DIY manifold?
Turbo Mini Forums

Right so I have seen the mirage manifold on the site... and it looks very nice, but I haven't seen a standard metro item so I'm not sure on what the differences are.
Now I am not exactly rolling in cash at the moment, but my current 1275 engine in my GT is getting a bit tired (prolly due to my heavy right foot.. oops sorry alex!) and is smoking more than a student in holland.
So really I want the cheapest option here... ie can you make your own manifold that would do the same job out of like exhaust tubing or something, or a cut up metro item.
I really don't want to cut a hole in the bulkhead as its an old N reg clubman, and I like the fact that it looks pretty standard, other than the wood and pickett arches and the chromed up grill.
any ideas
thanks
-J

The mirage manifold is for a T2 turbo, not the T3 that comes with the Metro engine.

You can modify the metro manifold to accept a T2, by making an adapter plate.
I think someone on here has lengthened their top engine mounts, to tilt the engine, and fitted a T2 without cutting the bulkhead.
But this will alter the drive shaft angle which the CV's might not like.

You can of course weld your own manifold, but if you need to ask the question how to do it, then its probably beyond your scope. It ain't an easy job.

The mirage manifold is quite good value, and definatly the way to go if you want to avoid cutting the bulkhead. I bet no one on here offers to make you one for a cheaper price!

Edited by Gibbo on 1st Jun, 2004.

Gibbo answered it well.
Mirage sounds like a lot of money, but it is a 1st time fit, no bulkhead cutting, fully sorted solution with a lifetime guarantee against cracking or failure.
Metro manifold will never fail either, but needs a fair bit of work on the adaptor plate & downpipe to achieve a good solution for fitting the T2.

the mirage manifold is a bargain.. try lookin gat the prices for an aftermarket turbo manifold for any other car under the sun! were jsut used to silly cheap stuff in teh world of minis :) (which aint a bad thing)

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

so no-one is likely to sell one to me for a ?10 then? heheh
It was just the thought that I know a good few people who do that kinda thing for a living and have contacts and that.. and if it was a realtively simple case of offering up the turbo and going.. pipe here, here, and here, joined like that.
If you see what I mean!
-J

wel if you know the people, go buy a T2, take your mini to them, hold the T2 in place and say i want a manifold that will hold the turbo here :)

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

Yep, Take them a head, a T2, and maybe a block and an existing manifold and get them to make one for you...

Simple

and they will only want about 500 quid to do it for you too!

alex

AlexF

bargain :)

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

All joking aside, if you do get one made, make it out of (at least) 2.5mm wall thickness material, ideally 3.5mm...

It will be heavy, but won't suffer cracking as badly as a thinwall item!

Crack on!

as an aside, would metal gas main pipe of this thickness be adiquate?

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

Sorry, not a Gas fitter. Wouldn't know!