Whoa, wait a sec... they have two differnet ones? One is 321 ss and one is 304 sus...
Which one is better? 321 or 304?
Which one is better? 321 or 304?
SSautochrome manifold- worth it?
- Thread starter Reign_Maker
- Start date
Adjuster
Supramania Contributor
I love the lots of money and time comment.
First, my time for me is free.
Second, I have the thermal coating I'm going to use already. (Leftover from the engine(s) that I've done in the past years.)
Third, I have the MIG, and only need to buy the wire.
Same with the die grinders and bits. I have them already. Same goes for the sand blasting cabinet etc... Yada yada...
The biggest thing about this, and the one item that trumps them all, is that I enjoy welding, modding and porting mechanical parts. So it's really not a waste of my time, or my money, but more like fufillment of a hobby.
Besides, you can't even buy the flanges and pipe as cheap as you can buy the completed manifold. (Priced 321 stainless lately? Not very cheap, and you have to cut every piece, and fit, and weld it all up etc. Mod work is much less time consuming if the basic foundation is somewhat correct.) These have been bashed, and applauded, but the basic truth is they work, and work well. Especially for the money spent.
First, my time for me is free.
Second, I have the thermal coating I'm going to use already. (Leftover from the engine(s) that I've done in the past years.)
Third, I have the MIG, and only need to buy the wire.
Same with the die grinders and bits. I have them already. Same goes for the sand blasting cabinet etc... Yada yada...
The biggest thing about this, and the one item that trumps them all, is that I enjoy welding, modding and porting mechanical parts. So it's really not a waste of my time, or my money, but more like fufillment of a hobby.
Besides, you can't even buy the flanges and pipe as cheap as you can buy the completed manifold. (Priced 321 stainless lately? Not very cheap, and you have to cut every piece, and fit, and weld it all up etc. Mod work is much less time consuming if the basic foundation is somewhat correct.) These have been bashed, and applauded, but the basic truth is they work, and work well. Especially for the money spent.
Don't weld the stainless with mig please.
It will look like you had a metal shit'n chicken running around your engine bay.
It will look like you had a metal shit'n chicken running around your engine bay.
Adjuster
Supramania Contributor
Ok, I'll bite.
Why would welding with a MIG, using Stainless wire of the right type for 321 material, right heat and feed rates, cause it to shit metal everywhere?
Keep in mind, I've welded stainless metal onto many other types of steels. (Mostly for hardfacing rollers and other production equipment, but always found stainless to have been the least difficult metal to work with.) Also TIG welded stainless to stainless on processing equipment/rollers and other stuff where we could not have any rust or corrosion, and could not use paint to prevent it. (Or the paint would be removed by the heat or material being transported.)
I would TIG weld it, but I don't own one. I do own a nice MIG however. (I have access to a very nice squarewave TIG, but did not plan on using it to resolve the Ebay Manifold's problems.
I can't imagine welding on this stainless would be worse than welding on cast iron. (Done that a few times, and it's splatter city for sure, but I got the welds to hold up by controlling the heat into and out of the part. Too fast for either and it cracks.)
Why would welding with a MIG, using Stainless wire of the right type for 321 material, right heat and feed rates, cause it to shit metal everywhere?
Keep in mind, I've welded stainless metal onto many other types of steels. (Mostly for hardfacing rollers and other production equipment, but always found stainless to have been the least difficult metal to work with.) Also TIG welded stainless to stainless on processing equipment/rollers and other stuff where we could not have any rust or corrosion, and could not use paint to prevent it. (Or the paint would be removed by the heat or material being transported.)
I would TIG weld it, but I don't own one. I do own a nice MIG however. (I have access to a very nice squarewave TIG, but did not plan on using it to resolve the Ebay Manifold's problems.
I can't imagine welding on this stainless would be worse than welding on cast iron. (Done that a few times, and it's splatter city for sure, but I got the welds to hold up by controlling the heat into and out of the part. Too fast for either and it cracks.)
I'm with Adjuster on this I can't buy the materials for this price let alone factor in the hours spent fabricating one!
Mine arrived today and first impression was "Damn this is heavy"!
Quality is about what I expected.
Also came with a Waste Gate that I didn't expect/need.
Mine arrived today and first impression was "Damn this is heavy"!
Quality is about what I expected.
Also came with a Waste Gate that I didn't expect/need.
Adjuster
Supramania Contributor
IJ, is that the 50mm HKS copy they are selling on Ebay? If so, how is the quality, and are you willing to let someone try it who's running an external setup to see if they work fine or not?
The prices of these parts are basicly cost and a few pennies at most. Labor must be free where they are producing them. (China, and they must be sourcing the material from scrap metal, but that's fine if it works.)
The prices of these parts are basicly cost and a few pennies at most. Labor must be free where they are producing them. (China, and they must be sourcing the material from scrap metal, but that's fine if it works.)
i have one of the 50mm knockoff wastegates. seems fine except mine was missing the plate that goes on top of the spring so the boost can be adjusted. i just made one. i havent used it yet so cant say for sure how itll hold up. only thing i can see going wrong is if they cheaped out on the diaphram, but if they did, an hks replacement diaphram doesnt cost much and will work. though i dont think this one will be a prob though.
william
william
WOW, IJ, they just sent you a wastegate? How much did you pay for yours? *pm me if you dont wanna say here* That's just wierd that they would just send you a w/g for free...
Im too FAT to come get yours... *grabs the spare tire* LOL!!!
I told you I was in Pcola makin money to buy this stuff... I'll be over there this week... I'll call you...
I told you I was in Pcola makin money to buy this stuff... I'll be over there this week... I'll call you...
I just put a copy wastegate on a customer car, works fine daily driven @ 12 psi. I took it apart and compared to an HKS apart and it was all designed the same way.
Note that the HKS has a nipple at the top, not an adjuster screw. My copy did not come with any nipples.
Note that the HKS has a nipple at the top, not an adjuster screw. My copy did not come with any nipples.
I am using one of the manifolds...It has held up fine. No cracking, not much discolouration.
I had to relocate my oil filter mount.
I had to make a spacer to fit the turbo.
Downpipe was a pain to make, need a VERY tight radius bend.
Intake pipe was a pain to make (4" dia.) Not going to fit unless you relocate power steering resevoir, or ditch p/s all together.
I had no problem using a MIG to weld two support brackets to the manifold.
It was definetely worth the money.
I am using one of there wastegates as well (needed to make a spacer for that as well). It's working fine.
I had to relocate my oil filter mount.
I had to make a spacer to fit the turbo.
Downpipe was a pain to make, need a VERY tight radius bend.
Intake pipe was a pain to make (4" dia.) Not going to fit unless you relocate power steering resevoir, or ditch p/s all together.
I had no problem using a MIG to weld two support brackets to the manifold.
It was definetely worth the money.
I am using one of there wastegates as well (needed to make a spacer for that as well). It's working fine.
Blackout, I've all ready moved my PS reservoir... Got the 4" inlet as well... I've never seen a 4" inlet turbo that still had their ps res in the stock location...
BTW Blackout, how long have you had yours? Is it one of the older ones?
Why would you need a spacer for the w/g?
BTW Blackout, how long have you had yours? Is it one of the older ones?
Why would you need a spacer for the w/g?
