Top Mounted Manifold Love (4g64 Starion Swap)

[AshyBone]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to find a decent top mount exhaust manifold that won't kill my budget. I'm not going for pure power and performance. The only one I've been able to find so far is JM Fab exhaust manifold. I originally saw it on DSMparts and almost ordered it. But I had a question about the wastegate. I ended up talking to a "sales rep" and lets just say I had 0 confidence in my purchase from them. I just now found the same exhaust manifold on STM, but it's for 400 dollars more. I'm a little confused, and honestly just wondering if there are any other options for a top mount t3 (I'm bolting a HX35 to it) exhaust manifold out there.

 

[mitsubishikid]

if you have a friend that is a competent welder, or know someone who can weld that is local to you, they would be able to make it for you custom, and likely cheaper too, you would simply order flanges for your turbo, wastegate and your cylinder head, get some tubes in the right diameter and your set.

 

[OH91awd]

@MorrisonFab can make you a really nice manifold that will fit

 

[ShadyDoins]

I can't remember ever seeing any complaints about jmf build quality. I would just assume the sales rep was a nobody, it's covid times man. Who knows what the staff situation is over there. What was your wastegate question?

 

[JusMX141]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to find a decent top mount exhaust manifold that won't kill my budget. I'm not going for pure power and performance. The only one I've been able to find so far is JM Fab exhaust manifold. I originally saw it on DSMparts and almost ordered it. But I had a question about the wastegate. I ended up talking to a "sales rep" and lets just say I had 0 confidence in my purchase from them. I just now found the same exhaust manifold on STM, but it's for 400 dollars more. I'm a little confused, and honestly just wondering if there are any other options for a top mount t3 (I'm bolting a HX35 to it) exhaust manifold out there.

Any top mount manifold will be custom-fabricated and is usually built per-spec for each individual application. I'm not sure what your budget is but considering the hours involved in doing something like this (usually 30+) and the materials, you're probably not going to find a new one for less than $1200 anywhere...and if you do, I'd be suspect that corners may be cut and it's not going to last.

Many sites like DSMparts can be out of touch with current pricing or offerings on certain items as they're just a middleman...so when the order gets placed and they find the price went up since the last time someone ordered the same item, the order will likely get canceled and/or refunded. I highly doubt there's as much as a $400 swing on the same custom-fabricated item between vendors like that.

 

[delta448]

Archer fab also offers a top mount T3.

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I'd probably have a hard time choosing between ordering their OTS part or calling Matt Morrison if it were me. Matt's may cost a little more but would use better material and he'd probably guarantee fitment, whereas Archer's may have interference especially if you use a 7 bolt 4G64.

 

[AshyBone]

I can't remember ever seeing any complaints about jmf build quality. I would just assume the sales rep was a nobody, it's covid times man. Who knows what the staff situation is over there. What was your wastegate question?

You're probably right. But his lack of knowledge just kind of killed it for me. I was asking what the difference between the 2-bolt and the MVS was. He basically made up some stuff and then told me they were the same. Then when I tried adding it to my order he said the wastegate came with the manifold. I told him I was pretty sure the it didn't come with the manifold and that it was just asking what type of flange needed to built into it. He said no, that it all came with the listed options that are on their site including a 8.5" compressor housing. As soon as he said that I knew he had no idea what he was talking about so I started doing my own research. I NOW know the difference between the 2-bolt style and MVS wastegates, but he wasn't very helpful.

if you have a friend that is a competent welder, or know someone who can weld that is local to you, they would be able to make it for you custom, and likely cheaper too, you would simply order flanges for your turbo, wastegate and your cylinder head, get some tubes in the right diameter and your set.

I honestly don't know any welders THAT I TRUST enough to do a good job. All the welders I know are all self taught and practice on whatever they can. I've done some welding myself and I can do pretty much as good a job as they can, I just don't have the tools or time so I wouldn't want to take it to them. Anyone I'd take it to would likely end up being the same as getting it done by a vendor.

 

[AshyBone]

Any top mount manifold will be custom-fabricated and is usually built per-spec for each individual application. I'm not sure what your budget is but considering the hours involved in doing something like this (usually 30+) and the materials, you're probably not going to find a new one for less than $1200 anywhere...and if you do, I'd be suspect that corners may be cut and it's not going to last.

Many sites like DSMparts can be out of touch with current pricing or offerings on certain items as they're just a middleman...so when the order gets placed and they find the price went up since the last time someone ordered the same item, the order will likely get canceled and/or refunded. I highly doubt there's as much as a $400 swing on the same custom-fabricated item between vendors like that.

This explains a lot thank you. I was wondering where the difference was coming from. I did some research on here about DSMparts and there are a few less than flattering threads about that site so I kinda decided against ordering from them. I was pretty sure I was going to go with JMF, but just wanted to see if there was any other options out there. I really appreciate you guys showing me what's available.

Archer fab also offers a top mount T3.

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I'd probably have a hard time choosing between ordering their OTS part or calling Matt Morrison if it were me. Matt's may cost a little more but would use better material and he'd probably guarantee fitment, whereas Archer's may have interference especially if you use a 7 bolt 4G64.

Their manifold looks promising. I'm going to have to talk to them because its really just going to come down between them and JMF since they're basically the same price.

 

[MorrisonFab]

Thank you for tagging us!
We actually make exactly that, a top mount for a 4g swapped Conquest/Starion

This is a divided T4 we made for a PT6766. The placement worked out really slick and can clear up to a GT42/S400 etc, but can just as easily be built for T3 or V-band as well.
For the manifold itself, divided T4 is $1499, and T3 or V-band would be $1349.

Here are some photos-

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Cheers!