Reverse Inlet Manifold
 

i have a my98 classic and i'm thinking of rotating the turbo and the inlet manifold to cut down on intercooler piping.

my question is, can you reverse the inlet maifold and still keep the air con ??

has anyone done it and could post a picture so i can see how ??

thanks :thumb:

Im not 100% on this but AFAIK the air con needs to go to make space for the alternator, which has to be moved to make space for the intercooler pipe work for the inlet fannymold, dont think theres any other way round it TBH, just ditch the air con its practically useless in the UK anyway...

thanks dunk thats my understanding just wondered of anyone had found a way round it. i actually use my aircon quite a bit so would really like to keep it.

I have never seen a reverse setup that still has air con, as mentioned above the altenator needs to go in its place. The pipe to the throttle body and the throttle body itself, also need to kept low to clear the bonnet.

A rotated setup gets expensive, and although it looks good, it is only really needed above 500HP.

If a normal front mount setup is used with a standard manifold and mapped properly there is almost no difference compared to a standard top mount or a reversed setup.

We'd say it isn't worth the effort involved. The pipework is tricky to look really good and work without stupid problems. So far we've changed back two cars that were brought in with reverse manifolds and they both looked and went much better when they left! If you're going radical with fabrication for big power then maybe.

the only way to keep air con easily is to move the alternator to where the ps pump is and go electric ps pump whcih is more work again..

just open a window ;)

http://images.fotopic.net/1yiqse.jpg

Simon

thanks for the coments guys dunk,brett and alan.

looks good simon, you probably already know why i'm asking the question as rob will be changing his set up next year so getting a bolt on conversion would be quite easy.

i will probably just do something with my current set up if it would really be of little gain to change.

i won't be going as far as 500bhp plus (famous last words i know).

my mapping is perfectly ok and have no major complaints just loving the look of the reverse set up.

does anyone know would i bennifit with a flipped front mount if not reversing the manifold, surely shorter piping can only be a good thing.

Any improvement in drivability will be in throttle response not spool.
Ie. Change gear and reapply throttle. I dont believe you have an issue with that but want spool sooner which isnt going to happen without a larger cc engine or different turbo.
Not that I think it is that bad at all anyway.
Simon

no i 100% agree with you simon thanks i have got used to the car now i have changed the way i drive it.

it must be ok i can still blow the intercooler pipes off lol

i'm just exploring making it the best it can be in it's current state at the moment and looking good when you pop the bonnet.

Is there any negative side to doing this, Ie reliability issues?