Your thoughts on this manifold...

[KC240RB]

From searching you guys talk bad about OBX, but the searches I found dated back quite some time. So not knowing if the company has bettered themselves or not I wanted your thoughts on their manifold that I am interested in. I am looking to install a Holset HX35 and found OBX's manifold to be pretty reasonable.

T3/T4 dual drilled with 40mm wastegate out let

[krayton]

coooool

wish they had this way back when, when i ran my ebay cheapo.

that wasteagate setup looks so much better. i think for the price itll do. id still be rocking my ebay manifold it didnt creep

[themadscientist]

standard Ebay crap that sells under 10 different names but is spit out of the same chinese factory, should crack real nice. I wouldn't trust it unless I was holding it in my hand and every weld passed inspection.

look at that clusterscrew on the left of the turbo flange.



Check out the way the weld meanders back and forth on the #4 and #5 tubes leading to the turbo flange.



I would be willing to bet there is very shallow penetration and where the runners tie together under the turbo flange the edges are just hanging in the breeze not bonded at all.

And as I follow the link deeper to see the rest on the manifolds I find it is actually an Ebay seller, what a surprize!

[KC240RB]

This is why I wanted your alls opions to point these things out and I appreciate it. Can someone point me to some links where I can compare good quality manifolds. However I am not going to spend $1K+ on a manifold. If I have to spend that much I would rather just keep the stock manifold and run an internal gated turbo.

[rb25drag]

The thing about the manifolds is Mostly the material used. The Old 304 stainless manifolds they use to make they found out they were prone to carbide precipitation when held at a high temp. Which is why they always cracked.

But what I read recent is they changed to the stainless 321 material which is ALOT better for a turbo manifold. It has a low thermal conductivity which results in less heat energy loss from the exhaust stream through the walls of the tubing.

If it is made with 321 stainless I would say buy it. You can always have a machine shop FINISH welding ETC alot cheaper than you will buy a Expensive manifold.

Most of the More expensive manifolds are made from 347 stainless material, Which if you look in a book the 321 and 347 are VERY VERY close Just the 347 is a little more expensive material.

[themadscientist]

However I am not going to spend $1K+ on a manifold. If I have to spend that much I would rather just keep the stock manifold and run an internal gated turbo.

You just answered your own question. Quality costs money and if you can't or won't pay what it costs you won't get it.

You might not need an equal-length manifold anyway, the stocker should flow well for a 300ish setup and other than popping the #6 stud if you overheat it they are problem free.

[rb25drag]

I have to Dis-Agree, Quality does not always come with a price. I have Bought SEVERAL top quality name brand parts that have turned out as junk.

If you are a smart shopper and know a little bit about what you are buying then you can build alot cheaper. just b/c someone throws out a Big name and a high price doesnt mean anything to me.

Like I said before, research the material used and go from there. Any machine shop can clean up the runners and make it flow better at the flanges. If you have a decent material and decent design you can modify it to last and work very well and have 1/4 of the price to go with it. a little custom work goes a long way.

[themadscientist]

Cut out the middleman then and have it built rather than buying it halfway finished and fixing it.

And +1 for not assuming the name necessarily means quality. I was holding and HKS SR manifold the other day that was cracked and exhibited the same shoddy build quality that I warned the OP against with the E-gay special.

[KC240RB]

Thanks guys. I am a certified welder, but I only got that because the shop I work for requires it. I weld maybe once a month. So with that being said I can weld and weld decent. What are your thoughts on welding an external wastegate to the stock manifold? I have seen a few threads about this... Seems some are successful with it and people have seen close to 400 hp with the stock manifold... Was thinking I should pick up someones stock manifold and test with it.

[krayton]

i just welded a wasteagate to mine.

but really, i think those ebay ones are great. like i said if that new design fixed the creep issues (looks alot like the supra guys ones), id rock it.

your not really looking for huge gains from something like that. your looking for a top mount and a bigger turbo. i had a flex pipe on my exhaust to help the manifold and had no problems.

we had it red hot on the dyno and the car pulled 515. i wasnt worried about it cracking either since i can weld. in fact, from what i was hearing i was expecting to weld it, but never got around to it.

[KC240RB]

i just welded a wasteagate to mine.

but really, i think those ebay ones are great. like i said if that new design fixed the creep issues (looks alot like the supra guys ones), id rock it.

your not really looking for huge gains from something like that. your looking for a top mount and a bigger turbo. i had a flex pipe on my exhaust to help the manifold and had no problems.

we had it red hot on the dyno and the car pulled 515. i wasnt worried about it cracking either since i can weld. in fact, from what i was hearing i was expecting to weld it, but never got around to it.

By chance do you have pictures or know of good links to look at about welding a wastegate to the stock manifold. I found one link but the pictures weren't all that great.

[krayton]

zer...-gate

i brought it up a few days ago. just finished welding my wastegate today and running it around. fun, miss my ebay top mount with a 22psi creep

but wouldnt u know the modified stock manifold doesnt creep

[Cjmartz2k]

I like my Stec manifold. It's made in China (along with the name brand ones). It's the same general Greddy copy design, but it's made from 321 stainless and it's been checked for fitment before it ships out. I know a couple guys running them here and nobody's ever had one crack in the past few years including mine--and I've had that sucker glowing bright red more times than I can count. Also, it's twin scroll unlike that one you put pictures up of. It's not supposed to be a top of the line 6 Boost mani or something like that, but it's 95% of what the 6 boost is and it won't crack. For $400, it's tough to beat. One thing for you guys though, it's designed for a RHD skyline, so you might have fitment issues on a LHD car with the steering column vs. wastegate runners. Might not be that much of an issue since you said you can weld though.

