ss autochrome good or bad?

[zache803]

ive heard many different things about this particular company some good some bad like cheap products dont hold up well and so on and so forth. just wondering wat you guys think about their parts.

Thanks

[ragenasian]

Pretty much what you have heard you will hear here, some good, some bad. My stainless exhaust has rust all over it and one of the hangers didn't line up but it was made to work. The exhaust mani I had didn't fit right but it worked with a little grinding.

There is a German guy here who has had to weld the exhaust mani three different times but it is pretty much all they can get here and most see it as being so cheap they dont' mind fixing it a couple of times.

[ch187]

you get what you pay for. bottom line. my manifold has held up fine though. doesnt leak around the exhaust ports or turbo and hasnt cracked. it did sit the turbo in a different position which made it a bit of a headache getting everything to line up correctly. if you can afford the good ****. its the next best thing.

[Buddyworm]

I have an XS Power manifold on my car. Does its job fine. Just have somebody run an extra bead over the welds and you'll be gravy.

[XTCshri2222]

u got xspower it's good same company that supplies ss

[mdubc405]

find someone who can weld, chop the flange off the ss auto****, and have him make you a badass log manifold like me, also go topmount, **** the t2 flange

[iliketocrash]

run an extra bead over the original welds? wtf? were your welds undercut or something?

[float_6969]

Don't run an extra bead over the existing weld. That won't help with strength at all.

[r34 gtr]

Also, though completely un-awesome, the stock manifold is nobody's *****.

[float_6969]

That's true, but it's a MAJOR pain in the but to take off compared to the SSAC mani.

[r34 gtr]

Pff, yeah, maybe if you suck at it.

[Buddyworm]

run an extra bead over the original welds? wtf? were your welds undercut or something?

*shrug* Beats me. All I know is my mani was reinforced.

[float_6969]

Pff, yeah, maybe if you suck at it.

Yea Tim, you suck at it.

[scoobysteven]

Their products are total junk. I was unfortunate enough to purchase one of their headers for my P11. Whoever made the product, copied Hotshot Header, but did not copy exactly. I had a persistent problem with the collector bolts vibrating loss, ruining the gasket. It is a proprietary gasket only available from Hotshot Header, and SS Autochrome/XS Power. When you call SS Autochrome for support on their warranty, they ignore you without the courtesy of a return call. I called them at least a dozen times. The product was a defective design, the primary pipes were larger than the secondaries. Whoever designed the product was an idiot. After a great deal of headache, I threw the whole pipe in the trash, good riddens. I would never again use anything made by them, not even if it were free. No matter what price, they simply aren't worth the spent time and aggrievation.

[XTCshri2222]

SS isn't that bad, and the knock off Hot Shots you got, I had real Hot shot headers on my altima, they've had collector bolt issues, I've had my Hot shot header bolt fall off sending my down pipe to the ground, i even burned my forearms putting it back on while stuck on the side of the road. I had the dam burn marks for a yr till they faded.

[float_6969]

I think it's hit or miss with them. I've had their manifold for 2/3 years w/o any problems, but others have had nothing but trouble.

[ilovecoupes]

i also read that with the Autochrome manifold you get a little more turbo lag

like 500rpms as opposed to the stock manifold

is this true?

if so, what are the benifits of the new manifold? more top-end?

[trevr]

I use their manifold, its basically the same design you will find all over ebay. I wouldn't buy from ssautochrome/xspower, because they do not stand by their warranty, and if they send you the wrong part, they will not answer your emails. Buy off ebay, and you will have paypal back you up on any warranty that is offered.

I have bought several items from ssautochrome/xspower but will no longer do business with them. Just recently, I ordered a 4-2-1 header for a Honda Civic from them, and I was sent a 4-1 header. They do not have a phone # for contact, and all email and faxes go unanswered. I made a paypal dispute, which they refused to help stating they cannot verify description of the item purchase. So I was stuck with an item that was basically worthless.

I found this webpage when i was searching for a contact #

http://www.bblgroup.us/ssautochrome.htm
Modified by trevr at 2:03 PM 12/28/2007

[Jiggyfry]

I have an SS Auto tubular manifold that I bought used from another member here and have been using it for 6 months without an issue.

I also purchased an XS Power intercooler (same company) and have had no problems with it either. There was some modification needed to fit it but I was already aware after having searched the CA forum.

[trevr]

Like what was said above, it really is hit or miss. I also use their intercooler and piping, along with their manifold and dump pipe - all without a problem. However, once they ship an item, its yours, there is no coming back or any support once so ever after is leaves their location regardless if they send you the correct part or not.

[scoobysteven]

Absolutely my point. Once you purchase, you are on your own. They don't care about customer service because there are enough people ignorant of their reputation. Maybe some people do OK, but I got screwed. Never again. Cheat me once, shame on you. Cheat me twice, shame on me. Good luck and expect the best but don't be surprised if you end up married to their parts when they fail. Consider yourself warned.

[scoobysteven]

When I spend money, I expect the product to work, not purchase and pray. To anybody considering buying their product, consider yourselves warned, caveat emptor!

[bentvalves]

Run a flex pipe in your DP, and you dont have to worry about cracking. If its the older style manifold that isnt braced from the head flange to the t2 flange, brace that as well and you should be good!

Mine withstood 1400*C+ EGT's for prolonged periods of time at rev limiter without failing. Unfortunatley, Im sure the same cant be said for my exhaust valves

Greg

[iliketocrash]

When I spend money, I expect the product to work, not purchase and pray. To anybody considering buying their product, consider yourselves warned, caveat emptor!

then don't buy cheap products. i mean you can buy a tubular manifold for around $130 from them... as for them not standing by their warranty.. well that probably allows them to continue to sell their product for cheap because they don't have to recover the cost of a warranteed item. if they did then they'd have to hire more people to do customer service and then raise product price significantly. just a guess though btw scoobysteven, i'm not trying to single you out because you're abviously not the only one to say something like this but it just made a prime example. and honestly i'm not trying to be a douche. Just don't expect a lot from something you paid a little for. especially because ss autochrome has always had a pretty huge list of negative feedback on ebay.

[iliketocrash]

oh, and i've had their t3 top mount mani for quite some time w/ zero problems.

[mannyS14]

So has anyone had any experience with their turbos? yay or nay?

[The_Chosen_One]

if they last over 5k mile you got lucky but will still blow.

[float_6969]

I've hear stories of the housings being glued together and other madness.

I'd say no.