my s4 manifold delema (DILEMMA you mean?)
#1
my s4 manifold delema (DILEMMA you mean?)
I was gifted a S4 manifold from bell a billion years ago. Braced in a similar way to the kit it cracked. I patched it back up with ye ol metal caulking gun and after a while it cracked again. While waiting for a replacement from bell I purchased a ebay manifold to hold me over, I welded in tons of bracing to keep it from cracking. My turnbuckle that was holding the rear of the turbo broke and the flange came off the collector. Patched it back up with ye old metal caulking gun and it was running awesome with the exception that the studs would almost constantly back out. I finally got the replacement from bell (with some fancy new hardware to brace the turbo) and I was keeping it as a spare for a trip out to new york. On the way home I had a stud snap in half and mess up the threads on the ebay manifold (they looked and felt like they were tapped by a 3 year old anyhow) and I had to swap in the bell unit.
This was last weekend. Pretty sure runner number two has cracked at the head already as I can hear it leaking.
What do I do, have a custom manifold made, buy ebay manifolds in bulk or scrap everything and go with a new setup? It would cost me about $350 in stainless pipe to make new charge pipes and a downpipe for a new manifold + the cost of the manifold. I'm really getting tired of ******* around with it.
This was last weekend. Pretty sure runner number two has cracked at the head already as I can hear it leaking.
What do I do, have a custom manifold made, buy ebay manifolds in bulk or scrap everything and go with a new setup? It would cost me about $350 in stainless pipe to make new charge pipes and a downpipe for a new manifold + the cost of the manifold. I'm really getting tired of ******* around with it.
#5
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Seriously, you do not have a flex section anywhere? If not, then yes, you want one between the downpipe (from the turbo) and the exhaust. It will be roughly located under the driver's footwell.
#12
Plenty of people have cracked the ebay manifolds. Having held both in my hands I can tell you they are one and the same.
I used stainless for the charge pipes because I don't have a way to weld aluminum. Its better then PVC and stainless does not rust.
#13
The first manifold broke because it was not supported properly. You were not using our support brace. Did you use it on the second manifold, in the manner in which it was intended? If not, the manifold will crack. It seems kinda of strange that of ALL the S4 kits we have shipped, yours is the only one to crack EVER, and now it has cracked a second time?
Stephanie
Stephanie
#14
Metal doesn't crystallize from heating, it crystallizes from cooling. Anyone that attributes HAZ as a failure source on an EXHAUST MANIFOLD is a *little uneducated.
When I first read this thread the other day I thought about replying that even the best welders can have bad days...but the above comparison just boggles my mind.
#16
The first manifold broke because it was not supported properly. You were not using our support brace. Did you use it on the second manifold, in the manner in which it was intended? If not, the manifold will crack. It seems kinda of strange that of ALL the S4 kits we have shipped, yours is the only one to crack EVER, and now it has cracked a second time?
Stephanie
Stephanie
The ebay manifold and the one sent to me by bell are the same. Look, feel and smell the same in every fashion. Don't ******* insult me I have sold enough Taiwanese **** in my time to know that this is not even up to those standards. If they made the manifolds the guy that wanted to buy a stainless flange from bell would have had himself a stainless flange.
The ebay manifold at least lasted 3000 miles to new york without cracking, Your lasted 5 days of around town driving with your super duper brace connected EXACTLY like it should be.