Exhaust Manifold.

[Martin R]

When we got back from France, i had a little pressie waiting in the form of a big bore exhaust manifold. i did consider getting someone else to fit it as i appear to have got another hernia ( no rude comments please ) However i could not bring myself to let someone else do it, so im doing it myself as ever but a bit slower than normal.

 

A few of my personal thoughts first. Exhaust manifolds seem to bring a lot of different opinions regarding big bore, small bore, different makes etc etc. What it really needs is them all trying on the same engine and the same rolling road. Unfortunatly AFAIK its not been done. I therefore did as i always do and read and took advice from a number of sources before i made a decision.

 

I decided on a big bore but which one ? I very nearly bought a EBD or an Eliseparts one. The EBD is solid and has a reputation for cracking ( rightly or wrongly ) even with an uprated bottom engine mount as i have. The EP one has slip joints and should stop this problem.

 

I really wanted one with a flexy to hopefully eliminate future problems. However i also wanted a specific primary diameter to hopefully increase torque and allow for a possibility of upgrades to engine and or head in the future. I should have mentioned this is for my VHPD.

 

Anyway i decided on one from Vicente at VGK racing in the end. I have no connection with Vicente and this thread is just about my personal experiences with this particular manifold. I did a rolling road day with MLOC recently and my 50K VHPD made 175bhp and 135 lb/ft of torque on a standard S2 exhaust manifold. I plan to take it back to the same rolling road after fitting to hopefully get a fair comparison.

 

How my Sport 190 ended up with a standard manifold on is a mystery to me. However everything was an optional extra on them so it may have been on from new ?

 

A few pics of the manifold.

 

 

 

As you can see it comes in 2 parts, the manifold and flexy bit, a pic of it all together and a couple of others.

 

 

 

 

Lovely work and i hope it works as good as it looks

 

Before i attempted to fit it, i decided on a quick test. I did not want to be crawling about on the garage floor trying to fit something that did not fit. It just so happens i have a spare scrap K series head. I therefore offered the exhaust manifold to it.

 

 

It fitted a treat so back to work. I first removed the boot lid to make things easier.

 

 

I then put the car back on the ramps and removed the old manifold. This came off suprisingly easy after a liberal coating of 3 in 1 penetrating spray. The old standard manifold.

 

 

Just out of interest i got the bathroom scales down and compared the weights, the new manifold is approx 1.5KG lighter on my not very scientific test.

 

To be continued.

[stockhome]

That looks top quality Martin will be interesting to see what gains it makes.

[Phil S1]

Really nice Martin, looks like alot of work has gone into that. What's the reasoning behind the 2 splits in the flange....is it some kind of expansion thing?

I'll be up for putting mine on the rolling road too whenever you're ready....won't quite be in your league though!

[Martin R]

Phil, i presume its for easy of manufacture ? You will not be suprised to know i have bolted it to a scrap head i have to make sure it fits.

 

I dont want to be crawling about under the car trying to fit something that will not go on. i will post a pic when im back on my own computer. I will get in touch with the rolling road when its fitted.Hopefully they will be able to fit us in one Saturday afternoon.

[Elise+Imp]

the 'break' in the flange is to stop it distorting when it grows due to thermals, also helps with differential expansion rates of the ali head and stainless flange,

 

that really does look a well made item

[russelld]

Martin

 

It seems a shame to hide such a work of art !!!

 

Is that a slip joint in front of the flexi section ?

 

BTW my car has a standard manifold so it would seem that it was normal practice to fit them.

[Martin R]

Russ, yes it is a slip joint. Strange idea fitting a standard manifold to a VHPD ? Mine runs out of puff at between 7 and 7.8K revs. Im hoping this will change that

[russelld]

waiting for the RR results with vested interest !!!!

[Martin R]

I have had a couple of hours fun trying to fit the new manifold. I have had to remove the oil filter and uprated bottom engine mount. I also have jammed a bit of wood in to rock the engine away all to no avail.

 

Its not the easiest job on ramps lying on you back with about 18 inches of clearance from the floor. On a proper ramp it would probably jiggle in. Im going to rmove the alternator tomorrow. It WILL go in I will update the first post with any progress.

[jimbo07g41]

Hope you get it sorted Martin. I would be up for another go on the RR, so let me know if they can fit a few more in on the same day.

 

Looks like a nice bit of kit.

[Martin R]

Good news and bad news. The good news is its on. The bad news is number 1 primary touches the auxillary connector plug on the alternator. Its got to come off and go back. Fair play to Vicente he offered to put it right or a refund. I have gone for a refund. I am going to go for an EP one with 1and 3/4 inch primaries all the way to the maifold as opposed to the normal " step " just before the manifold.

 

I will order this as soon as i receive the refund. I have spoken to Geary about this before and it can be done when he has the next batch of manifolds made. It my be a while then but im in no particular rush.

[russelld]

Martin, here is another to consider before you part with any more hard earned. 40mm primaries ( or was it 45 ) I believe.

 

 

http://www.torquetechnique.co.uk/shop_lotus.htm#

 

 

 

It looks like this one won't foul the alternator & it has a flexi.

[Phil S1]

That's a bit disappointing for you Martin, shame because it does 'look' to be very well made. Things are rarely ever straightforward these days, hope you get another sorted without too much trouble.

[Martin R]

Just to make things clear, Vicenete has asked me to mark the manifold for a minor modification. He has been nothing but totally proffesional in our dealings. He offered a refund or a replacement. I have decided on a refund. Excellent service IMO

[worldwidewebs]

Just to make things clear, Vicenete has asked me to mark the manifold for a minor modification. He has been nothing but totally proffesional in our dealings. He offered a refund or a replacement. I have decided on a refund. Excellent service IMO

Fair play to the chap for offering to sort it in the way he did - this is in start contrast with the piss-poor service I'm getting from Piper with a problem I have with my manifold

 

However, what does surprise me a little is that it seems from what you're saying that Vincente is just going to make a change to the manifold based on your say-so. If I was buying from him I would want to know that it has actually been fitted, tried and tested on a car first, and not that it's 'probably' right based on what another customer told him

 

Also, from the pics you took it looks like the secondaries are very oddly routed and actually touch - doesn't look that good tbh