Thoughts on this cheap cast mani?
 

Hello All,


I was browsing Amazon and came across this. Thoughts?

Old begi copy.

It's a taco taco manifold. We have a few threads on it already.

https://www.miataturbo.net/diy-turbo...anifold-86200/

http://www.ebay.com/itm/94-05-MAZDA-...3c96ac&vxp=mtr

I assume for the price its garbage. Am I wrong?

It's probably fine.

Fine if you like having to replace a whole bunch of hardware because half the OEM studs are too short, fine if you like a log manifold that doesn't flow very well, fine if you hate supporting forum vendors. Sure, fine

Yeap, and cheap!

EDIT: Looks like you can't use bolts on the bottom, never mind. Still for the money, it's a cast iron manifold.

wow that thing is unattractive

So is monk, and that didn't stop us last night.

loll

Everyone says I'm ugly, but I'm fun:party:

I hate to tell you this, but that's not what people mean when they say "fugly." :D

But seriously, Nic. You have stumbled across one of the very few eBay manifolds which is actually known to work properly (eg: not fall apart almost immediately.) The design isn't the best from a fluid dynamics standpoint, and lots of fabrication will be required to make it work, but if that's your thing, go for it.

Props for making me nearly choke to death on my morning pastry.

OP, as others have mentioned, you are going to have a fair amount of work on your hands cobbling together the rest of the system.
Just be aware that your DIY fu must be strong to make this whole thing work.

someone looking at a $80 manifold on ebay isn't shopping at TrackSpeed for a man's man manifold.

Actually Joe, this particular one has not yet been even proven to work.

Just cause it's a cast log don't mean it won't crack. That generalization is reserved for the quality ones. The tacotaco 1.6 one has cracked on at least a few people's cars.

Ah, I see what you mean.

I posted that from my phone, having just looked at Monk's post where he evoked the Taco, without actually clicking through the ebay link.

Well, it's a cast manifold anyway, which means it's probably going to be more durable than the thin-walled welded SS pieces which usually show up on the interwebs' greatest flea market.


Sidebar:

Who else remembers when eBay was used by individuals to sell their own stuff similar to the classifieds, rather than as a front-end / middleman for Alibaba?

I should have clarified that it's the new 1.8 taco taco manifold.

*raises hand*

I even actually used to *gasp* buy, and *gaaaasp* sell stuff on there too.

Those were the days

God damn, that thing is ugly...

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453313374

Kinda cool that they include that heatshield plate, though. Addressed a problem that's difficult to tackle otherwise. Though I wonder how much heat it's pulling from the turbine flange and subsequently re-radiating...

I have said this at least a dozen times now, but here goes: why can't they knock off something that's not an old piece of junk? I mean, it takes the brainpower of a grunt to do a google search for Miata manifold and see that like every other one is a better, nicer, design, order the $300-350 unit and scan it.

My initial hypothesis was that they were afraid to knock off something that was still in production, but the bell s4 tubular knockoff disproves that

So that just leaves us with: they are really, really, stupid.

The manifold is available in both a T3 and T2 "flange" on eBay. Both are exactly the same, with just holes drilled in different places on the flange surface. The t2 manifold uses M8 studs, the t3 uses M10 studs. The T2 manifold I got came with the heat shield on top and a wastegate block off plate, no studs came with it. The t3 manifold came with studs, but no block off place or heat shield. One day I will get some time to actually get them installed on a car and some fitment pictures.

My big concern is what downpipe to use with them. I don't have a current Begi/FM cast manifold to compare turbo placement, so I am not sure if either of their off the shelf DP's would work.

likely not, since most of don't even work with their own manifolds ;)

because they finally got their hands on a circa 1990 Begi manifold?


https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453337387

and the heat shield was copied too:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...c12ffb3c58.png

I ordered this manifold off ebay in T3 1.8L form, along with MS2E from Rev, Ebay intercooler and piping, ebay HKS SSQV knockoff BOV, ebay oil/drain lines, and the same turbo thats in the MK kit. Exhaust/DP will be custom made locally.

Still thinking about which wideband to get.

all this is going into my 99.

so in the next month or three you will see a post of how it works, or how i blew up my enginez...

ebay wideband.

I hear that the ebay hks knock off works like the real one. Let us know how it goes for you!

They should make a knock of the intake manifold.

Dear EBAY,

Please sell a complete turbo BP engine, turnkey, 450 hp.

and it would likely fit :bowrofl:

I can tell you that you will need to cut back the rear shelf to get a down pipe to fit with the ebay t3 I use. The rear v-band flange is very far back and there is no way to get a 90 bend off it without hitting that shelf.

thanks for letting me know.

I dont mind trimming the shelf a little, but i do want to avoid major cuts.

I will have the dp custom made, so we will see if they can bend a sharper bend or i might have to ditch the vband, and just weld the dp to turbo or switch for the normal turbo output and not the vband output.

I am not sure how much of the shelf will need to be cut, I did not measure that. I may be able to check late tonight when I get home. What shop do you plan on building you a downpipe? The large majority of shops do not have mandrel benders for exhaust pipes on site. They usually just buy prebent pipes.

