Cracked 'vintage' 1.8 T3 EWG cast mani - replacement options?
#1
Cracked 'vintage' 1.8 T3 EWG cast mani - replacement options?
Hey all, looking for some advice (and abuse no doubt). Car is the old "ADFX" 94 Black and Tan that was rumored to be one of the first 400hp cars a hell of a long time ago (around 2000 IIRC), I forget all the details now (which i probably best) but the jist is it is sporting a cast 1.8 T3 EWG manifold that has the WG hole repaired before and is now cracking further. I don't want to go all apeshit and replace everything with a new mani/turbo/DP/WG, I am quite happy with the performance of the cast log and even it's frame rail interference.. I just need to replace the mani with a solid unit. BEGi no longer makes it (and judging by everything I read here I'd be waiting a lifetime for one if they did), and while HellaFab makes pure art I'm not sure I can wait the 6 months it'll take to get a tubular masterpiece, I'd like the car running by end of Feb. Trying to weigh my options due to the various downsides of the Hella fab for my particular situation and desires, I'd love to go that route but I don't know that I can wait it out. So, the question is what other options do I have for a 1.8 T3 flanged EWG manifold?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1994-2005-M...VaDd0C&vxp=mtr
Is that pretty much it aside from custom fabbed? I've read up a fair bit on the tacotaco stuff and assume this is the same offshore supplier, and this reeks of a ripoff of the existing mani I have (see below). Car should be in the 250+hp range and will be daily driven foolishly on street and maybe a few HPDE's a year. What's the consensus of durability on these cheap manifolds? I don't want to do this same exercise in June because it all cracked to **** (same reason I am not having the existing unit fixed), and this route let's me avoid reworking all manner of **** like the DP, WG, IC piping, etc. since it looks to be a near match drop in piece. But the $120 question is is this a priced solution or is it just delayed misery...?
Thoughts?
Wallyman
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1994-2005-M...VaDd0C&vxp=mtr
Is that pretty much it aside from custom fabbed? I've read up a fair bit on the tacotaco stuff and assume this is the same offshore supplier, and this reeks of a ripoff of the existing mani I have (see below). Car should be in the 250+hp range and will be daily driven foolishly on street and maybe a few HPDE's a year. What's the consensus of durability on these cheap manifolds? I don't want to do this same exercise in June because it all cracked to **** (same reason I am not having the existing unit fixed), and this route let's me avoid reworking all manner of **** like the DP, WG, IC piping, etc. since it looks to be a near match drop in piece. But the $120 question is is this a priced solution or is it just delayed misery...?
Thoughts?
Wallyman
#6
As much as I hate the idea, I suppose I could go cheapo for this coming season and have the HellaFab one made for next winter swap.. but I am trying to avoid redoing it after this winter. The turbo car isn't where I need to be spending my time (or money), fixing it was so I had something to enjoy driving while the LS2 car is finished (hopefully).
#8
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that china manifold is your easiest route. looks like it will fit the same as your existing manifold, and hopefully should last a good white being a heavy cast unit.
Pat is running one on his compound boosted 400+hp setup and it hasnt cracked yet.
Pat is running one on his compound boosted 400+hp setup and it hasnt cracked yet.
#9
That's sort of my thoughts but given you guys run all manner of stuff, the real world of Pat using it helps. Managed to dig up an email for Abe and sent him a note too, but no reply yet if he is building anything. His website shows a BEGi/FM replacement option which is what exactly I need, just not sure he is making anything anymore..?
#10
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That's sort of my thoughts but given you guys run all manner of stuff, the real world of Pat using it helps. Managed to dig up an email for Abe and sent him a note too, but no reply yet if he is building anything. His website shows a BEGi/FM replacement option which is what exactly I need, just not sure he is making anything anymore..?
#11
So far it's HellaFab, Abe or ebay china knockoff.. any other options? FM is out, BEGi is out.. oh, and I sent that guy over at MKTurbos an email a couple days ago to see if he had a manifold that might work but still waiting on his reply.... Do you make your mani or is it a prefab you buy?
#14
Neither FM nor BEGi make a Mani with the T3 flange any more. The ebay feels like a bandaid at $110... maybe I'm wrong but my problems rarely are solved that easily or cheaply. Usually it's just the can of worms being opened because I didn't spend good money for good product. I want to make sure I at least understand the options available before I pick my poison, especially since it looks like there are 2 or 3 good fabricators that might be able to produce something far superior to that hunk of cast.
#15
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Bell tuning or MaxG or what-have-you, don't drill the flanges until after the fact. They can drill it for a T3 -- there was no actually difference in the manifolds. BUT I'm not sure they still have an EWG cast -- very doubtful on that.
#18
shuiend, you never answered.. do you make your manifolds?
#20
....no...but maybe he could make one that would. Log Mani already has the T3 flange, just needs the EWG port. His DP would be a good start, get it without the v-band flange and put a 4 bolt on it and add the EWG pipe.... possible option if he was interested in making it. Would cover about half of the work or more.
Just collecting info on options.....
Just collecting info on options.....