Right here, he is barely putting any power through it, The ones I have seen are garbage, completely. Until someone brings one in that doesn't look paper thin and hole positions aren't off I will still think they are.


-SGC

 

I'm not bragging. I'm trying to give my experiences with the manifold that is cheaper and aimed at DIY type people who want to use it for day to day driving. My posts are just based on my personal real world experience.

I've never said this is the s$#@ for the track or high HP applications.

but if someone wanted to get rid of the twins and all their associated complexity...and just run a single...in day to day situations...my experience has been that this manifold will hold up for at least 10k miles and I'm actually pretty impressed how good it looks after 10k. I'm not trying to prove its the best thing in the world...or competes with a 800+ dollar 321 manifold...or be the "champion" of this manifold for the whole "community"

I'm just trying to show that mine didn't fall apart 1k down the road like I was told by a lot of doomsayers.

300 rwhp is about 40% more than stock. I'll let you decide if you think that is that big of increase or not.

John

 

thanks for the feedback

 

You may be the only one in the world to drive a single turbo FD at 9lbs, and the fact is you have no idea what this thing will do when you put some real stress on it, so what is your point?

 

I have the fc one, for one it looks good, the wastegate bolted right up, and so did turbo and also the holes for the block lined right up. I havent driven it yet, dont know if it cracks under stress, prolonged driving and beating, but I will. The flanges are thick and the runners look pretty thick, unlike the civic one that one of you showed as an example. And it does eat up bits. I decided to buy another turbo, just so I wouldnt have to redrill the flange....

 

I have one, drive it daily (heat cycling the hell out of it through the winter) and run 15psi. It has held up fine for almost 10,000 miles to date.

 

Good to see some feedback on this stuff. Can't evaluate it without REAL info.

The haters have to try to prove they're right for spending thousands more than they needed to. They'd look stupid otherwise.

-jb

 

If you're going to insult me, do it RIGHT.

I don't buy pre-made turbo exhaust manifolds, cause I think they all suck.
The wastegate pipe paths are usually not efficient.
If I need the the turbo placed somewhere specific, that doesn't help either.
I'm an advocate of running twin, parallel turbos - how many turbo exhuast manifolds of that type of application have you seen?
I can get my own flanges.
I can get my own pipes.
I have access to a TIG welder.
Thus, I can make my own turbo exhaust manifolds if I feel the need to.
I don't spend "thousands" cause I think those $100 - $200 SSAutochrome / Stone Racing / Master Power / XS Power suck.
I know those things suck, and I KNOW I can build something better and more reliable.



-Ted

 

I have been watching this thread, and 2 others on this forum, as well as several on a couple of other forums as far as this forum goes here are the stats so far:


Pros:?
nobody has ever claimed that the quality is the same as a top shelf piece
they have claimed that it lasts 10K miles with no cracks (low boost)
and one guy with 10K miles medium boost
flanges machining quality isn't that great (misaligned holes, warped flanges)
cheap price, good for joe DIY with minor mods

Cons:?
their turbo quality sucks,
possible cracking of compressor houseing (currently no proof one way or the other)
manifolds in the past were crack happy (possible remedy with thicker pipe)
possibly not true tuned length for split units
wastegates (some) have QC problems (see my post)


so for closure for both sides in this argument: basicaly for High boost its currently unproven, but seems reasonable at low boost, (minus wastegate)
cheap products allow for more people to get a taste,

if the item is as bad as claimed, then the pro shops have no worries, it will just drive customers in their direction when the cars owner grenades an engine, or just wants more than the setup can produce.

for those that 9~14 PSI is acceptable then they get a reasonably priced setup with acceptable performance.


So even though RETed can be a bit rough sometimes (don't worry Ted we still love you) and some of the others (Jb) can be a bit fanatical trying to prove their point we can agree on this simple statement, the overall quality is not inline with HKS/Greddy/Apexi/Garret/Tial yet, and it is proabably OK for lower boost applications. there fore, an agreement to disagree in a polite fashion.

play nice Ted/Jb (god I feel like a Kindergarten teacher sometimes)

Bwaaa Ha HA

 

^^ i agree.

what some people need to realize is that a lot of people on this forum just dont have the money to buy all name brand, high quality products. If we can get a part that will work for cheap on ebay, its worth it to redrill a few holes. And just because it isnt gonna work quite as well as the high end stuff isnt enough to make the extra money worthwile to us.

If it really was complete **** that broke all the time, then I'd have a different opinion, but as long as they will hold up for the applications that people use them for, why not?

As for building my own, Ted, well, let me borrow your TIG setup, and I'll jump right on that. If i had the shop for it, i wouldnt buy many parts, but you have to work with what you've got.

Pat

 

I dont remember insulting you (on this thread)??

I bought some cheap 3/8" mild steel flanges, are they junk? I've got a plasma but didn't feel like grinding all day on 1/2" plate.

I weld everything from full custom suspensions to gas tanks with a MIG for the time being, gotta get a TIG...

Ditto. How much would you sell the one you build for? Would you really ask $800 or whatever the "going rate is" when you know it only cost you ~$60 and an hour or two?

Or would you make a whole bunch & sell them at a lower price?

 

I try to use 1/2" minimum.
If I can get 15mm stuff, that's better.
Can you get access to a plasma cutter?
I know this is the cheesy way of doing it, but short of a CNC or vertical mill, a plasma torch is a lot more portable.


Great to hear welding is not a problem!



Something I've toyed around for a long time, but I still haven't made a decision.
I've helped hIGGI design his GT35R set-up, and he was willing to make duplicates of his design.
You might want to send him a PM about it if a GT35R is your turbo...


-Ted

 

Yeah I would've liked 1/2". I own a plasma cutter but at 1/2" thick you've gotta grind the crap out of the cuts to get them square. So I went cheap & got the 3/8" laser cut ones.

I'll weld them in the vice and then resurface the flanges once done. Hopefully I can pour enough boogers on there to stick it together.

I haven't bought the turbo yet but I have a T4 flange. Not trying to run mega boost & big hp numbers, just a decent driver.

-jb