I always thought the passenger side exhaust manifold looked "different" than the drivers side.   With the two of them side by side they are definitely different.   P/N drivers side ECJ 9431 A, no markings on passenger side

The drivers side "collector" looks larger.  Passenger side looks "rounder" They both fit the engine and the down pipe fine.

Did Ford make different versions of the exhaust manifolds?

The smaller, round one for the passenger side is pre-57. Both Tbirds & full-size cars use the same passenger-side manifold. The larger, "square top" manifold for the driver side is 57 Tbird-specific to clear the steering box; it's not interchangeable with full-size cars, but it will fit 55-56 Tbirds. The 57 "Square top" exhaust manifolds do flow better than the earlier manifolds, just as the 57 4-barrel intake manifold flows better than the earlier 55-56 intake manifold for the Holley 4000 "Teapot" carburetor.  

Is the drivers side the same 55 and 57?

In 57, as noted, the "flat top" manifolds were std equipment -both sides. 

   



54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

It's a 1955 BIRD -

How is the car used?

1) SURVIVOR
2) RESTORATION
3) DRIVER
4) PERFORMER

You want the engine to appear as OEM ASSEMBLY or modified?

____________________________

The repops for the bird have been around for quite a while. Haven’t seen any complaints here or elsewhere, so they’re probably ok. Same caution as any other cast manifold about over tightening and breaking an ear off.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Driver I don't care about OEM appearance 

Well, if it were mine (I wished), I would try and find a quality take-off. But there are repros put there.

They (repro) seemed to be copied off the 57 292-312 engine but according to cataloging both styles/years take the same inlet pipe.

I read one comment on the the repro where the buyer had to have surfaced the manifold to head surface but you are most likely going to have to do that with a take-off.

For model specific, the CASTING ID NO is ECH-9430-A (both FORD and BIRD)

They are available as take-offs on EvilBay - 

____________________________