HTT vs ATS- which is the better manifold?

[dpuckett]

I have been contemplating replacing my shrinking stock 12V (for those who dont read signatures, it is a 1st gen) manifold with a 3 pc aftermarket setup. I have been reading about ATS and HTT, and as one would expect, each claims to be better than the comptetion. So, does anyone have any real world experience with either or, preferrably, both? Are they basically the same, or are they different in some small way? I know some of the earlier ATS manifolds were said to be poorly finished, and needed a port job to get optimal flow (of course, a good port and polish will help most airflow components). Have not heard diddly about HTT, good or bad. I see that BD also has a 3 pc setup available.



ANy objective observations and comments are greatly appreciated.



Daniel

 

[IC Smoke]

I was in on the group buy of the HTT from "woodsrat" or New Era Diesel

I dont have any experience to the ATS product but my HTT came in excellent hape and It was ported quite well. I took mine to work and polished it up even more (just being my anal self) but that doesnt need to be done. If I was to do it again I would just bolt it right on and not worry about it.



IMO its a excellent product!

. 02

Ian



*pm "woodsrat" *

 

[bmoeller]

I have the ATS, and have looked at the HTT piece. Don't think you can go wrong with either unit. Both are very nice.

 

[zstroken]

The HTT manifold I had is a nice piece. Price seems to be better on them too.

 

[bmoeller]

Got mine from www.powerbypoole.com via his TDR ad.

 

[McLaughlin]

I have the ATS manifold on my 97. Didn't see much difference performance wise between before and after the installation. My ATS manifold came "tapped" for a EGT probe but some comments have been make on TDR that some ATS manifolds aren't. If you go ATS you might want to check to make sure it is "tapped" if you want/need an EGT probe installed. It isn't difficult to drill and tap a hole for the probe (did one on a stock 96 manifold) but why do that if you are buying a manifold anyhow.

 

[AFarmer]

ATS is definitely a much better manifold. I've looked at both side by side and chose the ATS for my truck.

 

[MMiller]

ATS is definitely a much better manifold. I've looked at both side by side and chose the ATS for my truck.

Care to illuminate your opinion some more? I've looked at Chevy and Fords and know Dodge is best, but some more info would help.



I've heard you need to 'assemble' the ATS setup, but maybe the HTT is already assembled. Anyone care to approve or disapprove that statement? I would have to say that hearing from other assembly experiances, I would prefer mine already to bolt on.



Michael

 

[bmoeller]

Michael,



You can have ATS assemble it as well. I put mine together. It isn't as hard as some have said. Just put the center section on a tire in the sun to heat it up, and put the outer ends in the freezer for about a half hour. Do that, and use plenty of antiseize, it goes together with little effort from a rubber mallet. If you don't, it wiil be a PITA.



At the time I bought mine, ATS was the only one around with a 3 piece on the market. But, both will flow more air than stock. My stocker had shrunk, and that was why I bought it, vs another stocker to replace it.



It won't give you much of a performance gain, but the engine does work less with it. Reduced turbo lag some (and reduced max boost by about 5psi, most likely from lower drive psi in manifold). All in all, a good buy.

 

[AJ]

I did not know they merged..... until I read this;



http://www.mrtrailer.com/atspress.htm



aj

 

[bmoeller]

Yep. Been a while.

 

[Hammer]

Daniel...

The only true answer to your question is this..... Which company do you prefer better?.



Both manifolds are pre assembled,pre-tapped for egt gauge and are quality pieces. The only difference I can see between them side by side is the thermal coating applied to the ATS unit. I have driven them both and decided on the ATS unit for mine simply because of the shop who did my work sells them and they are already coated since I show my truck.



So its a choice which one you like the look of better... ... ... ... . Andy

 

[bmoeller]

The only difference I can see between them side by side is the thermal coating applied to the ATS unit.

HTT will coat them if you want for ~$150, I think it is.

 

[FDavid]

Lets add some more fuel to the fire... BD pulse manifold

 

[woodsrat]

They are both quality products. I sell more of the HTT because thats the one I push more, due to some misfit issues that we have seen with the ATS unit. But those have been resolved and have not seen or heard of any problems with them lately. As for the BD one I have not had one in the shop as of yet.

 

[AFarmer]

ATS casts the BD manifolds. You do have to assemble the ATS manifold but it's very simple. ATS is thicker and a much better casting, in my opinion, than the one from Hight Tech - not knocking their product. You can get ATS stuff pre-assembled and coated too.

 

[BradyWilliams]

Both nice products for sure. We sell the ATS manifolds as they have performed VERY well with our turbos and Twin Kits.

 

[WDixon27]

i got my ats on ebay around 6k miles ago the coating has held up so far and looks exactly the same as when i installed it, it was assembled and tapped and cost $435 delivered, i think i've seen the same guy selling them for $400 delivered now, i can't comment too much on improvement as i cured a few exhaust leaks at the time that i am sure were killing performance, in 5th i can get the boost gauge moving at 1k rpm maybe a hair under

 

[dpuckett]

thanks for all the feedback, guys. This is what I was looking for. Not any closer to a decision, but at least I am reasonably sure they are comparable in quality, which what I had been led to believe in the first place. ATS had been first, but that doesnt mean the other guys are not as good.



Now, more fuel for the fire- does the (apparently standard) coating on the ATS do anything for performance? What about grinding off/ down the coating to assemble it metal to metal? If there are performance enhancements to be had, it's a no-brainer. If not, it may just come down to who has the best price on which brand that week.



-DP

 

[Hammer]

DP. .

The thermal coating helps to allow heat to dissipate heat faster. The ATS manifold is pre-assembled now and you need not do anything or any tricks to assemble it. Some guys have ported the manifold,mine is not so I can not answer the extra performance tricks... ... ... Andy