To CRACK or not to CRACK?? -That is the question!!!

[ace0073]

ok, so here is the latest in my attempts to improve upon my ssauto-crack, -crap, or -chrome; whichever you prefer. I have heard various theories on bracing manifolds. about the only thing that seems to be agreed upon across the board is cutting the head flange to allow room for expansion/contraction due to heat. well, what ive done here is slot the manifold flange but i also added some bracing. the question is, do u think i actually improved the mani or do u think it will crack? if you notice the weird looking apparatus on the bottom here is the description of it. i decided to build a brace system using the tapped holes in the block and the motor mount to actaully push upward on the mani for extra support when it is at full heat. the quick and dirty description is that i used steel tubing to make two L-brackets off of the block. on top of the brackets i put a flat plate. the two screws you see in the pics will be tightened downward onto the flat plate pushing the manifold upward (preload) to offset the weight of the turbo when the mani is hot. as you can c i also added some other bracing across he the top and also on the turbo flange and the wastegate flange. to top it all off i had the manifold triple heat coated. the inside is coated with a ~3800 degree coating(copper color) and the outside is three coats of the sterling coating(~2600 degrees). so what do you think.....good looking trash or did i create a good mani from my ssauto-(add ending of choice here)? by the way.....manifold-$175, welding-$75, material-$25, my labor-$0, coating-$175. im into my mani for $450.

[ace0073]

well let me apologize for not knowing how to shrink the pics but here are more. i assume we all know what the mani looked like originally (standard ebay edition mani).

[ace0073]

here is a view of the runners with bracing added at head flange. you can also see the high degree coating on the inside.

[Chezedik]

I think you have spent enough to buy someone elses mani. That said, I think you will be fine, there are a number of people out there that are using this mani w/o issue, and soon, I will be one of them. Relax, install it, and then check for issues.

[Chezedik]

BTW, with that coating, you should be good against cracking since the pipes will never get hot.

[ace0073]

i completely agree Chezedik, i could have bought a different mani by now with what i invested in this one. thing is, this all kinda just happened. i was afraid of getting cracks so i decided to do bracing and coating. at that point i already had the mani and the extra material for bracing was 20 bucks. i was feelin like i was still going the cheap route. then i took it to a local guy to get welded and boom $75, then to the local coating shop bam $175. before i knew it i was in deeper then expected.......................sucks but ultimately i just care that i dont have any probs and that would make it all worth it.

[Chezedik]

You know what really sucks? My mani has that bracing when I got it. I think that they changed the design just before I got mine.

[98240]

I used that manifold with no problem at all.

[H.D.HUMPERDINK]

Did you check the fitment on it first? I picked one up and I had to cut and reposition the turbo flange to make room for the bmc and I redid the routing for the wastegate. I just hope you checked it all before you spent all the extra money

[WDRacing]

I don't recommend SSAC to anyone, but if you can weld then why not. I wouldn't even have done what you did. I would have just welded the cracks as they occured. Getting the mani on/off really isn't to bad.

Most people can't weld though, thats the big issue. I'll weld right over a crack if I have to, stop drill it, slap on a bead...press on with the boost.

WD

[Chezedik]

I did the hockey puck mount trick.

Oh and WD, before you call me a ladies name, and make some sort of joke at my expense (a la Dr. Cox of Scrubs), I am running one, and it is pretty well built for the price. Those Chinese kids really know how to weld.

EDIT: That is the exact same coating I had done on my downpipe. It looks pretty good for what it is, doesn't it?

I am giving myself turbo for Christmas!

[BoostFab]

5 hocky pucks stack on top will do

little ppl dont realise about not using a flex section in the downpipe, the whole exhaust system put alot of stress on the manifold.

[ace0073]

ok, maybe i should already know but what is the hockey puck method?

[Chezedik]

Instead of factory or Nismo mounts, I have three hockey pucks on the BMC side of the motor (exhaust), and two on the Intake side. Then I drilled a hole through them, taped them together with duct tape (for ease of installation only, take it off when done), and mounted the motor down. They have give, but are easily as tough as the Nismo mounts. Plus it only costs about 7 dollars to do it.

[WDRacing]

Oh and WD, before you call me a ladies name, and make some sort of joke at my expense (a la Dr. Cox of Scrubs),

I would never do such a thing...when have I ever made fun of you??? I'm way more like House then Dr Cox

Merry Christmas buddy Sounds like you be having a good one this year.