Actuator movement *edit* Subject change: Mirage downpipe fitment.
Turbo Mini Forums

Just bolted up my mirage manifolds on my engine and realized that when i move my actuator swinging thing (lol whats it called, Wastegate arm?), Well i realized that it hits the Wall of the Downpipe when its about 3/4 of the way open.
Does the actuator move that much. Or has anyone else had this problem? or am i being silly?
Cheers.

Edited by Shaun87 on 4th Apr, 2008.

Hi,
No you'll be ok it won't ever get that far :)
Cheers,
Gavin :)

VEMs Authorised Installer / Re-seller. K head kits now available!

WB/EGT gauges. Click here for customers write-up

Visit www.doyouneedabrain.co.uk

My Mini build diary

Nice one, Cheers Bat.

Just a bit of advise, if you fitting you manifolds with the engine out f the car, do a dry fit of the down pipe, I say this as mine fouls the pot joint ans is a pita to try and rectify in situ (just found this out, lol)
Cheers
Shane

Hey Shane, i have the same problem, Can i ask what you did to solve this?
Cheers,
Shaun.

Yes I would like to know too, plus is there any hard and fast rules about how you fab an actuator bracket?

I fashioned a bracket off the diff housing to hold the exhaust off the pot joint.

Will get a pic next time in garage,

As for actuator mounts, just make sure it is strong enough that it cannot move.

OK thanks. I found another one of Nics handy guides aswell!

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=5742

My downpipe wont even go on, i tried putting it on with the exhaust flange loose on just 2 studs but then the rest of the holes are too far out to put the studs back in :(

I personally find the fit of the Mirage manifolds poor. They look good, are very well made, but they don't fit.

The angle of the elbow is out, only by a few mm, but they are all the same.

The only way to fit them is to fit it all up with it touching the driveshaft, then using a bracket on the gearbox, pull the downpipe off the driveshaft and tighten it in place.

You also need to only insert the downpipe into the elbow so that the cutouts are just covered.

Modifications should not be neede on on a relatively expensive bit of kit IMO.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

Yer i must agree, i was expecting it to all fit without any problems. I will give it ago with the bracket Idea but i dont think its gonna be enough.

Would a slight dent in the downpipe affect the flow massively ?

haha, if all else fails get the persuader out

has anyone made rich aware of the poor fit?

There must be a jigging problem or similar with the down pipe/outlet

Mines a tight fit but its easy when you know how (but mine is an early version than most)

I have emailed Richard about my situations

I hope your sitting comfortably coz this is gonna get compicated!
There needs to be a larger "wedge" in one of the sections in the down pipe to bring the section away from the driveshaft, I cut along one of the welds on the lower section to make things easier, I then realised I had no point to work to as I havent got my exhaust yet, so here comes the tricky bit, I got in an absolute bunt coz (and still am) waiting for the poxy thing to turn up, so I thru the thing in the coner and I fuc*ed off to the pub and sulked, unless you have a lot of patients (somthing im a little short on at the moment) I would just skip the pita, and resort to good ole plan B, the pub.
Im sorry I cant offer anymore advise but this is as far as I have got due to so callled "premier" dealers fookeing me around, but as soon as I get it and a result, ill let you know.

Re actuators, I mounted mine off the turbow elbow, and used the R5gt std item (modified) but depending on what actuator ect you may use will have an affect on where you can mount it, if you need any pics of mine, let me know, I think I still have the templates for measurements.
Shane

Edited by shane on 4th Apr, 2008.

Yep i have had about enough for today. i don't want to have to resort to cutting it up and re-welding it though.

My exhaust "should" be here mid week so gonna get on with it as soon as it arrives.
Heres the pics of my actuator bracket Jay, if its any help or insperation.
Shane.

When i removed mine, the pot joint had rubbed a hole in my downpipe! only small, but its a poor design fault!

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

Thanks Shane, although I suspect mine won't end up as snazzy!

Hi guys,

I am aware that some of you have had trouble getting a decent fit, i'm really sorry about that.

Yes they do need a bit of fidling to fit. They most certainly need a sturdy bracket coming of the diff casing. see Turbo Nics write up on fitting, on this site. You should be able to get them to fit with little pressure against the pot joint and the bracket tweaks it to clear.

I've already made a change to try and help this by making the turbine elbow longer to help put the downpipe in better position and seal better. I'll be making a change to the downpipe as well shortly to sort this out once and for all.

Those of you having trouble, i'll try and help the best i can. I can tig a patch on if you get a hole etc, just let me know and send it to me and i'll sort it. FOC of course.

Its not snazzy by any means fella but it works.

I think one thing that needs to be remembered is that there are many variables involved with different cars and setups, and its a bloody tight fit to get a 2 " pipe downt the back of the engine.

I think the mirage setup is a great bit of kit, and mine only took a tweak and a bracket to get it on.

Plus Rich is a very helpful guy and is always forthcoming with advice (see above)