Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Recognize this exhaust manifold?

[MacMc]

Described as "flow ported. " I realize it's not an ATS, so what's it worth? I'd sure like to get an ATS ($400), but this might be much more affordable and I may need to replace my stock manifold soon from the shrinkage problem.

 

[Signal73]

Its not 3pc, so Id say its prone to shrinkage just like the stocker. This can crack the manifold or the ears on the head. What a waste of time porting that

 

[wildmanben]

looks like it ought to flow well though. Would probably crack or your head would crack though.

 

[pwerwagn]

How much is it? Id say if its like 100-150$ it might be worth it. At least it would put off having to buy an ATS for quite a while.



-Jeff

 

[MacMc]

How much is it? Id say if its like 100-150$ it might be worth it.

I can get it for about half that, actually. But I don't want to waste it and my labor, either if the ATS is still the way to go.



Now that I see the shrinkage issue, seems like the 3-piece is the only way to really do it right.

 

[dpuckett]

It seems to me that they only had the shrinkage issue if they got too hot repeatedly. I've seen 1st Gen engines with 250K that had perfectly aligned manifolds. I have also ported a few stock manifolds and noticed an improvement. No, it wont be an ATS, but it should improve your turbo spool and overall flow over stock. You get what you pay for.



Email him and ask what the overall length of the manifold is, then measure your head and see if they line up.



Daniel

 

[pwerwagn]

For 75$ or so, Id go for it personally.

I agree with daniel. I too have seen many manifolds with quite a few miles with no shrinkage. my bro in law has a 1st gen with 230K+ on the clock and his still looks perfect.

Mine on the other hand... umm, well lets just say its very shrunk!!! (180K, been really really hot many many times, etc)



If you can afford it though, an ATS is the way to go. Never have

to worry about it again!!!

 

[bgilbert]

Looks to be a stock manifold.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I wonder why the manifold on my stock '98 is well shrunk at 150k, when it hasn't been worked that hard Maybe it was driven harder than I was lead to believe when I bought it at 137k, but it's still on the original auto transmission.

 

[bmoeller]

Vaughn-



I bought my truck with 139k, and it was shrunk as well. It was pretty much a pavement princess. Barely worked a day in its life. Never had a g/n or 5ver hitch in it either. Truck was bone stock when I got it.



When I pulled it for the ATS, I only had 2 straight bolts. The rest were bent.

 

[pwerwagn]

Mine was pretty shrunk too at 100K Vaughn. And it was stock too, except a muffler. It did have gauges and a GN hitch in it though, but was "supposedly" babied.



-Jeff

 

[Joe G.]

It may be related to the number of starts. Before I retired my truck was used more for relative long trips than little short runs to town and back like it is now. So far, at 243K miles, the manifold is not showing any shrinkage at all.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

That might be it Joe. My truck's life was to pull a medium-size 5th-wheel between Idaho and Palm Springs CA twice a year for 6 years, occasional road trips empty, and the rest short-tripping around town. So lots of thermal cycling for sure. Time for an ATS, but I'm thinking about giving the HTT unit a try this time.



Vaughn