Ardun aluminum exhaust manifolds?

[OHV DeLuxe]

I have an original aluminum left side exhaust manifold for an Ardun i'm putting together. This one gives much better clearance for steering than the more regular straight down type manifold which will colide head on with most side steer columns.
Question is of course, will it melt? I know for a fact that aluminum exhast was used in the 60's for some of the crazy HP cars, and yes i know about the boat manifolds but they are water cooled.
Anyone with a real life experience or a good idea about it?
This exact design has also been found in cast iron. But will we be ok if of course keeping fuel to air ratio correct and correct ignition?
Any ideas is very velcome. thanks!

[OHV DeLuxe]

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[OHV DeLuxe]

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[SUHRsc]

Aluminum melts around 1200°. Unless your timing is way off... I'd guess you should be below that temp.

[Ronnieroadster]

Most used aluminum ARDUN exhaust manifolds I have seen have all been damaged from the exhaust heat. I think the big problem is they are rather thin so heat damage is much easier due to the light weight.

[47Merc]

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Just a thought. What if you have the manifold ceramic coated inside and out?

That would protect the aluminium and if you can believe the data that is put out about ceramic coating, it should lower the temperature as well.

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by SUHRsc

Aluminum melts around 1200°. Unless your timing is way off... I'd guess you should be below that temp.

You'd think they would add something into the casting, like done with heads?

[OHV DeLuxe]

Sounds like this one will stay on the shelf, if anyone has a cast iron one, please let me know. Thanks!

[Ardun]

Made nine out of Stainless. No problems. How about som pics of your Ardun

[Brom]

Originally Posted by Ardun

Made nine out of Stainless. No problems. How about som pics of your Ardun

I am soon to tackle the problem of exhaust manifolds for my ardun project. I am in Australia and have the Don Ferguson kit being assembled now. This will be fitted in a 32 Vicki fully fendered. Is anyone producing these off the shelf at all or is it a complete fabrication job?

[Bored&Stroked]

Thanks to RonnieRoadster, I have an original set of cast iron Ardun exhaust manifolds. What I'm thinking is that it might make sense to use a ceramic coating on the inside of the manifolds to help shield them from the heat. There are a lot of coatings that I'm using for pistons, combustion chambers, etc - along with header coatings . . . I'd think there are some good coating options that can prolong the life of those manifolds.

[Ardun]

Originally Posted by Brom

I am soon to tackle the problem of exhaust manifolds for my ardun project. I am in Australia and have the Don Ferguson kit being assembled now. This will be fitted in a 32 Vicki fully fendered. Is anyone producing these off the shelf at all or is it a complete fabrication job?

Steel Flanges are available as are stainless which is what I used. All was custom made. Left hedder was made in two pieces to clear steering.

image.jpg

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by Ardun

Steel Flanges are available as are stainless which is what I used. All was custom made. Left hedder was made in two pieces to clear steering.

Attachment 244382

Nice looking work!

[Brom]

The kit just came out of the crate delivered to my father that passed not long ago. He bought one of the first sets in the 90s but never opened the box. I have taken over the project. I have some photos here but not much withto look at as yet. I had a late model relieved block so i had to source one from mike davidson, aussie flathead go to guy. The block is in the tank and getting bottom end sorted. I posted some photos under "Brom" with a short blurb on each.

[Brom]

20150618_101323_resized.jpgWas very lucky to find an old beater near by to me who is slow and steady but very nice completed work. Its his virst rod but has tackled plenty of muscle era cars etc. Cheers. Boy, that is a really nice set of headers...jealous

[Brom]

20151023_162442.jpg

Crate opened 4 weeks ago which Brom senior purchased in the early 90s. He never opened it. Starting the build now after sourcing a non relieved block from Mr Flathead here in Australia...Mike Davidson.

[Brom]

Ardun...would you let me know where you got the flanges for your arden. Also i have 2 dummy push rods in the kit and i will use something local but did you use a solid rod or an "oiler" from a late model cleveland or similiar. My engine builder has done a bunch of flatheads but not many Arduns near me. Thanks for any info u can give me.

[Ardun]

Originally Posted by Brom

Ardun...would you let me know where you got the flanges for your arden. Also i have 2 dummy push rods in the kit and i will use something local but did you use a solid rod or an "oiler" from a late model cleveland or similiar. My engine builder has done a bunch of flatheads but not many Arduns near me. Thanks for any info u can give me.

Flanges http://www.spdexhaust.com/pdfs/27_Vi...er_Flanges.pdf

I used Smith Brothers pushrods custom made to my spec. http://www.pushrods.net/one-peice.html

My Ardun is a first gen original. Smith Brothers prices are very good as is quality. The dummies you have are likely to use for measurement after you are assembled, then you order. Use non-oiling pushrods and you must provide the rocker arm adjusting stud curvature and size. There is a guide upon their website. Also, be watchful of the pushrods clearance in the flathead valve guide bore. Often they hit and the bore must be relieved. Don Ferguson will have most parts you will need and is quite helpful. Well worth calling with questions. He does not use email.

That being said, Don includes the measuring pushrods with his kits and I believe the kit includes the price of the pushrods. You just call him when you figure it out and he will send them.

If you would like to call me for what I gave done, I am on the West Coast. Just send me a private email @ [email protected] and we will fo from there. There was a lot to be done to build a good Ardun than I originally thought. There is a lot of good advice from guys like Ronnie in here.

Tom

[Brom]

Thank you so much. All makes good sense. I have Dons phone number and had planned to call him this week. This crate full of goodies was one of the first reissued runs from 1993? And my father had never once opened it up. I did the invoice parts check off 20 years after delivery....unbelievable. thankyou for your offer. I am sure as this starts to piece together i will be needing as much guidance as i can get.

[Bored&Stroked]

Also, something to think about when you talk to Don is ask him about his rocker arm assemblies - they are a BIG improvement over the stock system. If you want to put some miles on the engine/car, then getting a better rocker and top-end oiling system will be a big improvement. Also, the rocker ratio is a lot better than a stock Ardun (which is barely 1.1 to 1).

Other things to be careful about are valves and valve springs - all sorts of BS out there on what works and what doesn't. Back in the 50's they didn't actually have many choices and the ones that they used - happened to kind of fit. There are better choices for many of the valve components today. I bought and checked out all the stuff that a lot of guys recommended - and it wasn't right, so I started working with the heads, working with stock rockers (in this case) and working with the geometry that is needed for things to work correctly - lots of time goes into these things . . . more than one suspects on the front end.

Once you get a direction on that you're thinking of doing (and your budget! ), be happy to help you. I have done a lot of research in these areas and am presently building an original set. Best of luck!