Topic: Correct Locking on 6 Cylinder Exhaust Manifold

[Twilight65]

Ok Just received my Judging Sheets from Savannah and had a question about a point deduction on the correct locking for my exhaust manifolds. My car is a 66 Convertible Mustang Sprint. First off I want to say that the Judges were very courteous, professional and thorough, but I’m not sure if this item has an alternative to what I have on the car so thought I would ask here first.
Thanks ,
Dave

Judging Sheet – Class CTB
Page 11,  Engine Compartment; Exhaust manifolds;  Deduct 2 , Reason for Deduction; No lock tabs
Question:  It’s a 200 CID, so I put Ramp-Lock on each manifold bolt, do they make lock tabs for 6 cylinders?

[Skyway65]

yes--both of my January '65 Dearborn 200 I6 convertibles had, and have, the locking tabs.

[Twilight65]

Gary,
thanks for the information and pic, what was your source, AMK?

Dave

[Twilight65]

OK went back to the Judging rule; It says;

"Exhaust Manifolds: Natural cast iron appearance (paint acceptable). May show engine color overspray. 64 ½-65 tab locks. 66 – tab (early) or ramp lock bolt and washers. Locking tabs must be used to lock bolts in place. Washer behind lock tab. No manifold gaskets. "

My 66 is a mid May 1966 scheduled build. What would be the cutoff to define an early and/or a late build?

Dave

[jwc66k]

"Exhaust Manifolds: --- . 64 ½-65 tab locks. 66 – tab (early) or ramp lock bolt and washers. Locking tabs must be used to lock bolts in place. Washer behind lock tab. No manifold gaskets. "
My 66 is a mid May 1966 scheduled build. What would be the cutoff to define an early and/or a late build?

For a V8, the accepted date is 1 Dec 65. I would assume the I-6 would be the same. A flat washer, 353992-S(2) is required to protect the cast iron manifolds from getting chewed up by the lock washer teeth of the Ramp-Lok bolts.   
Jim

[Skyway65]

Gary,
thanks for the information and pic, what was your source, AMK?

Dave

Dave- I got them at NPD-I've had really good luck with their parts and service. 

[69bossnine]

Dave, just for future reference, NPD is an AMK dealer, and our prices on all AMK kits and components are identical to what you would pay buying-direct from AMK, plus we keep it all in-stock ,and there are no minimum-order policies. The NPD item # for the 6-cylinder lock-tabs is 370383-S, and they come 4-per-kit. You'll need 3 kits, and they're $3.00/each. Plenty in-stock at all four of our locations.

Thanks,

Rick
NPD

[NEFaurora]

Wait a minute here folks...

I was always under the assumption (and have never seen otherwise) that 1965 was the last year for locking tabs on the 200 cid.  I do not ever remember ever seeing locking tabs on a 1966 200 cid engine exhaust manifold, nor would I ever expect them to be there, or their remains for that matter.  I mean really, that is the whole point of ramp-lok bolts, so you do not need the old type locking tabs.  I think that the judge was wrong on this one, and you were right.   I'm curious to see what Charles and Jeff have to say on this issue.  As I said, I would expect to see the Locking tabs on a '65 200, but not on a '66 200 cid.  So what is correct for '66???

)

Tony K.

[J_Speegle]

Just sharing a couple of pictures from the files. Unfortunately allot have been changed to regular bolts and washers over the years - likely when owners fixed cracked manifolds and addressed leaks


6F07T1272xx with early exhaust locks Approx October 1 1965




6T07T1522xx with ramp locks Approx November 17 1965

[CharlesTurner]

I would have thought 6 cyl would follow similar pattern as all other '66 where the production year starts with locking tabs and then ramp-loc later.  But, seem to be contradictions to this pattern, so I can't say for sure.  If I was doing a restoration and had no hard reference for the particular car, I would go with lock tabs before Dec '65 and ramp-loc after.

[drummingrocks]

I would have thought 6 cyl would follow similar pattern as all other '66 where the production year starts with locking tabs and then ramp-loc later.  But, seem to be contradictions to this pattern, so I can't say for sure.  If I was doing a restoration and had no hard reference for the particular car, I would go with lock tabs before Dec '65 and ramp-loc after.

+1.  It's an easy assumption to make, but the build date on the door tag isn't when the engine was built; in the case of my Dec. '65 fastback, I went with the lock tabs since the motor was probably built at least a month before the car was run down the assembly line.

[CharlesTurner]

+1.  It's an easy assumption to make, but the build date on the door tag isn't when the engine was built; in the case of my Dec. '65 fastback, I went with the lock tabs since the motor was probably built at least a month before the car was run down the assembly line.

Good point about assembly dates, thanks.

[jwc66k]

Is there an engine assembly date on an I-6 block like there is on a 289 block, and where?
Jim

[Twilight65]

The engine in question here had a date code stamped in the block of May 13, 1966, Scheduled build date for car was May 18th, Car sold at dealer on May 31st, 1966.
Here is a picture of the date code. I think  with all the info given I will keep the ramp loks on, the point deduction was not enough to keep me from a gold award  so no problem. I can tell you from the restoration experience on a 6 cylinder, information and some parts were hard to come by, so its no doubt there may be question on whats correct or not. At the Indy show where I first debuted the restoration there were a lot of comments and questions on the correct fuel pump. But thats a whole other topic.
Thanks,
Dave

[CharlesTurner]

Is there an engine assembly date on an I-6 block like there is on a 289 block, and where?
Jim

Yes, top front on driver side (LHD), same format.