Hello All,

I'm beginning to suffer from the dreaded '93-owners syndrome...anyhow, I have a cracked passenger-side exhaust manifold. GM is happy to sell me a new manifold for a cool $450 Canadian. However, I managed to get my hands on a beautiful-looking set of PO-15 Hi Temp coated manifolds from a '94 car very cheaply. I'd like to use these manifolds, but have some issues with the emissions system (and yes, I need to retain it). On a '93 (passenger side), the EGR tube and the Air Injection Line are combined and connect above the #8 cylinder exhaust port. With the manifolds I have, the EGR connects at the bottom of the manifold and the AIR Injection port is at the front of the manifold. I don't want to convert the entire system to a '94 system because it requires moving my AIR pump from the frame rail to the engine block and some crazy plumbing. As such, I'm down to three options:

1. Order the '93 Manifold

2. Order the correct EGR pipe ($40) for a '94 and connect that to the passenger side manifold. Plug the AIR Injection port and only hook up AIR to the driver's side manifold.

3. Order the correct EGR pipe for a '94 and hook it up. Make a home-made rubber/steel line to run from the T-fitting on the driver's side over to the AIR Injection port on the passenger side. (I would route the line around behind the intake...similar to what a '93 system looks like now, just separate from the EGR pipe).

What would you guys advise? I'm really leaning towards the second option. Would hooking the AIR up to only one side have any adverse effects? It would still be sending air to the catalytic converter...though perhaps at a lesser rate. Thanks for your advice!

 

headers?

 

I say just get a set of shorty headers that still have the emissions hook ups.

 

Not sure on altering the way the emmisions works, the inspection
people probably wouldn't notice. I'd use it as an excuse to get some
emmissions-compliant mid-length headers

 

I'd really like to make the manifolds I just bought work if possible. Headers are out of the question at the moment. I will redo the entire exhaust system next summer when I have the time and money to do it right. For this summer, I've already redone everything else on the car (new motor, suspension, transmission, brakes, tires, etc...). I thought I could save some money by using the original manifolds and that just came back to bite me.

 

Agreement here with bubba.

I too have a 93 and I too live in Canada.

If I were in your shoes a set of headers that fit right in is where I would be going. Buy a set that retains all emmissions and requires no modifications,, a little boost on the HP and the sound pretty sweet concept in my book, for $450 CAN you be able to pick up a set of headers?? Especially now that the GST has been rolled back a whole 1%

By the way,, what is this dreaded 93 owners syndrome you speak of??

 

The oddball(est) of the 4th gens LOL (in many people's opinion)
http://speeddensity.org/showthread.php?t=679

 

I'd really like to not spend the $450...None-the-less, considering headers for a minute: What's to guarantee that if I buy a cheap set of headers (I would classify $450 for headers as relatively cheap), they will fit? I've heard so many horror stories about warped flanges and header tube interference...any recommendations from another '93 owner using emissions? Also, I'd really hate to put up the money for headers and not buy stainless ones. A big beefy cast iron manifold is not about to rust away whereas some 16 guage mild steel headers will not last too long with all the temperature change-induced condensation from the climate around here. I'm certainly not set in my decision, however, and that's why I'm asking for opinions. I appreciate the discussion.

I'd also really like to know if anyone has made newer model manifolds/headers work with 93 emissions and how they did it.

 

Mac mids are probably your best bet.
They're pretty inexpensive, great peformance and are very good quality.
They come with a high flow Y pipe.
Part#94957/3593 93-95 LT1 Camaro/Firebird Mid-Length Header System
Saw em on sale a while back for $425, I bet someone has em on sale for the 4th of July

BBK makes some inexpensive shorties, I don't think they flow as well
as the MAC mids but I have not heard any complaints about their quality either.

 

if you can wait a month ill sell you my hooker shorties ( emmision legal) for $50. im putting on pacesetter LTs so i wont need the hookers anymore

 

If they are in good shape, that's an awesome deal.
Make sure they come with the Y pipe or mate with a stock one.

I bought my Edelbrock mids (coated and dirt cheap) without
a Y and ended up having to have one fabbed up.

 

I have a new set of 93 stock manifolds that came off my 93 when new. Will sell them for $85 plus shipping. They still shine.

 

Exhaust manifolds can be welded.

 

sorry this may sound like a flame but why would you spend all that money on a motor, tranny, suspension, and brakes and not touch the exhaust at all? I think your going to have a hard time playing around with differnet peices to get our emmissions to work, short headers should bolt up to the stock Y for now, so just go that route and buy AIR and EGR block off plates and ditch the emmissions.

 

I unfortunately can't just take the emissions out. I've been rebuilding this car since I bought it in February and it's not certified/deemed road legal yet. To pass the emissions, I will have to have all the equipment functioning (not necessarily stock, but serving it's purpose.) If I take the EGR out, my NOx emissions will most likely be too high.

The reason why I didn't change the exhaust on the car when I did everything else: the exhaust on the car is new-ish and in fine working shape. The manifolds also looked fine. It's not that I didn't touch them--quite the opposite. I had the mating surfaces on both the heads and the manifolds milled. Somehow in the installation process, I cracked one.

About the welding comment...the manifold is actually cracked ALL the way around right before the #8 cylinder...it would be VERY difficult to line up the two pieces/flanges and weld it back together. How do you properly weld a soft grey cast iron, anyhow? Perhaps that's another day's issue...

95LT1conv , are those Hookers installed on a '93?