I ran across this today and though it was pretty interesting, evidently designed for FE engines installed in boats. Anyone know anything about them? They looks very interesting- and I've never heard of an aluminum exhaust manifold. Are they water cooled? A heat exchanger?

Edelbrock M-5 exhaust manifolds 390 427 FE Ford boat | eBay

Sam

 

Looks like another set for sale also. Can't find 'em with a google search other than these for sale. Can't find anything like them at Edelbrock. They do have water in them--note the fittings:

427 FE Ford BBF Exhaust Manifold Logs V drive Jet Boat | eBay

 

They are water cooled and probably quite rare since the FE has been out of production for decades.

 

However the will only work on a boat with a steady supply of COLD water.

 

Definitely water cooled, and meant for FRESH WATER or to be run with a heat exchanger.

Pretty cool if you wanted to make an FE-powered jet boat or I/O.

Useless on the street You need a good steady supply of cool water flowing to keep the heat down.

 

I don't know much about aluminum, but I think that the extreme heat in an exhaust manifold application would cause some issues, looks like they got around that with the water cooling. I remember seeing a picture of an FE with cast iron galaxie headers and those things were glowing cherry red! I think aluminum would have melted by that point, or at-least gone dead soft. Maybe a cast iron version would be a better choice for the street.

Sam

 

Those aren't going to flow anywhere near as well as long tube headers. They will flow better than many of the stock marine exhaust manifolds though. Probably better than most factory "log" manifolds for cars/trucks too.
Long tube headers aren't really suitable for marine use, since the engine is typically mounted rather low. Headers would wind up going thru, or at the very least near, the hull. Heck, these will too close to the hull in most cases, and without the water cooling, fire could result. Dunno about anyone else, but I wouldn't want have a boat catch on fire. Sure, it will eventually put itself out, when it sinks....... and you swim. Hopefully......

 

Hence why marine headers are "inverted' and still have water running through them

 

Besides cooling the water also serves to a certain extent as a muffler.

 

Especially when that water is dumped into the exhaust after the elbows, that attach to the rear of the manifolds.