Hi guys I'm new to this board and hopefully I can get a lot of help out of this place. I have a 52 Chevy 5 window 1/2 ton truck with a stock 216. I was wondering if I should put a header or split the existing manifold for that classic bomb sound. Thanks
Welcome LT! If that's the only question you have, then you must be one of the lucky ones who have made it through the woods and now find yourself standing in the clearing of the great wide open. I'm pretty sure that the response you'll get is along the lines of those song lyrics, "If it makes you happy- If'in it twer me, I'd have to go with the split. Two pipes are always better than one! Now that that's been said- HOW 'BOUT SOME PICS??? (please?) Some more over-all info wouldn't be bad either. Front end? tranny? rear end? stance? steering wheel? etc.... Hopefully you read some posts before diving in here. We like to have fun at each others expence! Your question however, I think- is truely a "whaddayouwant" kinda question.
216 Header Now your talking about something I really can relate to!! My first truck in High School was a 51 five window with a 216. I completely rebuilt that engine with some aftermarket 10to1 pistons,cam ,an Offenhauser tri-power and a split header from Clifford Research.Man was that a sweet ride,wish I still had it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mark
Welcome This sounds like deja vu all over again Go to the "search" feature and type in "Fenton". Nate wrote a very good dissertation on the subject (as always).
Sorry guys it's been a subject gone over quite often it sounds like. I guess I never got that deep in the board pages yet. I'm trying to read through them all though. Appreciate your responses. I plan on keeping the 52 stock with some light modifications, lowering it, split exhaust,visor,had the orig. radio rebuilt already. Thanks
Who rebuilt your radio? Do you plan to upgrade to 12 volt? And if so, i guess the radio was upgraded too? I've got 3 radios somewhere, don't know if they are for trucks or cars, but I know they are GM and have 50+ years of dust on and in them!
The truck was already 12 volt when I bought it and yes the radio was upgraded cause it was the original w/the truck but wasn't touched. I got lucky and found this older gentleman who has been restoring old tube radios since the 50's as a hobby not a business.
wow, good on ya, mate!! i wish i had an original radio. oh well, i'll just have to save up the dough for one of those "looks old, but really is new" ones. jon
Hang tough, my friend! By the time you find an aviator seatbelt harness for your truck, i will have rebuilt all 3 of my radioes! I'll sell you one!
Welcome ! For that " Classic " loud sound , you want the header split and no crossover . For more power , have the header split but no restrictor plate or add a crossover pipe as close to the engine as you can , you'll love the increase in mid-range power , right where you need it for traffic driving . Remember : either way you DO NOT need any mufflers on a Chevy 6 banger! they sound great as they're softly cammed . -Nate
I have the split maniford and like the light dual sound. I have regular mufflers. YOU CAN FEEL THE ADDED HORSEPOWER!!!!!!!! Just kidding
I don't have a clue All I know is that i have 3 radios at my mother's house, which is 732 miles away that fit GM vehicles. I know that the 47-53 radios had the dials and pushbuttons in the dash and one speaker below the radio face. I'm not sure what the 54 radio would look like. If you can describe it to me or direct me to a site that has a picture of one, i'll check when i visit mom (Early May). I plan on checking them out when I go back home and seeing what they will take to be operational. Superheterodynes were my bag back in the early '70's. If i can't fix them, they can't be fixed. Now where is my tube tester!
When people tell me they have a 16 valve car I tell them my trucks a 18 valve, 12 in the engine, 4 in the tyres and 2 in the radio! ________ Double Eagle M41 Assault Shoulder
R.U. Confuddled Yet ? For those of you who don't Ken The Queen's English : Valve : radio tube Are there really only two tubes in an AD radio ? this means it's a cheapie . I've had a few old tymey tube car radios belch out all thier <magic> smoke whilst driving.......
Nate, I had a valve radio (sorry, tube) in my old 68 mkII jag and believe me when I say that I would start the engine, switch on the radio and drive away, and the engine would be warm before you heard a peep outta them speakers lol ________ Weed
Tube Radios Yeah , one of my Metropolitan Nash's still has the original tube radio and I like the soft hum of the vibrator as it warms up the tubes.... Remembering to leave the volume low untill it was fully warmed up anbd playing is supposed to make the tubes last longer , I dunno if true but I've been doing thant since the 60's and I've never changed a tube more than once yet... T'wasn't a ' Phillips ' radio in that old Jag , was it perchance ? .
Think it was Motorola, cant be sure, memory fading...... lights going dim, pain gone... spock are you there? God Im losing it. ________ TOYOTA FJ CRUISER
