[Freshman]

Hi guys,
Seems like I have a cracked manifold. It sounds like bubbling water when I drive when the passanger window open.

Was quoted R2750 (for a set) but to replace the faulty one

Or R1400 to have it fixed (welded up).

Was playing with the idea of, while I'm busy, get performance manifolds fitted and have them caramic coated as well but that might be over the top.

Is this a common problem on V6 and V8 as I was told they crack where the combine into one.

What did you guys do to resolve this?

Thanks
Pierre

[Nick Gibson]

Hi Pierre

I had the same dilemma as you a while back. I bought my pajero with two cracked manifolds, and I had them welded up. They only lasted 8 months before they cracked again.

See the thread here https://www.pajeroclub.co.za/forum/view ... 4&start=10

I ended up deciding to go for branches made by Noise Boyz in cape town and had a smaller centre box fitted for better ground clearance (turned out to be a cowley free flow), and it cost me R 3450-00 all in all. I did it purely out an an ecomonic standpoint as two new manifolds were quite expensive compared to the branches.

BTW R2750 for a set sounds on the low side, I ended up at R 5200 and some change for OEM manifolds, supply only. Perhaps that was for one side only or just for branches?? The two OEM manifolds vary in prices at the stealers by about R 900 between left and right side IIRC.

[Freshman]

Hi Nick,
The guys from Kwikfit gave me a price of R2750 which included ordering both sides but only fitting the one side.

I then went to Speedy who told me they never had comebacks on their welding jobs and that 'V' tend to crack in the middle.
They told me it would be around R1400 to remove, weld & re-fit.

If it was between the R2750 and your price with NoiceBoyz then I would also go with NB as it would mean "performance" branches for a couple hunderd more.

But proof is in the pudding - did you get better consumption and/or performance afterwards? Did you Dyno before & after by any chance?

Thanks
Pierre

[Freshman]

Hey guys - maybe I have it all wrong!!
If they said the leak is where the pipes come together then it must mean the one branch is cracked and not the manifold??

So this will influnce your feeling about the pricing.

Will check if there is a Noise Boys in Durban and get a price from them as well.

[Nick Gibson]

Hi Freshman

You must dfferantiate between branches

Branch

and manifolds.

manifold

Manifold are generally made of cast iron that are fitted to the engine standard from the factory and are almost always more expensive than branches.

Branches are made of mild(some times stainless) steel pipes that are bent and welded together either at the workshop of bought off the rack from a supplier like wildcat, cowley, brospeed or viper. The header pipes should all be of the same length so that the exhaust pulses do no reach the junction at the same time causing a "bottle neck" robbing performance. However due to space limitations in the engine bay this is not always possible.


Hope you come right/

[Freshman]

Hi Nick, thanks a lot for the nice pics to show the diffrence.
The leak was in the passanger side branch where the pipes all go into one. I had it welded up for now.

Cheers
Pierre

[Nick Gibson]

Hi Pierre

So you pajero must had had branches fitted when you bought it?

Glad you got sorted!

[Freshman]

Yes it seems like it. But I thought it was standard on the Blister Fender model??

Just a pity they are not stainless steel...

Cheers

[Nick Gibson]

As far as I know all motors from mitsu are shipped with cast iron manifolds. The prevoius owner must have had them fitted. The 3.5 v6's are notorious for cracking the OEM manifolds, so many people fit banches as an alternative, as you do not guarentee that the manifold wont crack again sometime in the future...

I can feel the loss in torque very low down in the rev range, but the v6 sound sooo much better higher up r

[Freshman]

Thats why we drive them - heehee

PS: Still miss my V8 - eish!!