As for going without the v-band outlet, you would most likely need to go to an external wastegate at that point, then weld the wastegate hole closed on the turbo. It would be doable with the cast manifold.

thanks, if you can take a quick pic of the clearance on an NB that would be great.

The shop is not so much as a shop, but more of a private dirt racing team, they built their Nascar style looking dirt racing car from scratch, welding the whole tube frame etc... so they are excellent welders.

they do not have a bender, but even with pre bent pieces, cant they take a 90 degree angle and add a small piece of say another 30 degrees to make a sharper bend? i could be wrong. so until i test fit turbo and manifold myself i wont know for sure.

That, or use donuts. They come as a full toroid, and you just cut whatever angle you need out of it.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453402306

Supervisor.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453427783

T3 manifold and T3 chinacharger.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453427783
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453427783
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453427783
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453427783
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453427783
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453427783

T2 manifold and SR20 T25 exhaust housing.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453427783
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453427783

EFR TacoTaco
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453427783
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453427783
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453427783

Not hit block?

Hit shelf, not block?

T3 with flappy paddle v-band, at least?

EFR tacotaco, lel

Thank you Guys for the awesome response. I kinda figured it was cheap for a reason, so I placed my order for the FM no elec kit last night. Now I just have to save my duckets for the happy meal clutch kit and I will have everything I need.

Thank you so much for the pics.

so it doesnt look like the T3 with vband can fit a downpipe. not good.

but it does look like a T2 T25 sr20 turbo should fit.

from what i understand its an old BEGI knockoff, so it must have worked back in the day, i wonder what turbo it was originally made for? SR20?

aerodyne.


https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453471768


https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453471768


https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453471768

None of the turbos hit block. Not sure if they would hit the side frame, as I already had my beaten back a good amount from my old cast Begi manifold.

Flappy paddle v-band? I am honestly not sure if there would be enough room if you cut the rear shelving or not, would probably have to cut more then just the lip.

EFR tactic would have real trouble with fitting a downpipe.

I don't think the t3 will work without heavy modding of the back shelf. The T25 should be doable. Brain covered what turbo they used.

Thanks so much!

yeah, not interested in getting this turbo.

Thank you for letting me know, today the T3 manifold and other stuff are scheduled to arrive, and now i can refuse delivery for a refund.

it seems i now have two options.

Option A: return T3 turbo and get a China GT2560R for ~$300-400 or a rebuilt garett for $700 + T2 tacotaco manifold + FM elbow and DP $500. + i will still need an exhaust made ~$500

Option B: Keep T3 turbo and get MK kit minus turbo. :idea:

I like option B much better.

Lars: Can you take an order from me for full kit minus turbo? or you prefer i return the turbo and get everything from you?

How long will it take to make the kit?

again thanks for all your help. this is my first ever turbo build and i admit that i am a :noob:

Up through the hood

I don't suggest any of the China T25's. I have not seen one that I like spool wise. You can find SR20 T25's for $100-200 if you want to go the t25 route.

As for my setups if you already have the turbo I can take that out. Right now not taking more orders until I am done with my GB orders. I expect that to hopefully be around the end of March or April. Shoot me an email if you are seriously interested.


Do I need to make a madtyte EFR tacotaco Ddrift missile?

Who here can do car wraps and know how to plastidip rims?

ok lets do it. i will email you later today to setup up an order.

to confirm, this is the correct turbo?
T3 48AR 2 5" V Band Exhaust Flange 42AR Comp Internal Wastegate Turbo Charger | eBay

Looks like it. You should be able to offer $200 for it.

I already offered $190 and he accepted it a few days ago. turbo should be arriving to me Monday.

Sweet, then they have gotten lower then last time when I ordered a ton.

mine was $175. but i was like first ever to get it. then my influence of in the force caused demand to go up.

Your also did not have the v-band outlet, and was purchased 8-9 years ago or some shit. Chinese child labor prices have gone up a tiny bit since then.

yeah it did. i just sold it off cause i already had a DP for the 3 bolt outlet.


https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453491265


https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1453491265

If anyone happens to have a FM or Begi downpipe I could borrow to test fit with the t2 tacotaco manifold it would be greatly appreciated.

I do but I'm in CA. I have FM/Begi 1.8 and 1.6 t2 DPs.

I should have a FM cast elbow coming to me shortly to test fitment with. I will post up pictures once I get it in.

I got some goodies in the mail today.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1454467754

Old style and new style FM upper downpipe.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1454467754

The new style loosely attached to a 1.8 tacotaco and SR20 t25 exhaust housing.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1454467754
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1454467754
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1454467754

The only possible issue I see is hitting the steering rack below. I will know later this weekend when I get a chance to install the full fm downpipe and a stock exhaust.

Any updates on the full FM DP fitment?

I'm making 415whp on VD with this manifold. It works great so far, but very limited amount of time it's been on the car.

Has anyone managed to heat wrap one of these manifolds yet? Any tips?

Now 492whp, and ran 7.3's int he 1/8th at over 100mph on this manifold (not running full boost on this pass, like 400whp maybe)

I wouldn't do that personally. I think that would increase the chance of any cast manifold cracking.