i bought one of those meng/trr/sparks/etc/etc manifold and was reading that you need to brace them so they wont crack but no one say how. just wondering how do you brace these manifolds?

thanks
les

 

from what I've seen, the manifold is braced from the bottom of the flange (where it bolts to the head) and they weld a few bars from there to the flange where the turbo hangs from.

 

The breakage of the manifold occurs on the top of the runners near the flange. It'd would be wise to brace at the flange, and also to brace the other runners. Another good idea is to cut expansion slots in the flange to make sure that it has enough room to "breath". Check out the maxrev or full race manifolds to see the expansion slots.

 

Anyone ever thought about bracing the turbo itself ( like Hytech) to keep the weight strain down to a minimum?

 

That's really the way it needs to be done. Bracing the manifold is easier because you don't have to do it while it's on the car, but supporting the turbo from the bottom with a brace coming off the block is the better way to go.

 

i would rather do it like this but is there a way you can show me pics please, i cant picture the actual brace.

thanks
les

 

actually is there a way someone can show me pics on the brace for the manifold too please. thanks for the help!

les

 

that is really the only acceptable way to do it. If you brace the head flange to the turbine flange, the braces will crack at the welds as the manifold is trying to pull the metals in two different directions. bracing the turbo to the block at a place like the a/c bolt holes is the best.

 

sorry for being a noob but i really need to see pics of this brace for the turbo.

 

You can see the brace in the pic right above the turbo. The triangle looking thing connected to the bell housing. This isnt the same manifold, obviously, but you get the idea.



its connected to the turbo's compressor housing.


[Modified by AVATAR, 3:53 AM 3/3/2003]

 

SICK !!!!! thanks man thats all i needed to see. ill find some way to make a brace. so this will keep the weight of the turbo off the manifold right?


[Modified by W.ZeroB18C1T, 10:08 PM 3/2/2003]

 

is that brace just keeping the turbo still between shifts?

 

hmmm, interesting
i was picturing this frame that extended off teh blcok that would support the turbo and provide as many clearance issues as possible
but that works too