Just installed old Shankle header on '78 Spider!

[JeffreyOlson@domain.elided]

I bought a old Shankle header on eBay and just put it in 
the '78 Spider.  It's the old style with the air pump 
injection ports.  2-2" downpipes go into a Y-collector 
that joins the catalytic converter perfectly.

The only reason I went with a header was that it was 
cheap, complete, looked decent, possibly offered a 
performance improvement, AND the original manifold was 
leaking from a poorly repaired crack.  The original 
manifold still had the old air injection manifold rusted 
in place and looked terrible.  The emissions inspector 
wanted to fail the car because of missing equipment.

Took a little custom bending to get the downpipes to 
clear the body so the collector would match to the 
converter.  Ironically, it would have fit perfectly had 
I NOT just replaced the motor mounts!  Looks like 
Shankle intended it to fit sagging Alfa motors!

Fabricated a support strap that joins the exhaust mount 
under the transmission and replaced all the exhaust 
hangers.  So far, so good!

A little louder but not too much.  Does seem to have a 
slight increase in power and rev a little quicker but 
that's all subjective.  The rest of the exhaust system 
is stock.

It was a PITA to find a bolt that would fit the air 
injection ports.  Had to use 14MM. 1.50 pitch, oil pan 
drain plugs.

Later!

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