Quality FD Manifold Interest?

chickenwafer · Postby **chickenwafer** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 9:14

So who is up for a quality, but cost effective, tubular twin scroll manifold?

I'm still working on all the details, but I am currently in talks with Alex from Neukin Racing. They make some pretty outstanding, *atomic* manifolds already for other cars, including the FC RX-7.

I emailed them asking if the FC manifold would fit an FD and he said No, but they are currently making a one-off FD manifold for a Formula D Pro drifter, and they could make a run of FD twin scroll, single wastegate manifolds. Looks like they can offer some other options as well, including twin wastegates.

Pricing should be very competitive, easily sub $800, even possibly cheaper. The more people we can get to commit to a manifold, the better. 3-4 manifolds is the target; more is better! No official word on pricing with the group discount, but guaranteed less than $795.

I already talked to Eric about this and he is down, and so am I, so we just need 1 to 2 more people and we can get some deep discounts on quality manifolds. These manifolds will carry a lifetime warranty against cracking, warping, etc, to the original purchaser only.

All the reviews on Neukin manifolds are outstanding, I'm really yet to find a "bad" review, just that he is a little slow on getting them made, afterall, Alex is a one man operation.

So just post up if you're interested. Hopefully I will have some final GB pricing in a few days here so we have some tangible numbers to work with.

VRx8 · Postby **VRx8** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:14

Just found a bad review on Neukin lol http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?p=10905404#post10905404

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:14

Wow, and in C Springs too LOL.

But other than waiting a year it doesn't sound too bad though lol. Hell that's pretty much the norm for me HAHAHA.

VRx8 · Postby **VRx8** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:14

I didn't even notice it was a guy from the springs lol. Gato Performance makes quality manifolds for $650 also jdmfantasy on 7club makes them for the same price all custom to your specs. Maybe if we can get one of this guys to do a group buy with a discounted price, Im game. I actually need a manifold this ebay one I have is not going to cut it lol.

I pics of jdmfantasy manifolds if u guys want to see them let me know to post them. Im not trying to advertise anybody here, Im in need of a manifold too and if we can get a cheaper price doing a group buy then let's do it doesn't matter what company as long its a good quality manifold.

boosted12a · Postby **boosted12a** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:14

VRx8 wrote:I didn't even notice it was a guy from the springs lol. Gato Performance makes quality manifolds for $650 also jdmfantasy on 7club makes them for the same price all custom to your specs. Maybe if we can get one of this guys to do a group buy with a discounted price, Im game. I actually need a manifold this ebay one I have is not going to cut it lol.

I pics of jdmfantasy manifolds if u guys want to see them let me know to post them. Im not trying to advertise anybody here, Im in need of a manifold too and if we can get a cheaper price doing a group buy then let's do it doesn't matter what company as long its a good quality manifold.

i pay $450 for mine GATO performance is one of the best

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:14

Yeah post up pics Eduardo. I don't think it would hurt Dave's feelings if you did that, he's not married to Neukin HAHA. My concerns with any of these deals is 1. Quality 2. Price and 2.5 Timeliness. I want to install my turbo pretty soon after I get back, and I need a manifold almost immediately. I fear that if we get too many people in on it, whoever does it will take a while, know what I mean? But I think with the 3 of us and maybe one more person, we might still be alright.

D Walker · Postby **D Walker** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:14

You guys know there are people local (such as myself) that build custom manifolds? Not that I am telling you guys what to do, but it is a lot easier to deal with people when you can drive over and check progress than when your only form of interaction is email and a credit card.

Postby **RX-7 Chris** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:14

I'd have to agree with Don. You could probably find a shop that would do it. It's always better to be able to show up at the shop for an update.

VRx8 · Postby **VRx8** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:14

This pictures from jdmfantasy on 7club. He sent me this pictures via PM. I'll post his PM to me.

i will also make a T4 manifold for $650. A few of our various rotary manifolds manifold are below... T4/T6/V-band and so on.

IMAG0717 by SENZA PARI, on Flickr

IMAG0824 by SENZA PARI, on Flickr

IMAG1108 by SENZA PARI, on Flickr

024 by SENZA PARI, on Flickr

IMAG1755 by SENZA PARI, on Flickr

Let me know if you're interested.

Thanks,

Casey

Don can you post a couple pics of your manifolds, timeline, price?

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:14

^Wow, that is some artwork! And those runners look huge!

Dave had originally said there was someone local he was already talking to, but I figured that fell through so I was going with this next lead haha. Either way, one of the main things for me like I said is timeliness. I can't wait too long for this. If I could actually get it built before I get back that would be awesome. I'm just afraid the turbo won't fit right or something if I do that.

