STEED has ARRIVED!

[socks]

Ok,

I will start off by saying "NO, the manifold is not yet on my car."

Now that thats out of the way.

First impressions:

The manifold is VERY open on the inside, and the machining and welding is TOP NOTCH.

I look forward to finishing the install on my car, unfortunately, I ran in to some obstacles, and due to previous obligations, I wont be able to continue until tomorrow.

I came home from work today, once again eager to check the mail for my manifold. It wasnt in my box, and neither was the key for the package slot. DOH! I get to my door and theres the "sorry we missed you slip" DOH! again, except, we're in luck, the postal lady just drove off and was stopped at the next box down the street. So i got my package from her.

Lets get on with the install.

A) my car was hot at 1:30PM, no problem lets check out the manifold, and mount up the wastegate.

Mounting the wastegate, I neglected to see whether the holes were tapped through and assumed they were. Well, that was the biggest mistake of the day.

Note 1 to Mr Steed: Please tap the wastegate flange prior to welding it on, and tap the bolt holes through.

There may be more later once it goes in the car.

I tighten the bolts to find out they were not tightening all the way down before stopping. a little tighter, no? ok, lets take em out and see whats up. Maybe cut them down a touch. Well, the first bolt came out fine, but the second bolt did not want to. struggling with it, the head broke off. Thats right. Bitch.

I try everything to get it out, vice grips on it, I cut it down, drilled a hole through it, got an easy out in there, boom. went in with the easy out, and it shattered the bit.

Here come the real dirty words.

F. now not only is there a bolt in there, theres an easy out. Cant get the drill back in there.. take it to 3sx (well known 3000gt shop), they are too busy to F with it. "But tomorrow is dyno day".... "sorry."

take it across the street to profab, a nascar exhaust manifold company, and ask for guidance. They build a weld on the easy out, and then a nut to that, and work the easy out out. Sigh of relief. Then they use a mill to mill the same size hole, and then chase the final threads out with an tap. In and out in 30 minutes. $40 later, im on my way home. Once again, the car is hot as hell. I was able to crack most of the bolts, just not all of them, before quitting time, So i should be fairly quick tomorrow, and still make it to dyno day.

I snapped some pics, and there will be more to come.

[SSinstaller]

That thing looks VERY well made...

[phillyb]

that is a nice looking manifold man...
your troubles with it so far suck though. that must be frustrating

[phailerider]

um.... damn. sean, how do i say this? well.... can i have that?

[socks]

Originally Posted by SSinstaller That thing looks VERY well made...

I most definately agree.

Originally Posted by phillyb that is a nice looking manifold man... your troubles with it so far suck though. that must be frustrating

Very much so. I almost blew off my plans for tonight, but decided i couldnt.

Originally Posted by palerider um.... damn. sean, how do i say this? well.... can i have that?

No, thank you I thought you were going to dyno day?

[Haltech]

Very nice piece... im interested to see how that battleship gray paint holds up.

[redrocketz]

will that wastegate clear the hood and firewall with torque?

[superskaterxes]

lol gotta love exhaust pieces. how do u plan to tune for the EWG?

[socks]

Originally Posted by Haltech Very nice piece... im interested to see how that battleship gray paint holds up.

Its ceramic coating. Ive never had anything coated, so this will be my first experience with it. We shall see.

Originally Posted by redrocketz will that wastegate clear the hood and firewall with torque?

Should. There is plenty of clearance for the cobb FMIC pipe (mine is a little taller due to the turbo), and i dont forsee this sticking up near that far.

Originally Posted by superskaterxes lol gotta love exhaust pieces. how do u plan to tune for the EWG?

I have a CPE Standback v2.

[kingpin748]

You story made me laugh. I felt sorry for you but I still laughed. That piece looks fantastic, can't wait to see the results.

[booya620]

looks like a nice piece

[ATE BALLER]

<------jealous

[boosted3]

Originally Posted by palerider um.... damn. sean, how do i say this? well.... can i have that?

u want everything lol

[06Speed6]

Thats the 38mm WG right?

[Grim]

damn so hot.you better have some ewg videos.

[Buildabong]

..... it looks all weird.. un-equal.... doesn't look like it is all equal like the DNP and PG mani... it looks just like a spaceship.....

is it equal or just plain out like the stock crap...

[mdogg]

Originally Posted by Buildabong ..... it looks all weird.. un-equal.... doesn't look like it is all equal like the DNP and PG mani... it looks just like a spaceship..... is it equal or just plain out like the stock crap...

I wasn't even aware that the DNP or PG manifolds were equal length... actually, I'm pretty sure they aren't - that would be a "feature" that would typically be listed for a manifold I would think.

[Buildabong]

Yeah they are equal... And why in the hell wouldn't a tubular design not be equal length?

[Darksun280]

Originally Posted by Buildabong Yeah they are equal... And why in the hell wouldn't a tubular design not be equal length?

And again you show your lack of knowledge. The PG and DNP ARE NOT equal length.

[socks]

Note 2 to Mr Steed: The flange does not fit as is. The top 4 bolt holes to the head are smaller than the bottom 6, and this prevents the manifold from going on the studs.

I am working on drilling the top 4 holes out to the same size as the bottom 6. I did one, and it gave me alot more clearance, but just not quite enough.

Also, i will mention that in this process, i am able to push and pull my turbo on the downpipe where it needs to go. Now, it is bigger than stock so im not sure whether or not you will need to on the stock turbo, but remember that the stock turbo has a support bracket preventing you from moving it.

