Has anyone installed a ~'81 exhaust manifold on a '79 truck or older and noticed the difference in how the exhaust pipe connects without the need for a dougnut. Have any of you made this mod. before? (stock stuff here)

 

??? Anybody notice or swap these???

 

I put a split setup on my 77 - no gasket was required if that is what you are asking.

 

The connection between the exhaust manifold and exhaust pipe is different. The earlier years ('79 and before) have a gasket or "doughnut" fitting between the two. The later years ('80 and beyond?) use a manifold that's flanged out and an exhaust pipe that's bolt right up to it without the need for a doughnut. The '79 has a recess for the doughnut to sit into -the '80 does not.