[KC240RB]

zer...-gate

i brought it up a few days ago. just finished welding my wastegate today and running it around. fun, miss my ebay top mount with a 22psi creep

but wouldnt u know the modified stock manifold doesnt creep

Thanks! That's flippen beautiful. I will not do this on my current manifold, but see if I can't purchase one for cheap and practice on that. I want to have very little down time.

I like my Stec manifold. It's made in China (along with the name brand ones). It's the same general Greddy copy design, but it's made from 321 stainless and it's been checked for fitment before it ships out. I know a couple guys running them here and nobody's ever had one crack in the past few years including mine--and I've had that sucker glowing bright red more times than I can count. Also, it's twin scroll unlike that one you put pictures up of. It's not supposed to be a top of the line 6 Boost mani or something like that, but it's 95% of what the 6 boost is and it won't crack. For $400, it's tough to beat. One thing for you guys though, it's designed for a RHD skyline, so you might have fitment issues on a LHD car with the steering column vs. wastegate runners. Might not be that much of an issue since you said you can weld though.

I will check into that manifold and see if it would work for a LHD. So that would be an option if need be.

[BoostFab]

the only thing good on the manifold is the turbo flange. if you don't want to modify the stock manifold, i make adapters that bolt up to the stock manifold to allow external wastegate.

[KC240RB]

Could I get some pics of that setup? I like that I am finding so many options.

[themadscientist]

I like my Stec manifold. It's made in China (along with the name brand ones). It's the same general Greddy copy design, but it's made from 321 stainless and it's been checked for fitment before it ships out. I know a couple guys running them here and nobody's ever had one crack in the past few years including mine--and I've had that sucker glowing bright red more times than I can count. Also, it's twin scroll unlike that one you put pictures up of. It's not supposed to be a top of the line 6 Boost mani or something like that, but it's 95% of what the 6 boost is and it won't crack. For $400, it's tough to beat. One thing for you guys though, it's designed for a RHD skyline, so you might have fitment issues on a LHD car with the steering column vs. wastegate runners. Might not be that much of an issue since you said you can weld though.

It wasn't straight when it left China. STEC stepped up and had all of them machined by John over at Sobe so they were straight. Give those guys the credit for the fit of your manifold.

[BoostFab]

Could I get some pics of that setup? I like that I am finding so many options.

zerothread/355011]

[KC240RB]

It wasn't straight when it left China. STEC stepped up and had all of them machined by John over at Sobe so they were straight. Give those guys the credit for the fit of your manifold.

So are you saying there once was an issue, but now it has been resolved?

[themadscientist]

A local shop on our end ordered a batch of these from likely the same place SSAC and XS power and all the other "companies" get them. The batch he had when I was at the shop were not straight. He actually gives a dam about his customers so he ate the cost to have them all trued up by a machine shop.

Quality from the chinese MAY have improved since then but I wouldn't bet on it. These are the guys that make the lead painted toys and the chemical-tainted milk and the poison pet food that killed all those American pets including one of my cats. Why would people expect the chinese to deviate from their normal level of product quality when making a manifold?

screw china

[KC240RB]

A local shop on our end ordered a batch of these from likely the same place SSAC and XS power and all the other "companies" get them. The batch he had when I was at the shop were not straight. He actually gives a dam about his customers so he ate the cost to have them all trued up by a machine shop.

Quality from the chinese MAY have improved since then but I wouldn't bet on it. These are the guys that make the lead painted toys and the chemical-tainted milk and the poison pet food that killed all those American pets including one of my cats. Why would people expect the chinese to deviate from their normal level of product quality when making a manifold?

screw china

LOL. Now for real, tell us how you feel about China?

[BoostFab]

if you can try to search and try to get and get the SS 321 version

[Cjmartz2k]

A local shop on our end ordered a batch of these from likely the same place SSAC and XS power and all the other "companies" get them. The batch he had when I was at the shop were not straight. He actually gives a dam about his customers so he ate the cost to have them all trued up by a machine shop.

Yeah, I know all about that. I helped take them over to the machine shop in Yomitan (I HATE that traffic in front of Tori Station ) That was the SR bottom mounts though, not the RB top mounts. That does pretty much sums it up though. They ARE Chinese mani's, but they are 321 stainless with good welds and Scott makes sure they are right before they leave the shop. They aren't going to crack and they will fit (RHD that is). They aren't $1500 6 boost manifolds, but if you are considering a chinese one for $250 or whatever they cost, you should think about one of these instead for $400. Like I said, I've been running one for over a year at more than 600 motor hp and have had no problems.

I think somebody here on NICO bought one and decided to buy a 6 boost instead. Maybe you can find the old thread, find out who it was, and pick it up off of them if they never used it.

[themadscientist]

Scott's good people, he just needs to learn to lock the damned door though so those crazy ex's don't come in and beat him with, what was it, a can a soup?

[240z4u]

The stock exhaust manifold will support well over 400hp, I know someone who made 500+ at the wheels with a stocker. IMO, at that point it may be hindering flow though.

Evan

[KC240RB]

Who can I contact to see if s-tec manifold will fit with LHD? I looked at their website and can contact them in Japan, but I lack the ability to speak Japanese.


Modified by KC240RB at 11:35 AM 1/11/2009

[MATTs14]

Wait for another 6boost group buy and jump on it then. Its worth the wait trust me.

Go look for the 6boost group buy threads and tell me that that doesnt change your mind

[Cjmartz2k]

Stec is an american living over here, so english won't be a problem. He's never tried putting one on a LHD car, so he won't know. It's going to be a try it yourself thing.

And yeah, it was a can of soup--crazy *****. Same said nut job took a 2x4 to one of his other girl's car parked outside the shop Take note guys, Japanese chicks are NUTZ!