GMC Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) With my project in the final lap, I need to thik about buying an exhaust manifold. I know of 2 available........ SBD - Meant to be first class, but overly expensive for a road car that'll be on the road over the summer months only (£500 +) Ashley - Don't know much about them......heard of a few quality (fitting) issues but a more resonable price (£240) Or can the existing be adapted, ie, turn/adapt the outlet pipe at the bottom to face backwards? (I don't have one to see if it physically fits between the head & the inner wing) Is there anything else available or any comments on the above? What about at the bottom of the downpipe and connecting onto the rest of the system.................some 'cutting & shutting' required presumably? Cheers guys Edited August 30, 2011 by GMC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickappy Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 ive got the ashley one. mines bang on, just had to cut a little out of the back gearbox mount braket, then attach to existing with a flexy pipe. quite a bit off movement in engine so this stops the exhaust banging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biffy1984 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Mines also an Ashley, fitted no problem. I modified the original front wheel drive manifold on my old Manta when I fitted the xe. I cut up 2 manifolds to get enough bends for it to fit and look right. Certainly the cheaper option... Cheers Peter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
399Road Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 GMC, I bought one of those " Equal length Primary " Manifolds from SBD a few years ago for my Manta. It cost me £480 and there's no way it would fit the Manta. I think they have now amended the information on SBD's website to say that it won't fit the Manta without considerable modification to the car's shell and suspension. I think they still do a nice manifold that's the same shape an an Ashley and these fit ok. I'm sure I've written about this before on here somewhere and Retropower said that they had fitted these Manifolds before. SBD's manifolds are made by a company called BTB and are top quality, it's just a shame that the full race one won't fit a Manta. When I sent this manifold back, three days later, I had to pay a 20% handling charge on the manifold's price plus return carriage and this ended up costing me just over £100 to have rented a manifold for three days that wouldn't fit. My other car has an Ashley manifold for an Escort with the Red top in and needed slitting and rewelding at the two into one section as it was catching on the gearbox crossmember. These Escort Manifolds are about £160 from Rally and Competition Equipment in Stoke on Trent and come with a choice of 2 and a Quarter " pipe or 2 and a Half " pipe. .Luke. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Power Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 We make one in proper stainless, 316L throughout. It fits perfectly and doesn't rot away. We charge £450. They are all hand made (by me), TIG welded throughout, tubular merge collectors not pressed junk. An otherwise completely standard XE, running standard fuel injection, inlet manifold etc etc, fitted into a kadett c that we converted last year has proven 166hp on dyno so results proven unlike others!! The ashley one, not wishing to be rude, is junk (you get what you pay for to some extent!) The SBD/BTB one that actually fits (and I don't think BTB actually make it for them any more, its not listed by anybody anymore) works well, but would expect stainless at the price! The manta/ascona version: And the Kadett version, which is more compact, but with same pipe diameters: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
399Road Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 We make one in proper stainless, 316L throughout. It fits perfectly and doesn't rot away. We charge £450. They are all hand made (by me), TIG welded throughout, tubular merge collectors not pressed junk. An otherwise completely standard XE, running standard fuel injection, inlet manifold etc etc, fitted into a kadett c that we converted last year has proven 166hp on dyno so results proven unlike others!! The ashley one, not wishing to be rude, is junk (you get what you pay for to some extent!) The SBD/BTB one that actually fits (and I don't think BTB actually make it for them any more, its not listed by anybody anymore) works well, but would expect stainless at the price! The manta/ascona version: And the Kadett version, which is more compact, but with same pipe diameters: Looks like a bargain to me, and 15 hp gain on a standard engine sounds good too. I reckon you'll sell loads of these....... Luke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Power Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 And a kadett one not yet fitted (see the collectors in this pic) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robah Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I got one of Retropowers exhaust manifolds for my XE conversion. I haven't opened the packaging yet as I haven't fitted the engine yet. Just looking at the pictures (above) and there other work they carried out I am 100% satisfied it's top notch Just need to think about the rest of the exhaust......Thinking of a Peco SS from deamon tweeks. I used to have a Peco HDR on my old SRB I loved the sound and power increase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Power Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 can do a 2.5" stainless system, including top quality simons stainless boxes, for £300 fitted, as long as our suppliers haven't put prices up! Would need the car though, its sooooo tight near rear axle that we really need to do it on the car PS here's the dyno proof lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverwd Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 i fitted an ashley manifold .. no issues fitted straight in , doesn't bang off gearbox or floor .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Power Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Yea Ashley fits fine on a manta, nothing wrong with them in terms of fit. For 160 quid you can't go wrong, but I would never fit one again to a customers car put it that way...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantamarky Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 i have a sneaky 'CHEAP' option for a nice fully stainless manifold, currently undergoing into my xe it involves a Mazda Mx5 1.8 Stainless manifold and some cutting of the original xe manifold then milling it flat, tig into place check fitment and bobs your uncal, i got a 'New' stainless manifold from ebay for under £100 and own my own machine shop so thats not an issue, the fit is like factory all the ports are exactly the same, and if your handy with a welder or know someone who is this will look the dogs... my orignal manifold was the the xe modded very poorly/plated and cracked on the snot welds causing quite annoyace, soo il get some pics up soon see what you guys think but im all for one off customs so for this mod has cost me about 100quid and a few hours in the machine shop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opelmantagsi Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 (edited) I want a retropower one, hope they will ship it to me in New Zealand... looking at the pics they are a work of art. would not be happy spending the time and money to end up with a shonky set of headers, the above looks outstanding Edited November 29, 2011 by opelmantagsi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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