Exhaust manifold question

[joeydurango]

Putting our 2002 5.3 into our '72 K10 today for the first time - the exhaust manifolds that came on the engine (out of a truck) don't clear the frame rails. Was pretty much expecting that, but thought we'd try. Now, I've been looking for the famed Trailblazer SS manifolds, but every time I do a search on Trailblazer SS the only engine option they come up with is a 4.2. Am I missing something here? Did the SS come with a larger motor in some year beyond 2002? And if so, will that newer manifold have the same bolt pattern as our 2002 engine?

Also, anyone tried Camaro or Corvette manifolds?

Finally, anyone have a good source what's needed here? Having a hell of a time finding something definite.

[joeydurango]

Doing more research, found 5.3 Trailblazer manifolds. Or, I should say, manifold, because while the righthand side is available, the left is not. Guys down at NAPA searched for the proper left match, but got nothing... anyone else run into this?

[JJH Jimmy]

I got mine from gmpartsdirect.com for like $120.00 shipped to my door. That included the heat shields as well.

[joeydurango]

Update for people running into the same issue - no parts distributors in town could even source the left side. BUT, I called the GM dealership for the second or third time today and scored TB manifolds for $85 per side. Now, if they'll only work properly... I'll post back with the actual results.

[BR3W CITY]

The 5.3 trailblazer manifolds aren't the same as the 6.0 ls2 that came in the Trailblazer SS. Its not the kind of thing parts stores carry. Ebay, car-part.com, and performancetrucks/ls1tech are the places to look for a set used...usually right around $50-90.

New, take a look at Gmpartsdirect or Nalley, both are the "full catalog" gm dealers.

[joeydurango]

Uh oh. So, people are using 6.0 TBSS manifolds on 5.3/5.7 engines? I guess I thought the blocks were different on the 6.0. Maybe not the manifold bolt pattern though...

Are the TBSS/6.0 manifolds lower profile than the Trailblazer 5.3 versions? More to the point, the TB/5.3 versions will or won't work?

I can probably call the guys at the dealership and swap the order if someone can conclusively answer this question...

[jamesjones]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

The 5.3 trailblazer manifolds aren't the same as the 6.0 ls2 that came in the Trailblazer SS. Its not the kind of thing parts stores carry. Ebay, car-part.com, and performancetrucks/ls1tech are the places to look for a set used...usually right around $50-90.

New, take a look at Gmpartsdirect or Nalley, both are the "full catalog" gm dealers.

Actually, I think they are...at least they have the same part number...

[jamesjones]

Another option is new gen Camaro manifolds. I think they hug the block even more than the TBSS manifolds.

There's some pics of them on my Blazer here...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=612393

[truckdude239]

I used the 04 trailblazer ss 5.3 manifolds cl3ared perfect

[joeydurango]

I did even more research this evening and I too found that the TB/5.3 and TBSS/6.0 manifolds were the same part number. So, I'll let the order stand for now - if that doesn't work, I'll have to try those Camaro manifolds out.

Trying to get my work done as a small business owner (going into our busy season) AND getting this swap done at the same time (on a timeline crunch) is crazy! Hoping to be finished soon...

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by joeydurango

Uh oh. So, people are using 6.0 TBSS manifolds on 5.3/5.7 engines? I guess I thought the blocks were different on the 6.0. Maybe not the manifold bolt pattern though...

Are the TBSS/6.0 manifolds lower profile than the Trailblazer 5.3 versions? More to the point, the TB/5.3 versions will or won't work?

I can probably call the guys at the dealership and swap the order if someone can conclusively answer this question...

All the LS motors have the same bolt pattern for headers.

My statement probably just made things more confusing. The actual manifolds themselves on the TBSS vs the 5.3 are the SAME (referring to the stock cast manifolds). However if you take a look at aftermarket options they may not be. Some people assume that because the cast manifolds fit, that the aftermarket options for the same vehicle may also fit. TBSS longtubes ETC will not clear, and are physically different between the tbss and the 5.3 (the 5.3 trucks were available in EXT which changes the length of the collector on some lt's).

So, now that I've made things more confusing, boil it to this;
Any ls vehicle manifold will physically bolt to any other ls engine, regardless of port shape or year.

[mattcrp1]

Got my both my TBSS from craigslist for $25.

[joeydurango]

Thanks Br3w City, that clarifies a bit. Pretty much what I was beginning to think anyway... all this auto-specific mechanical stuff makes sense, I just don't have the years of experience in it to be that savvy. But I'm learning, it's not that different from my field of experience...

So yes, I have the stock TB/TBSS manifolds on the way. I'll find out tomorrow if they fit inside our 4x4's frame rails.

I would have loved to find something used for super cheap. But we live in the middle of nowhere and I needed something fast, so $170 for a pair of new ones isn't so bad.

[Matt Cramer]

Originally Posted by joeydurango

Also, anyone tried Camaro or Corvette manifolds?

I'm running 2010 Camaro manifolds in a 2WD truck. What I like about them is that they use common 2 bolt flanges instead of the irregularly spaced 3 bolts on the truck - easier to find flanges for - and they exit straight down, making for very simple plumbing.

[BR3W CITY]

Originally Posted by joeydurango

Thanks Br3w City, that clarifies a bit. Pretty much what I was beginning to think anyway... all this auto-specific mechanical stuff makes sense, I just don't have the years of experience in it to be that savvy. But I'm learning, it's not that different from my field of experience...

So yes, I have the stock TB/TBSS manifolds on the way. I'll find out tomorrow if they fit inside our 4x4's frame rails.

I would have loved to find something used for super cheap. But we live in the middle of nowhere and I needed something fast, so $170 for a pair of new ones isn't so bad.

I can agree for certain, that Durango is in the middle of nowhere. Your jammed in a corner between Utah, a mountain range, and NM.

[joeydurango]

Which, of course, is why I live here... I dig being three hours+ from the nearest interstate!