to confirm this.

[bobplyler]

Does the 4-2-1, bolt up to the 79' unique exhaust system without any further modification?

The 79 comes with a 4-2-1 exhaust.

[garion]

The 79 comes with a 4-2-1 exhaust.

Yep, my 79 has one.

[mpollock]

The California 79 came with a 4-1 exhaust manifold. I'm looking at replacing it with the header and performance exhaust from Vicks.

[So Cal Mark]

you'll find that their header needs quite a bit of work to make it fit. My header can be ordered with the extra extension on the flange that will enable the egr system to function

[toplessexpat]

If you get an exhaust system which has the O2 port and don't want it - then it's very easy to bung it. Or alternatively install a wideband O2 sensor and gauge, and see your air/fuel mixture, and work on tuning to balance it as close to 14.7:1 as you can.

If you've got a stock engine - then there's a limit to the performance you can get out of a header upgrade anyway.

[carl]

In answer to the basic question, any 124 exhaust manifold will bolt up to a 2L (including 79) head....the port and stud arrangement are the same. If you are not using the EGR system, then you can just ignore it.....it's a simple pass through in the head with no connection to anything internal of the head. I put an 1800 intake manifold and a 1608 exhaust manifold and exhaust system on my 79 spider with no problem. Here in Va we don't have emissions testing on older cars so obviously the EGR stuff was tossed in the trash.

If you need the EGR then that's a different story. Late 70s spiders had EGR systems that incorporated a pipe that went over the top of the head so you could possibly try this if wanting an earlier 4-2-1 exhaust manifold. The 4-2-1 manifold does make a power difference and oddly enough the exhaust note sounds better too.

Also as noted, many 79s came with a 4-2-1 exhaust manifold and that's probably the easiest way to go.

carl

[Bunnet]

you'll find that their header needs quite a bit of work to make it fit. My header can be ordered with the extra extension on the flange that will enable the egr system to function

I try calling you guys, but the phone only gave as busy.

And thank you to everyone for your answer and suggestion. They have help a million

[So Cal Mark]

we get lots of phone calls. Send me your number in a private message and we'll call you

[raugsburger]

In answer to the basic question, any 124 exhaust manifold will bolt up to a 2L (including 79) head....the port and stud arrangement are the same. carl

So Carl, or others, what exhaust manifolds have you been using, I am also guessing everyone is simply plugging the EGR crossover in the head? has anyone seen deterioration of performance because of this, I would expect it to increase, due to more oxygen and no exhaust gas is introduced in the header?

Appreciate any feedback and recommendations you may have on a better 4-2-1 exhaust solution than the 4-1 that came with my car.

Thanking you in advance, take care

[So Cal Mark]

look at my videos in this section on exhaust flow, none of the stock manifolds are performance parts