Cain and Redline Manifold

[83 WB_Ute]

Split from another thread.

If the CAIN inlet manifold for 6cyl is the old flat, big square type I want it. If it is the one that is sculpted like the original (so carby sits flat) with small runners i'll pass.

I'm not sure what you mean? I think its angled like the standard red 202 intake manifolds.. I'll get a picture for you

Here we go HK..

[HK1837]

That is the later style manifold, Cainy used to make them for Redline. The early ones from the 70's looked like the 4BBL one. So i'll pass. Thanks for the photo.

[Innuendo]

That is the later style manifold, Cainy used to make them for Redline.

I think you'll find that the later ones were made by Terry Hardiman (Redline) for John Cain because Cain's original castings were atrocious hole riddled cast alloy and as you noted a different style and look.
This second style with Cain on it as actually a Redline casting badged up for John Cain. All Cain's original tunnel rams and manifolds now carry the Redline branding and superior casting.

[83 WB_Ute]

That is the later style manifold, Cainy used to make them for Redline. The early ones from the 70's looked like the 4BBL one. So i'll pass. Thanks for the photo.

Thats all good Cheers for the reply..

[HK1837]

I think you'll find that the later ones were made by Terry Hardiman (Redline) for John Cain because Cain's original castings were atrocious hole riddled cast alloy and as you noted a different style and look.
This second style with Cain on it as actually a Redline casting badged up for John Cain. All Cain's original tunnel rams and manifolds now carry the Redline branding and superior casting.

Other way around. Cainy sold all his moulds to Hardiman when he closed down. He used to make them for Hardiman before that. That Holden manifold was made by John Cain in the 80's and on, the earlier mould I believe was modified into a 4BBL manifold. His early manifolds were made here, cast from old alloy.

[HK1837]

That is one of Cainy's original style manifolds, that is what the 2BBL one I was referring to looked like!

[Innuendo]

Other way around. Cainy sold all his moulds to Hardiman when he closed down. He used to make them for Hardiman before that. That Holden manifold was made by John Cain in the 80's and on, the earlier mould I believe was modified into a 4BBL manifold. His early manifolds were made here, cast from old alloy.

Sorry Byron, No way would Terry Hardiman have had John Cain cast anything. The quality would never have been up to a standard. You are right about Terry buying the moulds though, so he could expand his range and have them cast correctly and CNC machined to a standard that could carry the Redline name. I've dealt with both men for over 3 decades, selling both brands. Casting from Cain and casting from Redline - not even in the same stratosphere.

[HK1837]

Sorry Byron, No way would Terry Hardiman have had John Cain cast anything. The quality would never have been up to a standard. You are right about Terry buying the moulds though, so he could expand his range and have them cast correctly and CNC machined to a standard that could carry the Redline name. I've dealt with both men for over 3 decades, selling both brands. Casting from Cain and casting from Redline - not even in the same stratosphere.

Just stating the facts as I know them. I have seen the Redline manifolds in John's workshop. I asked Cainy this morning when I rang him to discuss the big block's bearing tunnel (he used to align hone them all and was one of the few places to have an align hone, most could only bore them) just to make sure my memory was correct, and he definitely used to cast them with Redline on them for Hardiman. I'm not sure which ones, but I remember seeing I think VN headed 308 manifolds rough cast ready to machine not long before he shut up shop.

[Innuendo]

Just stating the facts as I know them. I have seen the Redline manifolds in John's workshop.

OK, fair enough. But there is more to this. Terry and John got together and the second design is Redline with the Cain name on it. The casting is superior than the original Cain (only) versions.
In the end the quality has improved overall and this is because of Hardiman involvement and finally to Hardiman taking over the whole range. Maybe Cain was doing the machining?
Anyway whatever the case, it is not uncommon for manufacturers to share castings, moulds etc. Speco, Lynx, Command, CRS, Dellow, Salisbury Products etc.

The amount of returns I had on Cain tunnel rams for 253/308's with porous holes and fountain water leaks was high. The quality at best on these Cain manifold was questionable. It's what you get from sand castings. Jeff Dellow used to allow me to buy bulk factory seconds "Bug Catcher" scoops to be painted. The cast pox holes didn't allow these to be polished. So we filled and painted them in two pack.

[HK1837]

I agree that the early Cain manifolds were troublesome. They were from memory old pistons recycled. I remember buying some red 6cyl manifolds with holes welded up. Still worked fine and were less than half price. I don't think John cast the later ones, they were possibly done for him, but I don't believe it was Redline who did it, Cainy organised the work for both. I also think it was only some manifolds involved, as Redline had their own range as well.