bigdaddyvtec

KTHX....

hmtcrxsir

I believe BMCrace.com carries merge collectors. Email the guy at BMCrace he has some.

iceracercrx

You guys make it look so easy. If I only had a bigger engine bay.

Randy

o0Quicksilver0o

sorta off topic sorta not... but how do you guys do the welds right before the collector. (the welds that connect the runners to the collect) from looking it seems you can get on the inside is there a trick i am not understanding? you probly could get an arc there but id have no accuracy

turbob16hatch

So what size filler do you use? what kind? also what gas because my welding suppley store said i'm not supose to use 100% argon on stainless but i'm confused here? also what do you use to clean the metel befor finish welding is done?

thanks matt

LSD Motorsports

the trick is this, you do one runner at a time, so that the first 3 are pretty easy to get to. the 4th one is a little tricky, but every welder knows the tricks of the trade, they either learn them the hard way or the easy way. So those tricks include a few things, flexible head on the torch, different cup sizes, extending the tungsten out a bit further and playing with the gas settings. Those are a the most common things done to weld in tight spaces. hope this helps.

Very solid write up Aaron, very nice manifold as well. I just wanted to add that whenever your welding any part of a manifold that is connected to the head flange, you should always have it clamped down. I say this for two reason, 1) the heat alone from the torch can cause the head flange to warp, 2) the fact that your welding something that will eventually pull in and tighten up also pulls on the pipe that is connected to the head flange and that causes a stress point and a better chance of warping.

LSD Motorsports

They were probably talking about mig welding, it is common practice to add a co2 mix with argon for heat purposes. We usually clean metal a wire wheel first, then acetone and a wire brush between welds. I will leave the other two questions for aaron, because they directed to him.
Sorry for threadjacking aaron, its all you from here.

Fallen86

sweeet writup. Fully miged mild steel top mount commin eventually! :P

SpankedYA!

Actually I tack them all on in the correct position in multiple areas around each one. Then I weld them. I do all 4 at the same time. Usually if you do one at a time it will pull the others out of position.

gon3r

i've noticed that too, that is why i left them tacked to the head. a lot of people break them from the flange and the collector and weld them off the manifold, but in my experience they never line up again when you go to put it back together.

i use 100% argon for all tig welding. a ss or brass wire brush can be used for cleaning. i use 1/16" 309L filler for the complete manifold.