Exhaust Manifold Replacement

[Gas Hauler]

Looking at replacing the exhaust manifold on my 2003. Looking for peoples opinion on who makes the best replacement. Having an existing port for egt sensor would be a nice feature. And did you install it yourself? If so how complicated was it.

Thanks

 

[AH64ID]

I have an ATS 2-piece on my truck. It's a solid unit, and is a much better design than OEM. I bought it used and it had about 50K miles on it, and I have put another 20K on it.



It was a pretty easy install, the hardest part is the turbo. I installed a new turbo at the same time so it negated some of the manifold only items.



It did come with a tapped pyro port, but I chose not to use it for my pyro and drilled/tapped the collector.



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[seafish]

Check out the Steed Speed manifolds from BC, Canada. He has just finished building a drop-in replacement for the 5. 9 CTD and it is REALLY NICE, like all the rest of his products.

I am not sure if it comes predrilled for the pyro, but that would be no big deal to do before you install it on the truck.

http://www.steedspeed.com/cummins_common_rail_manifold

While your there, check out the quality pics of the rest of his cummins manifolds.

 

[Shadrach]

I will be changing mine in the spring and am considering a Steed Speed or an AFE Blade Runner stainless manifold, both one piece units. We just put a Steed Speed one on my buddies 12 valve. Although it is a very well build piece we did have some fitment issues because it is bigger overall. The truck is still having some repairs to it so I can't comment on how well it performs but I know it will be better than stock. ATS has been on back order for a long time now. Shad

Steed Speed in a 93 W350 ( the oil feed line has been relocated )

<a href="http://s447.photobucket.com/albums/qq195/shadrach1984/?action=view&amp;current=DSCN0816.jpg" target="_blank">#ad
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[Gas Hauler]

With regards to the Steed manifold, it is a one peice manifold. Would this not cause the same problems as the oem manifold? On Steeds website it talks about power gains when using their manifold. BD of AFE make no such claims. Is it possible to gain HP and torque or is this just salesmanship by Steed.

 

[seafish]

From what I have read on CumminsForum, ATS has had some cracking and production issues from their manufacturer. They are in the process of switchinig to anohter manufaturer and will hopefully honor the warranty of those whose manifold had cracked. Like the last poster indicated, they are unavailable right now until those issues are resolved.



While Leen at SteedSpeed has been making mostly competition and 2nd gen manifolds for the CTD, he has recently released the 5. 9 configured exhaust manifolds and hopefully is in the process of building a plug'n play version for the 6. 7 CTD (turbo is another 7/8" farther back then on the 5. 9 and uses a T4i instead of T3 flange). If he does release the 6. 7 version, I will likely use it to install the HE351ve in place of the HE361cw on my 2005.



What makes SteedSpeed manifolds different is that they are built from two pieces of billet steel, both run through a CAD machine into matching halves, and then welded together. They seem to be extremely stable and come with a lifetime warranty. Leen is also extremely accessible by phone, freindly to deal with and is very open to ideas and feedback about his manifolds. I am sure that a simple phone call tomorrow will tell the OP whether or not the 5. 9 manifold comes with a pyro port.



Here is a link to some photos he sent me of the 5. 9 exgaust manifold still in the manufacturing stage... you can see how the flow is divided as evenly as can be given the placement of the turbo on the 5. 9 CTD



http://s1199.beta.photobucket.com/user/phishwrapper/media/SteedSpeed/commonrail002.jpg.html

 

[pjorlando]

Having the original manifold leak at #6 after 100,000 miles. I opted to replace with another factory unit. Genos has a fantastic price on the replacement units and sells the gaskets to boot. The entire job wasn't hard at all. I started each top bolt with the gasket hanging, aligned the bottoms and torqued everything back down. So far, so good. The most difficult part was moving the coolant pipe away from the bottom stub at number 6. I just cannot see spending 400 plus on an aftermarket unit that may or may not last as long as the stock one. Having run an aftermarket unit on my son's '03, we really coudn't tell the difference in performance, cooler EGTs, etc.

 

[JHumphries]

I put the BD manifold in myself. The only mildly difficult parts were reconnecting the oil drain line and the v-band clamp on the down pipe.
I was able to re-install the heater core line on the original bolt, contrary to the instuctions, but mine seemed to be different from their pictures.
Since I had a pretty big exhaust leak before the install, I cannot say how much performance went up, but the turbo deffinately is little more lively now.

 

[Shadrach]

The steed Speed unit is WELL made and very strong ( stiff ). It will NOT shrink. The welds are superb and it is made out of 10 separate pieces, the six flanges, the turbo flange & down pipe and the two halves. It will flow a lot better than the stock one. Cummins does make a 2 piece version that will fit in place of the stock one. It does have the same restriction as seen in post # 2, but allows for expansion. It is used in motorhomes and industrial units where isn't as much air flow as in a pick up. There are a few minor differences but nothing that would stop most of us. It is more expensive than the one piece and because of that you may as well buy a "good" aftermarket one. I will post some comparison pictures later, as I have taken pics of the 2 already but don't have them on my home computer. Shad

 

[AH64ID]

I personally wouldn't ever spend money on the poor flowing OEM unit. Aftermarket units should last longer and flow better.

 

[Shadrach]

I personally wouldn't ever spend money on the poor flowing OEM unit. Aftermarket units should last longer and flow better.

I agree but I see lots of people buying stock replacement manifolds from Cummins, usually for company trucks. Their retail price isn't much different from an aftermarket one. From Dodge it is more than a good aftermarket one. Shad

 

[Bob4x4]

I have had both the ats 2 piece and the new Afe stainless manifolds on my 05 and installed many of both on other truck. No issues with either except rusting on the ats

 

[AH64ID]

When I bought my ATS used it had a little rust on it. I used a wire wheel and cleaned it up, then painted and baked high temp black paint on it. I can't tell you what it looks like now as it's hiding under a blanket from turbo performance products.

 

[Gas Hauler]

Thanks for all your help guys. The Steed manifold looks pretty nice, but expensive. Will have to put some more thought into it. I see Geno's sells the BD manifold complete with gaskets. Probably end up going with that.

 

[rscurtis]

I have the BD on my signature truck. If you're going to go to all that trouble, upgrade the turbo also. One of the things I liked about the BD is that the two halves of the manifold are a slip-fit, which facilitates installation.

 

[Shadrach]

Both the Steed Speed and the AFE Stainless cast BladeRunner are one piece units and are more expensive than the 2 piece BD. The stainless won't rust Personally I tend to go for broke. If I can't afford a real good one I will generally just wait until I can, rather than put on a cheaper version. That's not to say their is anything wrong with BD. Shad



http://afepower.com/shop/details_new.php?partno=46-40011&diesel=true&menu=diesel&&brandID=75

 

[Bob4x4]

I don't care for the BD,I have compared them side by side with the ats and there is a difference. The ss from AFE is great and I have been tempted to polish one just for s and giigles

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I have been very pleased with the ATS manifolds on both my 01 and 04 trucks. About 7 years installed and no issues so far.