Note 3 to Mr Steed: the flange to the head needs some recesses cut out between the bolt holes, I have pictures comparing the stock to this to show you what I mean, but otherwise you have to take off the heat shield to the alternator to get it in. I think i will be able to put the heatshield back on once the manifold is in place.

[socks]

Originally Posted by Buildabong Yeah they are equal... And why in the hell wouldn't a tubular design not be equal length?

Do you know what equal length even means? If you did, you wouldnt have to ask because this CNC'd manifold is OBVIOUSLY not equal length.

[Buildabong]

ok then how are they not equal length then? And this mani in my opinion looks like shit. I rather stick to the tubular desgin

[Darksun280]

Originally Posted by Buildabong ok then how are they not equal length then? And this mani in my opinion looks like shit. I rather stick to the tubular desgin

Good thing your words don't amount to a pile of hot steaming crap. You OBVIOUSLY don't know how anything works hence the used GT35r turbo you bought that can't fit on your car and came off a blown motor 6. Bet you bought it cause it looked nice too. Form over function with you huh?

It looks like it works, therefore it MUST work.

[ElBartoRex]

so does an EL manifold exist for the MS3/6?

The darkstar looks damn close if it isn't--

[socks]

Bad news guys.

I think its back to the drawing board on this one.

I drilled the holes out on the top row, only 2, and it slid right on.

Unfortunately, the studs are too long and contact the runners of the manifold, and prevent the flange from mating to the head.

This doesnt mean I wont be putting this on today, i will probably cut down the studs and grind a slot in them so rather than be the star head on it i can get it off with a screwdriver. just for those two.

[Darksun280]

Originally Posted by ElBartoRex so does an EL manifold exist for the MS3/6? The darkstar looks damn close if it isn't--

Its supposed to be.

[steedspeed]

Glad you have the manifold.

Try to remember this is a a first try prototype eh! Sorry about the wastegate holes not being tapped and the undersize holes. Sometimes things get overlooked on prototypes.

I'd appreciate some pics to illustrate any issues with the manifold so i can address them on the production versions. It seems the bolt pattern is fine though. I had assumed you would be using studs and nuts to hold the manifold on too as they are much stronger than using bolts. Most of the Protege guys used ARP studs to mount their manifolds and they worked out well.

As far as the heat shield having to come off to fit the manifold, I do appologise for the inconvenience. I had sent a flange to Street Unit for test fit and they told me it was fine so I went ahead with that pattern. Please let me know where it needs clearance.

Cheers!

Leen

[redrocketz]

Originally Posted by ElBartoRex so does an EL manifold exist for the MS3/6? The darkstar looks damn close if it isn't--

don't you mean "Medieval" Manifold sold through Darkstar? yes i put quotes there

[socks]

Another stumbling block.

The wastegate will not fit on the manifold in the current orientation, It contacts the firewall.

I will compile all the issues i am finding, and have been taking pictures along the way.

Unfortunately, i thought i would be able to get this on today, but its going to have to come off due to the wastegate.

[redrocketz]

Originally Posted by Speed3shon Another stumbling block. The wastegate will not fit on the manifold in the current orientation, It contacts the firewall. I will compile all the issues i am finding, and have been taking pictures along the way. Unfortunately, i thought i would be able to get this on today, but its going to have to come off due to the wastegate.

I knew it the angle is off it needs to be more upright. what you could do is get a pipe fab'ed up to move the wastegate somewhere else.

[steedspeed]

Originally Posted by Speed3shon The wastegate will not fit on the manifold in the current orientation, It contacts the firewall. I will compile all the issues i am finding, and have been taking pictures along the way.

If you can give me an idea as to position I can make you an adapter to remote mount the wastegate. Perhaps a 90 degree pipe with 2 flanges to mate to the wastegate flange and the wastegate? That way the wastegate outlet can face straight down toward the downpipe.

[socks]

This is the wastegate. At this point it is resting on the firewall.

I will transfer the photos of the studs and flanges. I cut 2 of my studs down and notched them for a screwdriver.

Also, one of the turbo studs does not have enough clearance to get the nut on it. its the one towards the front of the car on the passanger side. the stud is about 1/4" from the manifold. You can also see that in this picture.

[socks]

This is the flange as is, I suggest on this, you cut a recess in the circled section to provide clearance for the alternator heatshield.

[bova]

maybe they had built it up on a speed6 which has more clearance room than a speed3?

[steedspeed]

What do you think of this? Let me know if you want to give it a go and I'll finish welding it and send it on Monday.

Cheers!

Leen

[bioevolve]

Now that looks sweet!

[socks]

I can try that, it wont put the wastegate dump too close to the mani to fit will it?

any faster shipping options than epedited through CApost?

[steedspeed]

Originally Posted by Speed3shon I can try that, it wont put the wastegate dump too close to the mani to fit will it? Any faster shipping options than epedited through CApost?

Here is the top view. I angled it so the dump pipe will be closer to the manifold. Should be easy enough to tie it all in. Let me know if you see any problem with this position.

I'll send it 6 days delivery if it will work for you.

[superskaterxes]

well better that we fix it now then production!!! great job guys. and great job speed3shon

[socks]

Originally Posted by steedspeed Here is the top view. I angled it so the dump pipe will be closer to the manifold. Should be easy enough to tie it all in. Let me know if you see any problem with this position. I'll send it 6 days delivery if it will work for you.

That looks like it will work! then the only thing for the manifold i have here will be figuring a way to get that nut on.