D Walker · Postby **D Walker** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 9:14

I actually do not take many pictures of my work, there just usually is not enough time and I am busy putting things together. Thats actually a major complaint I get from some of my racing backers and press people, so I am attempting to address the issue of never enough pictures.
That said, here are some pics of a Subaru build I did a while back which shows a 4" exhuast fitted under a slightly lowered Subaru. http://s218.photobucket.com/albums/cc259/dwalker460/subaru/

As far as timeline, right now we could do one pretty quickly, as we are "between" seasons. Ultimately a manifold takes about 2 days to fabricate, assuming all the bits are on hand and it is just cutting/fitting. Since almost everything I do now is bespoke, there are no jigs to speed up the process. Now, if I were to do several of the same fitment manifold, then a jig would get built and several could be done in a week once the first one is made.
As far as cost, that depends on materials used, time it takes, etc. If we are talking 304 stainless tubing, mandrel bends, RB Cast flange (really, the best thing out there, dont let anyone lie to you about this), 1/2 ss t/4 or t/3 flanges, true twin scroll with dual wg outlets for a single wg, then probably looking at around $550 to 600, depending on current cost of SS bits. I DO NOT have some local jackass cutting flanges out on a plasma table and warping the crap out of them like other "fabricators" across the country do, I use water jet//laser cut and finished flanges only. Dual WG will add the cost of the extra flange, V-band will add a tick because V-bands are generically more than standard flanges. Downpipes etc. are no issue to fabricate as well. 321, Inconel, etc are also possible, just have to compute cost and check availability.

I do have a couple of FD's here to check fitment on, and depending on timing it could be possible to fab the manifold on the actual car you want it to fit. This depends largely on what I have going on more than anything else.

One thing I want to make sure anyone looking for a tubi manifold understands- These manifolds WILL crack. There is nothing that can be done about this, its a fact of life, and should be considered a consumable with a life span. Hanging a large turbo or a WG on a manifold increases stress and decreases life. Properly bracing the manifold will help, but nothing is going to make the problem go away for good. Anyone who says anything different is lying through their teeth. Manifolds constructed from Schedule 40 pipe will last a lot longer than tube mani's will, but they also weigh about three times as much. How long a tubi mani lasts in use is a function of heat, stress, vibration, and thermal cycling. This has nothing to do with brand, construction technique, or any other mystical crap, its just the way it is. I have observed most turbo manifolds, properly braced, on well tuned cars have a lifespan of about 4-5 years, maybe longer depending on actual use. The manifolds on say, a road race RX8 are good for a season, maybe less, before they need replacing. Again, these are consumables.

The above is why you should NEVER overpay for a manifold thinking it is going to live longer or some other crap. Pay a decent price for a decent unit and plan on paying about the same when it wears out. Paying $1000 bucks for someones hyped up crap is exactly that- crap. Do you think they know something about stainless steel tubing no one else does? Or that they are using super secret squirrel welding techniques they learned from Gandalf under a blood moon? No. Dont buy into crap folks, its just metal tubes, and tubing is tubing.

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:14

Well what I'm looking for is a twin scroll T4 with a WG flange (probably going with about 38mm and I'd prefer v-band) on each runner, and also a 1/8" NPT EGT bung in each runner (about 2" off the engine). I also need a downpipe. My only problem with doing the manifold now is I have the EFR 7670 and the CHRA is longer than the Garrett, and I'm not sure how big around the turbo is either since I haven't even laid eyes on it, so I'm not sure if I can even slide it back some to make room for the filter on the front. I'd like to do that though, and I figure that would help keep the runners even as well. I also need it to sit low enough that I can put an aluminum elbow on the compressor outlet and still fit under my strut bar, if possible. I have one on my current housing but it's welded on and the housing was cut down a bit for it to fit.

I've never heard of Schedule 40. Interesting. And by tubi, I'm assuming you mean tubular, made out of 304 or whatever?

D Walker · Postby **D Walker** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:14

Yes, 304SS. 321 is slightly better, but more expensive and requires careful rod selection.

Most"custom" turbo manifolds are actually done in sch40 pipe, not tubing. It is relatively easy to weld, very thick and durable, and tends to make the mediocre fabricator look better than he is. Still, it is a very viable solution in most cases. I have never done a sch40 pipe manifold for a 13B myself, but there is no reason I can think of that it couldnt be done. Would be somewhat labor intensive over tubing, but again, not a large issue.

Most turbo manifolds I have built (or bought) for 13B's have been tubing. Its lighter and easier to work with and tends to cost less. I am generically very obsessed with weight so I really hate making anything heavier than it has to be.

speedjunkie · Postby **speedjunkie** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:14

Yeah weight is one of the reasons I decided to go with the new EFR turbo, since both housings are stainless, and both wheels being lighter (one being aluminum and one being Gamma-Ti) helps too lol. I guess if I got the manifold made of Schedule 40 material it would be offset by the turbo, but maybe not enough, and I'd rather have something lighter too. Although, I don't really feel like replacing it that often either haha.

VRx8 · Postby **VRx8** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:14

Im looking at short runner (sence i have this gigantic t72), dual v band wg, egt bungs and if it changes the position of the turbo i'll need a new downpipe as well.

Quality FD Manifold Interest?

Quality FD Manifold Interest?

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