[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 09-18-2009).]

VATS by pass will be here today or tomorrow. I ordered for my exhaust a small round catalitic convereter today, $65.00 delivered. This one has the metalic insides. 2.5" Thunderbolt Metallic Catalytic Converter #415250. It is for up to 5.9L engines.
http://performance-curve.com/
I will be copying this photos exhaust system, dont remember who I stold this picture from:

I also ordered the two connectors that connect the tach and ingnition to the distributor. Got these at:
http://www.repairconnector....subcatid/0/id/293731
Carrluvr had reccommended them . We have no wrecking yards here. I am 1 1/2 hrs away for any around where I live. Easier for me to order new ones, than drive 3 hrs and get filthy scrounging parts. Less than $20.00 delivered.

Raining here today, so I am gonna get to work in the garage. I will post any progress this afternoon.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 09-24-2009).]

I purchaseda set of these exhaust manifolds and the crossover pipe back in March expecting to use them on my 4.9 swap:

I tried to clean a spot and they clean up real nice with the air die grinder with a wire brush head insert.
Mounted on FEW's engine I think:


Are there any advanatages to using these other than loosing about 15lbs of cast iron off each head? I would think that the cast iron ones hold in the heat better than the stainless steel tubular ones.
I am planning on using the Fiero AC hoses, and they pass right underneath the manifolds. A auto parts shop I go to said he can remove the round muffler can part on the Fiero AC hoses while replacing the soft part of these ac lines:

and as seen in Dizzixx's pic this would be pretty close to the manifold. :

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 09-24-2009).]

The PO had installed 6" round spearers in this huge hole. And yes that is the fuel neck hose you are looking at from inside the car. You can also see the transmission pan:

An hour later I had this removed from the engine bay side:

There is one on the passenger side also. I am gonna have to drop the engine to remove it as it's against the waterpump belt pulley. No wiggle room what so ever.

Got a call from NAPA, and this came in today on their truck. NAPA number 610-1100, $3.88 Cheapest part I had to buy yet:


Before:


After:

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 09-24-2009).]

That is indeed a pic of my motor while I was building the exhaust. There are only a few advantages to the stainless manifolds over the iron ones. First, obviously, they're stainless. They just look better and have less rust over time. The second advantage (and the reason I chose them) is they are much easier to weld then the cast iron ones. For my install I wanted to route the exhaust in the factory place. This meant removing the center outlet in the one manifold. Simply capping the outlet wasn't good enough. The stainless just worked better for this. Third. If you plan on doing headers they are a great place to start. The flanges can be cut off easily and would make a great base for headers.

I don't see how either choice would be much better then the other given how your doing your exhaust. For your AC just make up a good heat shield to protect the hoses. I'd also wrap the AC hoses in fiberglass or equivelant tape for added protection. The iron manifolds do come with a small shield but its not enough. Make sure you use something in the area the small shield goes though. It protects your fuel pump connector on the firewall. Go ahead... Ask me how I know.

[This message has been edited by Fieroseverywhere (edited 09-24-2009).]

quote Originally posted by josef644: The PO had installed 6" round spearers in this huge hole. And yes that is the fuel neck hose you are looking at from inside the car. You can also see the transmission pan:

I thought my car was the only one. I guess I got lucky afterall. I only had 4" holes in my firewall... course it looked like mine was done with a chisel. Did they cut out the mount for the fuel pump and Ac relay on yours also?

[This message has been edited by Fieroseverywhere (edited 09-24-2009).]

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 09-26-2009).]