Exhaust Manifold Touching Head

[tsiawd90]

Is it going to cause a problem if the exhaust manifold is in contact with the head? I got this manifold with the car so I do not have all the details about where it came from.

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[llxkevinxll]

Is it going to cause a problem if the exhaust manifold is in contact with the head? I got this manifold with the car so I do not have all the details about where it came from.

My concern would be the different materials, being heated differently, and thus expanding differently. This could cause them to rub through heating and cooling cycles. I'd probably try a different head to exhaust manifold gasket. What kind of gasket do you have now? The 4 layer metal gasket from extreme psi might be thick enough to space it depending on how hard it's hitting.

 

[tsiawd90]

It is an OEM gasket now. It just touches the head. Let me look at the extreme psi option. A little added space should fix.

 

[tsiawd90]

Do you have a link for the extreme psi gasket? I am trying to find it on their website.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

https://www.extremepsi.com/store/OEM-Exhaust-Manifold-Gasket-4-Ply-Mitsubishi-Eclipse-90-99.html
You could dimple that tube slightly also, to clear. I would worry about caking oil inside the head at that spot due to high exhaust temps. Something to think on.

 

[ThunderChild]

Agree ^^

Dimple the tube a bit to ckear and it'll be fine. FWIW, that looks like an eBay manifold to me, so I wouldn't put alot of faith in it as-is.

 

[llxkevinxll]

That's the one. Now, we are talking about adding fractions of a fraction of an inch. If that manifold is buried into the head, something else may need to be done. But the thicker gasket is worth a try I'd say.

 

[AWD-Tony]

+1 thicker metal gasket first and if it still touches, dimple it. Make sure that manifold is flat on both surfaces.

 

[AWD-Tony]

Will those bolts hold the manifold, or should he get studs?

 

[ThunderChild]

Will those bolts hold the manifold, or should he get studs?

Good catch, I'd personally swap to studs, but bolts should work as long as they're the right size. Just have to be more conscientious of how tight they are so you don't strip the head.

 

[AWD-Tony]

Good catch, I'd personally swap to studs, but bolts should work as long as they're the right size. Just have to be more conscientious of how tight they are so you don't strip the head.

That would be a nightmare for me! Think there are some studs on the top row though.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Chinese Stainless.....boy what a biotch to try and make the surfaces perfectly flat. Some get lucky and they are good and others, like my "doorstop", you can never get to quit leaking at the head....from my experiences with them. They do work, but make a tune a bit goofy if they leak, and mine did. Machinist couldn't get it to surface good either, we tried.
Run it and look for exhaust soot on the VC, sure sign of some gases getting out. Crossing fingers that you have none, though.

 

[Vegas Smith]

Get yourself a stud kit and trash that manifold. I hate those things. Every POS parted-out 2g on craigslist has one of those manifolds because they're cheap as hell.

 

[tsiawd90]

Those bolts were the ones that came on the car. I'll order the stud kit now.
I'm also taking that manifold off, I don't want to have to worry about it.
I have an Evo exhaust manifold that I will install instead.

 

[tsiawd90]

Is this a good set for the studs?

http://www.forcedperformance.net/exhaust-manifold-stud-nut-kit.html

 

[AWD-Tony]

Not sure if the evo manifold require bigger studs on the ends. That’s the only difference. If the end bolts are bigger, you’ll want a set for 7 bolt.

 

[AWD-Tony]

Take the nut off the stud and see if it screws onto the other bolts in case PO changed them out.

Thread pitch are
1g all are 8x1.25
2g 7 middle are 8x1.25 and 2 end ones are 10x1.25

You’ll have to check your head and the evo manifold if that makes sense

 

[90TSiAWD_FPGreen]

Is it going to cause a problem if the exhaust manifold is in contact with the head? I got this manifold with the car so I do not have all the details about where it came from.

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Have you considered a spacer, such as those from STM or other companies sponsored here?

 

[tsiawd90]

Have you considered a spacer, such as those from STM or other companies sponsored here?

I just took it off after hearing that others had problems with this same manifold. The other one bolted up nicely.

I do plan to add new studs later but I really just want to get this car together at this point. I will probably do these after I get it running. If it leaks I will be coming back to it sooner rather than later. I'm really pushing to just get it running and inspected so I can get my tags and sticker. This whole project has been way more than I expected.

The motor is in the car now. Just have to tie up a few ends and it should be ready to fire up.