Exhaust manifold options?? Does anything exist.

[RalliartRsX]

Well, while taking off my stock cast manifold, I thought of the idea of just upgrading to something of better design. One of the reason is the stock manifold's tight constaints for any sort of movement to actually gain access to any of the bolts (took me a bit to remove the two lower bolts from the center two ports). The next (being more of a concern) is actually just how heavy the stock cast manifold is. And another (ofcourse) is of some slight performance gain.

Well, I did a little research, and all I could come up with is SSAC. I have heard both good and bad things (havent we all ) about thier product. I didnt really keep up to date with them as I wasnt planning on buying anything much from them in the near future. But, the more I search around, the more I realise there is not much out there in the exhaust mani department for the ca unless you want to pay big bucks and wait on shipping from overseas.

Anybody has any good quality alternatives which are not exorbitanly expensive?? Also, if anyone recommends the SSAC mani, where would you place reinforcing welds and braces??

Thanks, Chris

[Secret squirrel]

i have a turbo XS one that i purchased off the boards heere...fits fine, i got all the welds reinforced at a local welding shop...should be ok. cost me 30 bucks to have them brace and reweld it.

no complaints from me so far

SS

[Sil40sK]

I've only seen 5 exhaust manifold options for the CA.

1. Port the stock manifold or have it extrude honed2. Buy an SSAC/XS Power/Etc. manifold and either hope it dosn't break or have it reinforced3. If you're willing to put out the money, Kazama makes a manifold for T2 flanged turbos, the manifold is like 1300 though. 4. Switch to a T3 flanged turbo and buy a used Trust or HKS manifold from some jdm part importer5. A local shop around the Lansing Michigan area called Opposite Lock Motorsports (it's currently moving or upgrading buildings or something or maybe went out of buisness) made stock replacement tubular manifolds for T2 flange turbos that were awesome, they actually made a few CA18 oriented things, but I think they went out of buisness.

[89'ClubK's]

I'm using the Roc_lian Garage manifold. Great equal length manifold for the price. I got it on E-Bay, and they have 100% positive feedback. It works great, and the inside of the pipes were all cleaned up (smoothed) for greater flow! Excellent welds. They are out of Texas, so you'd recieve it within a week or so. Easy install. Good Luck!

[teddy]

4. Switch to a T3 flanged turbo and buy a used Trust or HKS manifold from some jdm part importer

IIRC, the Greddy and HKS manifolds were made for rhd cars, so the wastegate pipe hits the steering shaft? or something doesn't work out right.

There are actually 3 more options. 1. http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/showth...13787The group buys are still going on. 320 euros I believe. Not a bad price for a tubular t2 bottom mount that's made well.

2. Call or email Jon (not_a_sr) and see what he can do. I know he makes log manifolds, and I remember him fabbing up a tubular mani sometime too. He does good work and posts in this CA section frequently.

3. Call full race. They will make a custom manifold for the CA and it will be top notch. But not many of us would wanna bite the bullet on that since chances are it will cost more than our engines did.

[RalliartRsX]

Hmmm, thanks for all the options!!

I just dont have the money to spend on big namebrand exhaust mani when I am going for a basic street setup of about 220whp. I think my best option is to buy a ebay brand mani and have a shop weld up some proper braces and such to strengthen the sucker!!

[bb4_96]

If you can weld.... weld your own. But if you could weld you probably would have already.

[RalliartRsX]

you get a . Never welded before.............

[float_6969]

I've got an SSAC mani. Didn't touch it. Been driving it daily for about a year now w/o one hint of a problem.

[RalliartRsX]

I hear the only problem is with thier first batch. It seems the new ones are light years better .

I might eventually upgrade to one. I just need to do a bit more research before I drop the coin

[teddy]

The latest ssauto bottom mounts actually aren't bad. They just need some cleaning up in some areas and to be braced if you're paranoid about it. But, stay away from their top mounts!!! They're extremely inconsistent and usually don't fit. Mine was waaaaaaay off and I just sent that thing straight back.

[NeedCAforS13]

for 220whp run stock manifold. haha I hope to make like 280whp on the stock manifold when I go to the dyno this week.