I have a new FM mani sitting right next to me. If I had a camera, I would pull the turbo off and take pictures for you guys.

Damn....almost an excuse to go to Louisville.

I like your town. Good beer everywhere and that great little district with the pubs, coffee shops, record and music stores. Can't remember what the area is called.

We visited and went to Ray's Monkey House. Nimbus was a really nice dude. Fed us some free beer and hung out to chat until after 2 AM. We helped him clean up.

PS...you MUST get hold of a camera before you install that thing.

Probably Bardstown Rd. area. I actually just moved here from Columbus. You can come down and bring a camera :). I should have one coming with my buddies from Columbus when they come down

I'm in Columbus...contemplating Austin TX in a year or so.....Tired of the winters here.

Send your buddies by, I'll loan you a camera if you'll return it. Or sell you one cheap!! :-)

I didn't have the car running right with the FM manifold, so unfortunately no spool data to compare. (I bought the FM manifold cracked from another member and had it welded up by a local shop, but it cracked almost immediately, at which point I bought the AF replacement). I will say that the boost response is silly fast compared to my former 300ZXs. By all means, feel free to use my testimony. I don't really have any decent pics, but I will get some soon for you to use, including the requisite engine bay shots.

When are you installing, Craig? I have a camera.

I had a new FM mani sitting right next to me 5 years ago. If I had a time machine, I would pull the turbo out of the box and take pictures for you guys.

As with any forum, if there's a particular topic you want us to chime in please let us know. We can't monitor the entire internet.

Want pictures of the current FM manifold? We have a few here, so I shot some pictures for you. They're not significantly different than the old SolidWorks models, although there have been numerous detail changes and the change to a Utah-based foundry made a big difference in quality.

This is just a normal manifold pulled off the shelf. It's going in the next turbo kit to head out.

http://www.flyinmiata.com/turbos/images/IMG_5253.jpg
http://www.flyinmiata.com/turbos/images/IMG_5255.jpg
http://www.flyinmiata.com/turbos/images/IMG_5249.jpg
http://www.flyinmiata.com/turbos/images/IMG_5250.jpg
http://www.flyinmiata.com/turbos/images/IMG_5251.jpg

Compared to the typical log manifold, that looks pretty good. I have to ask though, why not have the outer 2 runners curve a bit and make them be a bit more directed? No noticeable difference? Manufacturing issues? Cost?

I don't have a good answer for that. I wasn't personally involved in the manifold design, so I'm not sure where the design decisions came from.

Thanks for chiming in.

Thanks, Keith!

Yeah Keith, thanks!

EDIT: What's up with the threads in this pic, particularly the upper right hole? Looks like snot, maybe just because it's out of focus?
http://www.flyinmiata.com/turbos/images/IMG_5255.jpg

Looks like a bit of ceramic on the threads. We ship these assembled, so we'll chase 'em first. We are having a few discussions with our coating shop about masking.

Keith, thanks for the pictures. It looks exactly like the one sitting right next to me that I just took the turbo off of. It is hard to see, but the 1 and 4 runners do go perpendicular to the turbo flange


Memorial day weekend, probably thursday till whenever we are done. Still need to decide if I want to use my coworker's garage or do it here and have full access to my tools. No power hookup for a drill here though...

They make cordless drills ;)



And extension cords...


Just saying :)

If you had a cordless drill it would be very helpful...

Just saying :)

I do, but it is already at my new apartment in Indy. Talk to Mike (Webhitch), or post on 502 - I'm sure someone local has one you could borrow. I do have the tap and bits you need for the oil pan (I have both 3/8" and 1/2" NPT taps), though.

Already got both of those, but thanks. I'll try 502 when it gets closer if I decide to do it outside