Also, picked this manifld up in October and have been playing around with using it or not - I also have a Q45 TB lying around, but its overkill for the current turbo build. When I was trying to decide on a manifold, my main concern was Idle air control.
I decided to hold off on the Q45 TB for now - leaving it cracked partially open seems kinda half assed to me - and instead decided to alter the Godspeed manifold to accept the stock IACV and fast idle valve.
Things that everyone should know about before buying one of these:
THE CASTING IS s***!!!
- Casting flash everywhere
- in my pics it looks clean, but I hit EVERY SEAM with that file
- Obvious areas where they had to reweld due to sand occlusions.
- Terrible finish on all of the mating flanges (between the 2 halves, the TB, and to the head)
My machinist said it looks like they tried to use a single end mill for the entire part, and it was def not set at the right speed.
- Undersized Thermostat Outlet - will require additional material to seal the stock hose
Basically, if you are thinking that this thing is in any way usable out of the box, keep moving. That being said, if you don't mind a little DIY, you can make it into a decently usable piece.
Mine is at my machinist getting pads added for the Fast Idle and IACV, and having the mating flanges trued up a bit - but I cleaned up all of the casting flash myself in about an hour with a course file.
Its amazing what a little time and a file can do...
As for the interior roughness, the stock manifold is not much better than this crap-tastic casting, but I was able to knock off all of the large flash with a cold chissle
- sorry, no pics.
Then you get into the accessories:
I picked up a set of excessive's velocity stack inserts (they're compatable) for $60 and their remote IACV plate for $25 (having the machinist attach it to the underside of the intake and create a pad for the fast idle valve)
When its all said and done I'll prolly be into this thing for just under $400. I hear the excessive casting is a bit better, but still not ready to run outta the box. Both take a little elbow grease, the Godspeed just takes a lot more...