Warning to all CA18DET owners!

[boost_boy]

Please be advised that the SS autochrome T3/T4 manifolds are ill-fitting resulting in 3 bolts not being able to be tightened and for the model set-up for the hks wastegate, it attempts to place the wastegate right into the mount, which is no-go and will require modification. You all can look at the ebay pictures and tell, if you can't see the holes behind the runners, it's going to be extremely impossible to tighten the bolts. Hope you all listen and don't get played like one of our members. BTW, I am currently doing a project for one of our members, so I know this first hand.

Dee

[teddy]

well crap. I just got one of their t3/t4 top mount manifolds. But it doesnt use the 40mm gate, it uses a 60mm..(I got it for free). Hopefully the manifold might be different. Any suggestions on making it fit better? My cousin is a general manager for a welding company, so I can get just about anything I need done for cheap.

[Flicktitty]

hence that say "You get what you pay for" I was so close to buying one of ther GT35R knock off kits but i didnt for that reason

[oversteer180]

Listen to Dee! I got the ca t3/t4 top mount kit with 40mm wastegate from ss and it tried to put the wategate where the motor mount was. I didnt have the problem tightening the bolts down, but i put the manifold on while the motor was out of the car...i then realized that whild i was dropping the motor in, the piece of s h i t wouldnt fit....I even tried smaller wastegates.... ss needs to research and not make s h i t t y desgins.

[teddy]

Well I got the manifold for free. It's not like I'm spending my money on it. I can also get the whole dump tube rerouted off to the side or wherever I need to for free as well. All I really wanted to hear was that the manifold would bolt up fine and the turbo was placed correctly.

[Flicktitty]

Anyone here anything bad about XS POWERS FMIC?

[boost_boy]

Anyone here anything bad about XS POWERS FMIC?

Those are good for the money you spend and highly recommend them. As for the manifold, the #1 runner needs to be angled more towards the front to access the nut and stud, the #2 runner is in a good position for an aftermarket manifold, the #3 runner is completely blocking the nut and stud, and the #4 runner is partially blocking the nut and stud combo. All blocked nut and studs have no way possible to tighten them. Decent design, but horrible positioning of components and as well fastening pieces.

Dee

[Import Is Life]

Dee is currently handling my project. The manifold in its current form was designed with the best of intentions, but wasnt fabricated with as much attention to deatil as it should have. Yes I did get punked, and 3 nut and stud combos, are left with no possible way of being tightened. As for the FMIC kit, its perfect for the stock setup or something similar to it. What SS does leave out it, is a 8-12 inch pipe on about a 130 degree angle from the throttle body. So anyone that purchase the kit will have to provide a substitute. Well I hope no one here makes the same mistake I made, (buying SS Auto****) and takes good advice when its given.

[teddy]

Well having heard the stories of all past peoples SSauto experiences, I know that most of their products are made very inconsistently. Many people had problems getting their bottom mount manifolds to work, mine fit perfectly. So I'm hoping this is the case with their top mounts. If not, I got it for free anyway so I'm not down any cash.

[Flicktitty]

i was just wondering cause a friend bought a XS-POWER FMIC for his SRT-4 When i open'd the box i was like, Uh i thought XS-POWER makes junk stuff. And he was like oh well you can't mess up a FMIC.....

[teddy]

Certain parts from ssautocrap are hit and miss. Others they actually make alright. Their intercoolers are a good bang for the buck, but their piping is a different story.

[Import Is Life]

tru

[top_secret]

if you would have read reviews of their other manifolds you would have known all this already and would have saved yourself a headache.

[iliketocrash]

what about the manifold they originally used to make? it's the one with the w/g flang directly at the collector. i still see the manifold for sale all over ebay but it doesn't appear to be sold from ssautochrome anymore

[top_secret]

no clue... they are cheap enough that you can buy one and see how it works for you... people spend $90 on a manifold and then wonder why its crappy.... I'm not saying I recommend going hardcore with $1000 and up full race ones, I just wish there were more options for LHD cars.

[teddy]

Well I just got my ssautochrome top mount mani in today. Came with a 60mm wastegate which will be sold soon. Overall, it doesnt look too bad. The collector is a bit messy and could have been done nicer, but since it ends up costing me nothing for this manifold, I can live with it.

All of my runners also appear to give enough clearance for the studs to fit and bolts to be tightened and reachable with wrenches as well. Also, the wastegate is not placed into the mount. It does not have as long of a wastegate tube as the HKS style ones did. I will try to post some pics up of everything this weekend.

I am also sending the mani out to get cleaned up, and to have braces welded in at certain spots.

[boost_boy]

Well I just got my ssautochrome top mount mani in today. Came with a 60mm wastegate which will be sold soon. Overall, it doesnt look too bad. The collector is a bit messy and could have been done nicer, but since it ends up costing me nothing for this manifold, I can live with it.

All of my runners also appear to give enough clearance for the studs to fit and bolts to be tightened and reachable with wrenches as well. Also, the wastegate is not placed into the mount. It does not have as long of a wastegate tube as the HKS style ones did. I will try to post some pics up of everything this weekend.

I am also sending the mani out to get cleaned up, and to have braces welded in at certain spots.

Lucky you! My manifold cost me $980 to get custom made by a friend who's very good at making manifolds. I didn't expect to pay more than $600, but for the way the manifold fits and the way it aids in flow for my turbo, I know it's money well spent. When you can hear your turbo spooling under 3000rpm through all the engine noises and from our beloved CA18DET on a stock head and camshafts, you can assume that something is done correctly. Full boost is achieved by 4300rpm..................

Dee

[yourmomsrps13]

has anyone looked through a XS POWER intercooler core? its terrible in comparison to any well know name brand like ARC, HKS, GREDDY etc.. there is barly any internal fins to slow air passing through to be cooled( my ARC smic probly cools more), idk maybe its just me but i dont believe they make ANYTHING worth buying or having given to. BTW watch out for XS slag left from messy welds on their manifolds which will lead to turbo destruction, like a friend i know and someone on this forum (forgot who). But if you want a kick *** ash tray or nice paper weight get one.my two cents.

[Not_a_sr]

we have made multiple 4-500+ horsepower cars on the medium chinese cores. they may not be the best for the money its not a bad deal, and its hard to sell our top of the line intercoolers for what they are worth when you can get a FMIC for under 200$