Bigblock Manifold Identification - Help Please
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 14
Likes: 9
From: Osprey FL
Bigblock Manifold Identification - Help Please
I am a new member that has owned Corvettes for over 40 years. I am cleaning the garage and found a few items that I plan to offer on the sales forum (once I figure out those lengthly instructions on posting pictures). I am unsure of one item, and wish to put it before all the experts out there to tell me exactly what it might be.
It is a low rise big block manifold #3963569 designed to fit a Holley under a low hood. I bought a '69 Corvette 427/435 back in '73. The seller threw in the manifold. He said it came off of his brother's L88 Vette who had changed manifolds for drag racing. My seller tried it briefly, and then went back to the tripower which was on the car when I bought it. Now I never believed the L88 story, and the numbers don't support it, but it did come off of some GM car. I think it was used on '71 LS6 Vettes and a few Chevelles, Cameros and Novas.
When you look at pictures of manifolds with this part number manifold that are offered for sale, you find three flavors. The ads would make you think all of the originals have the Winter foundry snowflake (they tout that as proof it is original) and these come two ways, with cylinder markings (early) and without. And there are reproduction manifolds sold by various parties. But this one does not have the snowflake (or the cylinder numbers) but is marked with the the part number in the usual spot, and below that it is marked GM 1. No other markings are visible. It has some orange paint on the edges indicating it was put on the engine before the block was painted and then protected from the paint over spray. It is in very good condition, but mild corrosion in the water passages suggests it was in service for several months or years before I got it in '73. It still has the heat shield riveted on so I do not know the date code.
So did it come off of an LS6 Vette? Some say all GM aluminum manifolds of that vintage were cast by Winters but this one seems to be from a GM foundry. I would like to offer it on the right vehicle forum so that it can be put with the correct engine.
I look forward to your comments. Thanks for any thoughts.
It is a low rise big block manifold #3963569 designed to fit a Holley under a low hood. I bought a '69 Corvette 427/435 back in '73. The seller threw in the manifold. He said it came off of his brother's L88 Vette who had changed manifolds for drag racing. My seller tried it briefly, and then went back to the tripower which was on the car when I bought it. Now I never believed the L88 story, and the numbers don't support it, but it did come off of some GM car. I think it was used on '71 LS6 Vettes and a few Chevelles, Cameros and Novas.
When you look at pictures of manifolds with this part number manifold that are offered for sale, you find three flavors. The ads would make you think all of the originals have the Winter foundry snowflake (they tout that as proof it is original) and these come two ways, with cylinder markings (early) and without. And there are reproduction manifolds sold by various parties. But this one does not have the snowflake (or the cylinder numbers) but is marked with the the part number in the usual spot, and below that it is marked GM 1. No other markings are visible. It has some orange paint on the edges indicating it was put on the engine before the block was painted and then protected from the paint over spray. It is in very good condition, but mild corrosion in the water passages suggests it was in service for several months or years before I got it in '73. It still has the heat shield riveted on so I do not know the date code.
So did it come off of an LS6 Vette? Some say all GM aluminum manifolds of that vintage were cast by Winters but this one seems to be from a GM foundry. I would like to offer it on the right vehicle forum so that it can be put with the correct engine.
I look forward to your comments. Thanks for any thoughts.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 14
Likes: 9
From: Osprey FL
To Early Shark
Well, the common belief seems to be that the snowflake is required. Do you have a source or is that just by observation?
The Winters manifolds say GM on the first line, followed by a large pad on which the number 1 is usually stamped. The next line has the part number cast in, 3963569.
My manifold has the part number cast in the first line, 3963569. The second line says GM 1, all cast in.
The Winters are easy to spot becasuse of the cast pad, even with a bad picture, and as near as I can tell every vintage manifold shown in for sale pictures is a Winters. If mine is genuine (and it must be considering the markings and when I got it), then there are not very many out there like it. I wonder why?
The Winters manifolds say GM on the first line, followed by a large pad on which the number 1 is usually stamped. The next line has the part number cast in, 3963569.
My manifold has the part number cast in the first line, 3963569. The second line says GM 1, all cast in.
The Winters are easy to spot becasuse of the cast pad, even with a bad picture, and as near as I can tell every vintage manifold shown in for sale pictures is a Winters. If mine is genuine (and it must be considering the markings and when I got it), then there are not very many out there like it. I wonder why?
