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Who makes a decent cast manifold for 1.8 engines?

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Old 06-11-2010, 10:16 AM
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Default Who makes a decent cast manifold for 1.8 engines?

That is not $400-$500 like BEGi and FM. Also like to see it be a T3, similar in design to underdog's, with the turbo being placed more forward and upward. I'd like a/c compatibility and easy access to downpipe area. Any ideas? I want the one he has, but it's only 1.6 like everything else Miata related for cheap on ebay. Only option for 1.8 is shitty stainless tube ****, that will crack after the first few heat cycles, unless I am ill informed in that matter.

Seeing these retarded low prices on chinachargers and manifolds makes me want to go ahead and just do it now. Can at least get it up and running for under $2000 total, including exhaust, ms pnp, injectors, intercooler and piping and a few other little goodies. I was never fond of the spend big money once on a kit once, kind of thing. I like budget builds, and minor tinkering, welding, cutting, cussing, ect. Save a few hundred or thousand bucks and get 90% of the results as the big, pricey kits.
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Old 06-11-2010, 10:44 AM
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i think ARTech and ABSURDflow will make a BEGi/FM replacement tubular for under $400. but besides BEGi and FM man
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Old 06-11-2010, 04:32 PM
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Actually, I should have not included the word "decent", as I doubt for the price I am thinking of, you will find anything decent about $100 manifold, in both design, and quality.

I guess this also would make more sense in a turbo section... it was late/early.
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Old 06-11-2010, 04:51 PM
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Turbotim and Artech but they're going to be more expensive and not cast
Begi/Fm makes the cheapest but they're t2 only.

You're looking for something that doesn't exist:
best quality/cast/t3 and under 400
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Old 06-11-2010, 05:00 PM
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Originally Posted by 18psi
Turbotim and Artech but they're going to be more expensive and not cast
Begi/Fm makes the cheapest but they're t2 only.

You're looking for something that doesn't exist:
best quality/cast/t3 and under 400
I just said remove the quality part, since I know that is impossible. So just cast, t3, for under the cost of what Bell charges.

Though I think with my goals, something from the T25 family would be smarter.
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Old 06-11-2010, 06:01 PM
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I have yet to see a decent t3 cast for a 1.8 period....let alone for under what bell charges
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Old 06-11-2010, 06:03 PM
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if you think 350 is too much for a manifold buy a used one for 300. Though its still going to be t2.

If you still think that's too expensive you need to reconsider turbocharging your car. it really doesn't get much cheaper unless you find some crazy deal somewhere from someone that doesn't know what they're selling
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Old 06-11-2010, 06:09 PM
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Originally Posted by 18psi
I have yet to see a decent t3 cast for a 1.8 period....let alone for under what bell charges

BEGi will do a T3 1.8L manifold, just ask.
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Old 06-11-2010, 06:18 PM
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Originally Posted by 18psi
if you think 350 is too much for a manifold buy a used one for 300. Though its still going to be t2.

If you still think that's too expensive you need to reconsider turbocharging your car. it really doesn't get much cheaper unless you find some crazy deal somewhere from someone that doesn't know what they're selling
It's not too expensive, I just got excited seeing the prices on underdog's thread. $99 manifold and a $120 turbo, I could easily justify "wasting" money on something that cheap, and if it sucked, so I'm only out ~$200. I spend that on a weekend of drinking. I guess I will just have to suck it up and get something like the BEGi cast, and a chinacharger with a T25 flange, like the one Phil runs, and be happy. That still comes in cheaper than the cost of just a Garrett turbo itself. Then I will fab up a dp, and go from there. I've been finding it hard to justify the price tag of a BEGi setup, because that is $3500 all at one time, and that is really more than I am willing to spend right now. This way I can at least work my way up, buying bits and pieces, upgrading as I go. Might cost more in the long run, but it will be a learning process, and more fun.
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Old 06-11-2010, 06:20 PM
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I don't know if he's too busy for another mani build but wayne_curr built mine, Levs and Buffons manifolds
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Old 06-11-2010, 06:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Braineack
BEGi will do a T3 1.8L manifold, just ask.
I've heard this from others before, never seen one though.
I'm sure you're right. I'm also sure they'd charge extra for that though
Originally Posted by NA6C-Guy
It's not too expensive, I just got excited seeing the prices on underdog's thread. $99 manifold and a $120 turbo, I could easily justify "wasting" money on something that cheap, and if it sucked, so I'm only out ~$200. I spend that on a weekend of drinking. I guess I will just have to suck it up and get something like the BEGi cast, and a chinacharger with a T25 flange, like the one Phil runs, and be happy. That still comes in cheaper than the cost of just a Garrett turbo itself. Then I will fab up a dp, and go from there. I've been finding it hard to justify the price tag of a BEGi setup, because that is $3500 all at one time, and that is really more than I am willing to spend right now. This way I can at least work my way up, buying bits and pieces, upgrading as I go. Might cost more in the long run, but it will be a learning process, and more fun.
Unless your goals are above 270-300whp I don't really see the NEED for t3 to be honest.
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Old 06-11-2010, 06:38 PM
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they dont charge extra. they drill and tap the manifolds after they get them from the iron workers. they can pretty much port and drill it for anything.
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Old 06-11-2010, 07:00 PM
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wow I DID NOT know that.

****....Had I known that I'd have gotten a t3 from them
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Old 06-11-2010, 08:08 PM
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Pisses me off.

You can get damn good quality cast manis for so many other cars:

http://store.forcedperformance.net/m...de=DSM-Exhaust

Arent BP stud patterns/ex flange dimensions similar to 4G63 ones? I actually checked on this awhile back and it looked like it could work sorta.
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Old 06-11-2010, 09:56 PM
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wouldn't work I don't think. Turbo hit block. The DSM's turbo is pointed the opposite way.
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Old 06-12-2010, 02:40 AM
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That's my main gripe, why does the less popular 1.6 get all of these cheap manifolds, and the most popular by far BP get the shaft. Or maybe that's the reason, demand means they can charge more for ****. But if that were the case I guess the guys making dirt cheap 1.6 manifolds would make 1.8's for the vast demand. I just don't get it. Someone make a dirt cheap cast manifold for the 1.8 and I bet it makes them rich. Not that the alternatives for the 1.8 are THAT costly, but $100-$200 for an ebay manifold really makes me want to make that first big jump much more. That's been my problem getting any kind of power build going. I know it's going to cost me a lot of money, and I keep putting it off. Once I get the first few major parts out of the way it will come much easier I think.
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Old 06-12-2010, 12:15 PM
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My guess is that a SS POS is cheaper to make in the production numbers they are working with, and you can charge just as much. The initial tooling for a cast mani is very epensive. So your profit on an SS POS is higher.
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Old 06-12-2010, 01:16 PM
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Yes, but why are there so many already out there for the 1.6? If initial costs were at fault, they would surely see a much larger return by making 1.8 manifolds.
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Old 06-12-2010, 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Braineack
BEGi will do a T3 1.8L manifold, just ask.
I has one.
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Old 06-12-2010, 10:24 PM
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Sucks (relatively) for you 1.8 folks, my cast 1.6 mani is bulletproof and only cost $120 shipped. Someone email ilovetacotaco :v
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