Does anybody out there make high-flowing cast iron headers for Thirdgens?

I was watching a show where these guys put high-flow cast iron headers on a hemi big-block, and i figured, if mopars got it, chevy must have it.

 

Why would you want cast iron headers?

As far as I know - no.

 

Chrysler made cast iron headers for the Hemis on the production line. It wasn't a performance thing, it was a production line thing. Ford did the same thing as well, to some extent, on their hi-perf 406 and 427 motors.

GM never really got into the cast-iron-header idea, just because they knew that cast iron headers would always be heavier and make less power than a steel tube header, and that performance enthusiasts would just replace them anyway. cast iron headers would have just been an unnessessary extra cost for GM.

 

According to "Muscle Car" (I was watching the same show) is that it reduced underhood temps and didn't reduce ground clearance.

But, I agree, never heard of them for a Thirdgen.

 

Ehh I'll just stick to good old fashion coated steel headers!

Seems to me the cast iron jobs would way a ****load more than a steel job. My Pacesetter LTs on my '97 weigh a good 10 pounds a piece LESS than the stock cast iron logs, even with the difference in size.

 

But you have to go back a ways. My 70 Formula with the ram air engine has factory cast iron headers. Most refer to them as ram air manifolds in the pontiac circle, but they are free flowing header style manifolds. Yes they are heavy and they cost a pretty penny as well.
GM got on that band wagon back in the early 60's, chevy had them on the 427 Z11 in 1963, and pontiac had them on many SD 389/421 cars that were even equipped with cut outs that could be removed.
My wifes 1971 454 Corvette still has it's factory manifolds, and they could be considered somewhat header like as they are a different design and much more free flowing than the manifolds used on other big block cars of that era. After that GM got away from that for the most part when performance went out the window.
As far as 3rd gens, nothing factory was made as mentioned above, probably the closest you would get would be Sandersons, they make aftermarket cast iron headers for alot of the street rod guys but whether they would fit a 3rd gen would be a crap shoot at best, and definately some fab work involved, not worth the headache in my opinion. Sorry for rambling, Larry.

 

The closest your likley to get is factory "Ram Horn" manifolds. Most had 2.25" outlets, some had 2.5". But, they are all center dump which may cause issues.