RonnieJ Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 (edited) My buddy builds some of the best tubular manifolds out hands down. Ive had a few of them on my VWs and Audis as well as hes built tons for the Honda and Evo guys. I was thinking of having him build me a stock replacement for the time being and thought I may as well ask everybody here. Some examples of his Evo stock replacements http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e214/bboyronnie/25902_106963272657626_106937695993517_145788_3120714_n.jpg http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e214/bboyronnie/25902_106963265990960_106937695993517_145787_7295903_n.jpg http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e214/bboyronnie/25902_106963262657627_106937695993517_145786_2722566_n.jpg http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e214/bboyronnie/25902_106963255990961_106937695993517_145785_587261_n.jpg http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e214/bboyronnie/25902_106963242657629_106937695993517_145784_3798967_n.jpg My VW manifolds he built http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l434/EurojetRonnie/18t%20Exh%20Mani/18T30R.jpg http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l434/EurojetRonnie/18t%20Exh%20Mani/18T%20Divided/TS_1.jpg http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l434/EurojetRonnie/18t%20Exh%20Mani/18T%20Divided/TS_5.jpg Edited January 23, 2012 by RonnieJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 What's he charge for those evo stock replacements? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted January 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Off the top of my head I dont remember but ill ask him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC_99 Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Ronnie, those look like pretty nice pieces, but be warned that several people have tried to do this and most have failed. They always crack and fall apart or never get off the ground at all.My suggestion to you is, have him make one for you. Put it on your car and run it for several thousand miles and heat cycles to prove its quality and reliability and then have him offer them to the community. That way if there is a problem, he will only have one part out there that potentially fails and he can make design improvements or corrections based on those findings, before he has a bunch of parts out there without proper R&D and testing.Please dont take that the wrong way, I have just seen this play out the same way numerous times and think that maybe someone should try to do it the "right way" for a change. I will be looking forward to seeing how this progresses and hoping the best for you with this. BC_99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted January 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 (edited) LOL too funny. He has been making these for about 12 years now with no issues. He offers lifetime warranty to original owner. I put 20K on my VW manifold before I sold the car and sold the kit. I can say this without having any doubt it will not crack. Everything is back purged. I wouldn't offer this if he just started Edited January 23, 2012 by RonnieJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC_99 Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Please do some research on headers for these cars, I know that there are plenty of manifolds out there for other cars that dont have any reliablilty issues. If he hasnt made them for these cars yet, then have him do his due diligence with this and take it slow. I do like to hear that he back purges the header during welding, that tells me that he is on the right track. FWIW, I am and have been a metal fabricator in the racing industry for the past 15 years. I just dont have the desire or extra time to take on building one myself or I would have already done it properly. If he can build a proven reliable header for these cars that keeps everything in stock location, I will buy one myself, I just havent seen that happen yet. So again, please dont think Im taking shots at you or your friend, in fact the reason I replied is for the completely opposite reason, his parts look quality. I would love to see this happen and have a reliable vendor for the community. I just know the history of this sort of thing so far, and really want to see someone do it right. Thanks for posting this and looking into it. BC_99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted January 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 What are the issues? EGTs too hight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC_99 Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Mostly just poor designs and materials from what I can tell. I havent bought one from anyone yet, because no one will build one and test it and fix any potential problems and then go into production. They just build one, make a jig, and go straight to production on the cheap.I also think that maybe only one guy has back purged his headers during welding and that is key to a long lasting header or exhaust component as it seems you already know. I also think that the way the stock mani and turbo location is in, poses a problem for metal fatigue because of the weight of the exhaust and turbo being so far away from the header mounting studs to the head. But again thats just opinion based on the way the stock cast iron manifold cracks and fails after enough use and heat cycles. Just search headers on this site and on 2.6liter.com and you will find some of the failed attempts.Chad has made them for years and his are the only ones that have lasted longer than a year or 2 (to the best of my knowledge) but his eventually fail also from metal fatigue. Im sure you will get some other responses over the next couple of days from plenty of people, and Im sure you will get some critics in the mix, but like said stay the course and take the proper measures and it may just finally work out for this to happen for us all. BC_99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted January 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Well as far as his manifolds go he uses sch 40 stainless, everything is back purged, and everything is welded with rod. I dont think the location of the tubro has to do with cracking. Personally I think its more likely the use of poor material, or even half tail rushed welds. To be honest I have confidence that they will last and its backed with lifetime warranty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted January 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 If turbo location and weight were an issues these would have cracked a long time ago. Either way im having him make me one and eventually something to fit a 6262 down the road http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e214/bboyronnie/297096_10150260234001863_516581862_8028486_1617117_n.jpg http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e214/bboyronnie/199650_10150110547971863_516581862_6937735_5244098_n.jpg http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e214/bboyronnie/28467_132054456815174_106937695993517_231016_502855_n.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leesfer Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 If turbo location and weight were an issues these would have cracked a long time ago. Either way im having him make me one and eventually something to fit a 6262 down the road http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e214/bboyronnie/297096_10150260234001863_516581862_8028486_1617117_n.jpg Damn I need to look into this for my S2K haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted January 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 His S2K kit is nuts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasQuest Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 Wow that is some might-ee fine lookin work there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89PalermoSHP Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Nice looking work. Get one made and get some miles on it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted January 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Ill get one done when he has time seeing as om the only one who wants one. Hes super busy and dont like to jump in front of high dollar jobs for a simple manifold. When I do get one done ill post some pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Post a lot of pics and see if you can find a price. If the price is right I will buy one to test with you, since I have a few stock cast manifolds that I could easily swap out=~) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted January 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Ill talk to him today and see what price range. Ill get info to you asap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted January 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Oh and difference in the manifolds or would we have to make 2-3 dif ones depending on year ect?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 All of the exhaust manifolds are the same throughout the years=) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted January 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Sweet that makes it easier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted January 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Here is a pic of his 2JZ manifold for you swapped guys http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e214/bboyronnie/2jZ.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted January 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 (edited) OK so im now on the hunt for a stock exh mani and some head flanges. Treadstone seams to be the only ones I can find and they look too thin. Anybody know of a cheap exh mani (can be cracked) and a decently made head flange? Edited January 25, 2012 by RonnieJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
button Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 I sell head flanges. what material and thickness do you want, I can see whats available and get you a price.or i can provide the cad file if you want to find a laser cutter that has the material you want.we can compare numbers as well on t3, t4 and maybe v-bands. (five 7 four) 5three two- nineteen thirty-five or email button (at) datacruzdotcom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieJ Posted January 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 Would need a head flange 1/2" thick mild is fine for now. Maybe a turbo inlet flange same specs just to get the ball rollong. Have pics of your flanges? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
button Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 (edited) the laser can only cut up to 3/8". 3/8" was fine for the 3 manifolds I've made, and the multiple turbo spacer/adapters I've made.http://ilostmymind.com/shop/images/there's some of the flanges I have. there's a very large list of what i have/can do.I'm out of stock of the g54b-manifold-head flange, I'll have more cut asap. I need to get a quantity order together. I have plenty t3/t4/38mm flanges and gaskets. the gaskets are .035 stainless. I've had better luck with these than with copper. they handle higher egts and pressures.I also have intake-head flanges and multiple different throttle body flanges.I stock all steal.I can check aluminum prices/availability if anyone is interested in them. Edited January 26, 2012 by button Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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