so I went to fit an rcm manifold tonight (used), and it is almost as if the manifold is too short.

if I line the studs up on one side, they are at least 6mm out on the other side (as in, I can only see half the studs in the flange holes).

I don’t particularly want to gorilla strength them onto the studs, because I’m sure that will lead to cracking down the line.

i did also note that the centre section of them look like this (unevenly pushed in joints). The one closest to the camera seems to be sitting slightly further out than the other one,




Also are these joints supposed to move? At the moment one is seized, which probably isn’t great for cracking (if they’re meant to move)

 

sounds like its contracted with the heat and "sprung" when removed from the engine.........have previously had to push them back into position after engine builds, etc

 

Thanks alyn,

I soaked the joints overnight and today I managed to manipulate them so that they fit.

check out the difference in length 😨



although they’re now on the big side if anything, at least I can now make them “correct”.

another thing which hopefully won’t matter when they’re fitted is that they are slightly warped - not enough to cause an issue with fitting, but I’m now wondering if maybe that’s the point of those joints. Keeping stainless tubes parallel over such a long distance must be a pain, so these two joints allow movement both in length and also rotationally compared to each other.

This particular set may be extra warped, however - it’s had two historic crack repairs around the collector, and I’ve also repaired them myself for a third time.

 

 

well, they are in. Not going to wrap them, as my last set ended up badly corroded from it, but will apply some heat mat of some sort where the oil cooler lines run too close for comfort (though the lines are already in heat protective tubing, but better safe than sorry)




The up-pipe was another saga. There was nowhere near enough space to get the flange through, so had to lift the engine a bit. Complete palaver.