Imco vs Stainless marine
 

I am replacing my stock manifolds are the Imco powerflow manifolds worth the extra 200 bucks over the stainless marine on a 454mag. Teague custom marine says they make more power but i am not sure.

Stick with Stainless Marine. They have a better design where the riser meets the manifold. I guarantee you that you would never be able to detect any performance differance between the two manifolds, one way or the other.
If you want to make the most power buy real tube headers, Lightning, CMI, etc.

Hey Formula I lost your e-mail did you get it on your boat yet? your my tech support 4 when i put mine on :D

FYI, There's a used set of Stainless Marine exhaust in the classifeds.

might look into the new Dana products manifolds they have out,

I agree with TomR---Stainless Marine!
 

headers - CMIs
 

TOM R

I just found a set of CMIs and am in the process of getting them mounted on my 502 EFI -- but both times I have had any contact with TEague Custom Marine - they immediately "run down" the CMIs as not performing well with the EFI and bragging up the IMCO.

Every comparison I've ever read, has always shown CMIs with superior #s to IMCOs.

WHAT GIVES????

MAV

One fact that is not apparent to the naked eye is the construction of our manifolds. Every other major maufacturer molds their aluminum manifolds the same way. They make a mold with all sorts of hidden passages and lost cores, etc, and mold it. It is totally uninspectible internally, and essentially the same thickness inside and out. It might be perfect, or it might not be so perfect. Guess who is going to find out! Our manifolds are molded simply, like the manifold on your truck or car. No hidden passages, easy to inspect. We then form the cooling jackets using a deep-draw process, and install them "on the half-shell". We add the water fittings, heat them up in an oven to 500 degrees, and weld them while they are hot. They cool slowly, so as not to build up stresses. You end up with: A perfect manifold every time. A manifold that is two and a half times as thick in the inside vs. the outside. A manifold that promises to pee in your bilge when it dies, and NOT in your engine. (In 15 years, we have yet to hear of an engine ruined by the failure of our manifold). A dry joint between the manifold and the riser. People who do otherwise do not have your best interest at heart. We invented the 5 year warranty on manifolds, after many years of good experience.

What manifold is that Brownie?

Stainless Marine, of course!

I chose Stainless because after reading Dennis Moore's book I found that the SM stuff fit just about everything he recommended. Also you can deal directly with them to order. I had a somewhat unusual fit and they worked with me great. Quality product,Great service and very good price.....I don't belive I have read a bad post about SM's but have read a few about IMCO's......Search for yourself......

Bad-Habit

Brownie, Nice plug for your company. FYI I'm running a more aggressive CAM than you recommended on a captain's call system, No reversion! Also you need to strengthen the oil filter brackets with more welding.

I did a lot of researching on GIL's, CMI, SM, Lightening IMCO. They can all talk anyway they want but unless you buy the expensive TRUE headers there is no discernable difference. Ask a non biased Dyno operator.

I absolutely love the truck style ring clamp. Super easy to remove to check for water leaks and reversion and to tighten hard to get valve covers. Great for quick removal of an engine.

The reason I rebuilt my engines in the first place was a leak in the manifold/riser fit area in my old exhaust system.

Add 5 year warranty once of the lowest costs (I bought through CP) and great service...a winning combo.

Stainless Marine or not
 

I have used Stainless Marine manifolds and stainless risers for over ten years. Any manifold/riser that carries water through the manifold/riser joint is jeopardizing your engine. Stainless Marine makes extremely high quality pieces. I do believe that tubes will make a little more power, but, they will not last as long. The heavy inside wall dimension on Stainless Marine insures that you will not lose a motor from water leak.

I believe there are many quality manufacturers of marine exhaust. I've just never had any reason to change mine. Even after ten years.

Brownie is great to work with also.

Stainless Marine all the way !
 

Going to go on the 6th season (in a few months) - Still look like new. The quality is great............I also like the fact that if things just are a tad out, you can rotate the riser a bit to make things fit.

Great product !

Brownie,

Question for you............What is the minimum center to center engine spacing you can have when running the Big block High Torque III's (with & without a tall deck). This is one thing I never saw in any of the catalogs, or the website.

Thanks

Ratchet, std deck, hp heads, 34" out of the box. Special machining, 32 3/4". Std heads are 1/2" narrower.

Thanks
 

Thanks Brownie........Just curious :D

So where do you get the best price on Stainless Marine Manifolds?
SSM direct or CP Performance?

I just recieved my system form CP, fast service and a good price.

Sam