Topic: 63-67 K Code Hi-Po 289 Exhaust Manifold Survey

[Bossbill]

While pondering certain exhaust manifolds I have, I decided to look into the variations in the 289K/Hi-Po exhaust manifolds here, on the net and on ebay.
There is confusion on casting dates and when certain manifolds were introduced.
Mannel helps in introduction dates, but those are not based on sampling.

It turns out some erroneous assumptions are being made about date and other casting marks that appear on these through the years.
For instance, the date format changed not only on format but locations. Other marks that were assumed to be dates may actually be mold numbers.
I have some data, but like to get input and create a spreadsheet of when these changes occurred.

Do note that I have made some assumptions about what some of these numbers mean.

• I think on the early manifolds the rectangular and sometimes upside down alpha/numeric near the Part Casting number is the date.
• I also think on 66 and later manifolds the date is gone from the outside and has moved to the inside (engine side) with the 4 pins. It then changed date format.
• The "N", ".N.", "G 3" are probably mold, vendor or foundry numbers.
• The double rectangular number on the front side does not appear to be a date. Yet another mold, vendor or foundry number. It's of format  "125 06"

Please fill out these fields, if you would.

Your car's assembly date:
Are the manifolds original?:

LH Outside Casting Number (e.g.; C30E-9431-B):
LH Mold Number (e.g.; ".N.", "G 2"):
LH Date (e.g.; B203 or 1 20 5):
     The early dates are of format Letter Month, 2 digit day and single digit year.
     These dates are usually on the outside and can be upside down on a small rectangular square tag barely large enough to hold the digits.
     The later dates are of format Month Day single digit Year
     These dates are on the inside (engine side), on a rounded tag with 4 pins
LH Date Location (e.g.; inside,outside):
LH Other Notes (e.g.; Notched for T/E, "125 06 outside" or similar casting):


RH Outside Casting Number (e.g.; C30E-9431-B):
RH Mold Number (e.g.; ".N.", "G 2"):
RH Date (e.g.; B203 or 1 20 5):
     The early dates are of format Letter Month, 2 digit day and single digit year.
     These dates are usually on the outside and can be upside down on a square tag.
     The later dates are of format Month Day single digit Year.
     These dates are on the inside (engine side), on a rounded tag with 4 pins.
RH Date Location (e.g.; inside,outside):
RH Other Notes (e.g.; Notched for T/E, "125 06 outside" or similar casting):

I'll follow up with pics of the various areas in question.
 Thanks for your help!

[Bossbill]

Here is an example of
a) The casting number (C3OE number)
b) A mold, vendor or factory ID number (N 3)
c) Date (when in the small rectangle it's usually of format [A-N]ddY (last digit) or B015 for February 01, 1965.) This date is sometimes upside down and looks like it was thrown into the mold.
d) The date is on the outside of the manifold and visible. After all these years it is not always readable.



Sometime after 65 (this survey will help find out when) the date moved from the outside of the manifold to the inside. The format is md dd y, where month and day can be two letters but we think year is just the last number in the year.



Sometime around 66 another number appeared on some manifolds (far left in pic and looks like "128   06"). I've heard some say this is a date, but the syntax does not match dates and it may be a mold, vendor or factory ID. When you flip these manifolds over you should see the date with the 4 pins. Picture from MustangTek.



When the date moved the outside became a lot less cluttered on some manifolds. This is the last version of the Hi-Po manifold and featured T/E cutouts for the tubes (see next pic).



T/E cutouts were only on the 67  manifold pictured above. Here are the tube cutouts.

[6R07K]

Hi,

Your car's assembly date: 5 May 1966
Are the manifolds original?: Yes, but not to this car.

LH Outside Casting: C30E-9431-B
LH Mold Number: 2 (Raised circle in front of the "2" with an unreadable shape, possibly a "G" )
LH Date: 10 18 5
LH Date Location: Inside
LH Other Notes: N/A

RH Outside Casting Number: C4ZE-9430-A
RH Mold Number: G2 (G is inside a raised circle)
RH Date: 2 16 6
RH Date Location: Inside
RH Other Notes: Inside front between first two ports has a raised square with dots in it

[Bossbill]

Thanks, 6R07K.
Here is the first entry of the Hi-Po manifolds in Mannel's book.:

Your car's assembly date: Early April 63
Are the manifolds original?: Yes.

LH Outside Casting: C30E-9431-B
LH Mold Number: .N.
LH Date: B203 (Feb 20, 63)
LH Date Location: Outside
LH Other Notes: Date upside down

RH Outside Casting Number: C3OE-9430-C
RH Mold Number: .N.
RH Date: B253 (Feb 25, 63)
RH Date Location: Outside
RH Other Notes: Choke Heating Chamber Casting


If you have partial data -- that's ok too.
We are looking at trends and changeover dates.

[Bossbill]

Here is another set of manifolds

Your car's assembly date: Unk
Are the manifolds original?:

LH Outside Casting: C30E-9431-B
LH Mold Number: .N 3
LH Date: E54 -- Date is very hard to read. Best guess (May 5, 64)
LH Date Location: Outside, date right side up
LH Other Notes:

RH Outside Casting Number: C4ZE-9430-A
RH Mold Number: 2 N
RH Date: E74 (May 7, 64)
RH Date Location: Outside, date upside down
RH Other Notes: No choke heating chamber

On edit -- Add pics since everybody like pics!

[9TO2Hknot4cell]

First, I understand that this is an older post.........

Does the repop manifolds have all the markings exactly like the originals?  I couldn't see that being the case, because the novice could be screwed over thinking that he has originals when actually they are repops. I'm wanting these but haven't a clue if they're original or repops.
Any of the experts here can help would be appreciated.

[Bossbill]

Getting good pics of the repops appears to be difficult as sellers usually want you to see areas that are similar, not different. Using the standard format I get this:

Your car's assembly date: N/A -- Repop
Are the manifolds original?: No. Scott Drake reproductions.

LH Outside Casting: C30E-9431-B
LH Mold Number: N 8
LH Date: H214
LH Date Location: Outer
LH Other Notes: N/A

RH Outside Casting Number: C4ZE-9430-A
RH Mold Number: 1 N
RH Date: K174
RH Date Location: Outside
RH Other Notes: Backside has notation of "CAS"

Both manifolds:


C3:


C4:


C4 rear: