obx tubular manifold - Page 4

VelocitàPaola · 08-01-2007, 07:41 PM

It's not that simple... I'm sure that ram-horn design probably flows better than 99.5% of any other manifold currently out there. My main concern would be for longevity. I, like many others, have no problem with modifying my thermostat housing for some amazingly well-performing manifold -- I mean, modification, isn't that what this is all about? I just don't want to do lots of work for a manifold that'll probably crack because the manufacturer used a crappy alloy, thin walls, and an all around poor structural design.

Most of you are only looking at a single facet that makes up a manifold -- there are many features that must be taken into a account when buying a good manifold.

Slippi84 · 08-01-2007, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VelocitàPaola

It's not that simple... I'm sure that ram-horn design probably flows better than 99.5% of any other manifold currently out there. My main concern would be for longevity. I, like many others, have no problem with modifying my thermostat housing for some amazingly well-performing manifold -- I mean, modification, isn't that what this is all about? I just don't want to do lots of work for a manifold that'll probably crack because the manufacturer used a crappy alloy, thin walls, and an all around poor structural design.

Most of you are only looking at a single facet that makes up a manifold -- there are many features that must be taken into a account when buying a good manifold.

So true paul but I liek I said in my earlier post I don't see a 420a at 250whp or less running maybe max 10psi pushing the obx to the limit as I ran a XS power mani with a 50 trim(yes I know trim is not a size but think fp green) at 20psi dd and it held up just fine.

InfiniteGSX · 08-02-2007, 12:24 AM

I agree with Paul... you spend X amount of time working on getting it to all fit properly with whatever modifications you have/want to do to your engine... Sure you might have a great setup for a few weeks, few months, hell maybe a year... but seriously, a cheap steel manifold, how long is it going to hold up... only one way to find out... but I speak for myself now, I'm poor and I'd rather not spend the couple hundred on this manifold, it break in however amount of time it takes, and I'm left with a few peices of metal that I can't really use... Repairing it will just become a hassle...

VelocitàPaola · 08-02-2007, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slippi84

So true paul but I liek I said in my earlier post I don't see a 420a at 250whp or less running maybe max 10psi pushing the obx to the limit as I ran a XS power mani with a 50 trim(yes I know trim is not a size but think fp green) at 20psi dd and it held up just fine.

Exhaust gas pressure does play a role, but more importantly, the countless heat cycles coupled with a cheap alloy and thin walls is what concerns me. I'm sure the XS manifold did hole up fine, but for how long? Six months? A year? I bet it wouldn't last much longer than three years, if it even made it that far.

The types of failures I see happening with the OBX manifold won't happen overnight; they'll take a while to develop. If you want to buy a new manifold every year, then go for it; but I always try to look for a solution as permanent as possible.

Slippi84 · 08-02-2007, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VelocitàPaola

Exhaust gas pressure does play a role, but more importantly, the countless heat cycles coupled with a cheap alloy and thin walls is what concerns me. I'm sure the XS manifold did hole up fine, but for how long? Six months? A year? I bet it wouldn't last much longer than three years, if it even made it that far.

The types of failures I see happening with the OBX manifold won't happen overnight; they'll take a while to develop. If you want to buy a new manifold every year, then go for it; but I always try to look for a solution as permanent as possible.

Your right. The thing people don't understand is diffrent people have diffrent ideas of what's worth it and what they can afford. I have a descent amount of "fun income" so for me a manifold that last a year and makes my car drive perform like I want it to(that's assuming it kicks at a year as my xs held up longer than that) it's worth it to me. I don't usualy keep my setup the same for a year anyway I'm constatntly changing shit anyway. Diffrent strokes

Blitzeclips · 08-02-2007, 12:18 PM

So you stitch weld around the seams of the runners and flange then get it ceramic coated. It'll prolong the damage from heat cycles and create a stronger piece.

VelocitàPaola · 08-02-2007, 12:59 PM

Why bother? At that point you're putting more money into a crap manifold than it'd take to buy a good one. Plus, with those thin walls, it'll probably end up cracking along the runners if the welds are reinforced.

Blitzeclips · 08-02-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VelocitàPaola

Why bother? At that point you're putting more money into a crap manifold than it'd take to buy a good one.

If you were going to ceramic coat the manifold anyways, it wouldn't be a waste of money. In fact, it would actually improve performance, durability and reliability.

A couple spot welds would improve strength pretty well, though.

totaleclipse_05 · 08-02-2007, 04:02 PM

If you are going to put all that work into trying to a cheap manifold to work, might as well fab up your own. I don't see why this is still being discussed. For the type of material it uses, the R&D (if any), and the price, it is not worth it.

Paul, please speed up this project of yours so we can finally have something to show of quality to these people.

Blitzeclips · 08-02-2007, 04:23 PM

Heh. OK. I know what a quality piece is. Trust me.

But no one has even tested this manifold enough for ANYONE, I meen ANYONE on here to say it's a piece of shit. Right now, every single one of you whom say that are stating an OPINION. It doesn't fit, big deal. Make it fit. The general purpose for buying this part is to increase performance, not buying something that must, HAVE TO, NEED to fit perfectly. If it increases performance, who cares if you need to make it fit?

Until someone puts it on to flow chart, heat cycles and material tests, no one will know. Period. It could be the best flowing manifold in the world for all we know.

All I'm saying is, none of us know for sure. If you need to improvise then so be it, you'll still see the same performance then before you modified it.

Seems like everyone knocked it from the get-go because you needed to trim a piece from the T-stat housing and dismissed any potential it may have had you put some elbow grease into it and making it fit and actually testing the manifold for true results.

VelocitàPaola · 08-02-2007, 04:34 PM

Just because we haven't personally tested it doesn't mean what we say is opinion... I did my research and found that others experienced these problems with this (or a very similar) manifold. If someone had put it on a flow bench, and did heat and stress based failure analysis OR put in enough time to make sure the thing fits right to begin with, all this controversy wouldn't exist.

VelocitàPaola · 08-02-2007, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by totaleclipse_05

Paul, please speed up this project of yours so we can finally have something to show of quality to these people.

I've done my part... they're off being manufactured now.

InfiniteGSX · 08-03-2007, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VelocitàPaola

I've done my part... they're off being manufactured now.

Do you have any updates? pictures, word?

NeMiZiS · 10-09-2007, 07:24 PM

i didn't know where to post this... So is this correct?.. i'm thinkin its BS

This auction is for a 420A OBX Stainless Steel Turbo Manifold. I bought this for my 96 Non-turbo Talon, but the bolt pattern is upside down. I am assuming the this particular manifold is actually for Stratus, Cirrus, Avenger, or Neon NOT Talons or Eclipses. It looks like a very nice piece, and would compliment any engine bay. I payed over $300

NATAS · 10-09-2007, 07:39 PM

I'm not following the question. So the bolt pattern was upside down but you bought it anyway? Are you trying to see how you can make it fit? Make your questions more clear if you want to get an answer or at least clarify what you're trying to say. I'll check back and hopefully my slow ass can understand the question and I'll help as best I can. Later man.

Shadow98 · 10-09-2007, 08:14 PM

The 2.0L Stratus and Avenger heads heads are the same as ours... If you wanted an OBX manifold, you should just looked in the classifieds on here and 2gnt.com You could have saved a lot of money for a manifold that has bad rep in our community.

cc8balla · 10-09-2007, 09:14 PM

Post the link to the auction, or give us a pic and we'll be able to help you better. Also, the classifieds on 2gnt or here, would have definetly been better than egay.

**Edited for misinformation.

totaleclipse_05 · 10-09-2007, 09:17 PM

I think the seller is a dumba**.

Nonetheless, don't waste your money on one of those things.

NeMiZiS · 10-10-2007, 09:42 AM

My bad y'all, i was just wondering if that statement was bs or not?...
i didn't buy the thing i was just looking, and what the ebay seller wrote just didn't seem right!

Locke · 10-10-2007, 10:01 AM

It wouldn't surprise me if a flange came welded on upside down from OBX. Can we get a link to the eBay ad, or a pic at least, to see if it looks correct?