An exhaust manifold is made from cast iron, which means it can withstand high heat and pressure from exhaust gases. The only concern with cast iron is that over time it is prone to cracking. The introduction of an aftermarket manifold delivers on increased strength, durability and performance.
What are the benefits of an aftermarket exhaust manifold?
Boost response and power output can be significantly improved on turbocharged applications using a well-designed manifold, gaskets, downpipe and exhaust package upgrade.
On naturally aspirated applications, a well-designed cat-back system will improve exhaust flow without killing the velocity. There is great potential to increase the performance with the right strategy. Read on to find out more about the benefits, pros and fitting guide to your new installation.
How do they work?
In the automotive industry, a manifold (also known as an intake manifold) is an engine built to supply a mixture of fuel and air and then carry it to the cylinders.
A performance manifold consists of a series of runners or pipes used to collect gases from the exhaust, which can then be guided into a merge collector (designed to allow gasses to be maintained at the greatest possible velocity).
An exhaust flange – which is a piece of metal that bolts directly to the engine of your vehicle and allows for custom headers to be fabricated – is required to successfully fit your header through a process of welding or casting. Check out how to install yours below.
Installation tips for exhaust manifolds
You can install a turbocharger if you have decided to kick up the horsepower up a notch. While you can achieve significantly more horsepower using a kit, there are several steps and considerations for your installation.
- Elevate the front of the car using a hydraulic jack or a scissor jack.
- Drain the engine's motor oil and replace the oil drain plug.
- Remove the front bumper and install a changer air cooler or intercooler.
- Remove the header, attach to the turbocharger, then connect to the exhaust system.
- Once the header is placed properly, make a tap in the car’s oil filter line. Connect this tap to the turbocharger’s oil feed line and connect the turbocharger’s oil return line to the engine oil pan. You may need to fabricate an oil tap if your car does not have one in the engine.
- Now attach the rubber hoses and metal pipes to the compressed air outlet, and connect the set of pipes and hoses to one side of the intercooler.
- Locate the engine’s air intake and remove filters or tubes. You may need a turbo hat if your car has a carburettor.
- On the other side of the intercooler, attach the remaining hoses and pipes, and connect them to the engine’s air intake system.
- Ensure all bolts and oil taps are secure before moving forward.
- Fill up the car with new oil and remove the jack stands. All done and ready to go!
Remember – some aspects to consider are the amount of boost your engine can handle, amount of torque that can be handled by axles, and modifications to your fuel intake system.
Reach out to Pro Speed Racing today for further advice and recommendations.
