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MG MGF Technical - Performance exhaust manifold

Has anyone fitted a performance exhaust manifold to a MGF?

The Lotus guys seem to recomend one by EBD, has anyone tried this on a MGF?

Thanks

Alastair
Alastair McLeod

Alistair,

The Elise has more solid engine mounts than the F, meaning that the F needs to have a flexible section in the front pipe to avoid damage to the exhaust system. TTBOMK the Exhaust By Design manifold does away with not just the manifold, but also the front pipe which contains this flexible joint. Therefore AFAIK no one has fitted one to an F.

There was talk of having a short flexible section made up to replace the cat, this then would (probably) allow the EBD manifold to be fitted, but i never heard any more about this.

The closest things available AFAIK are the re-worked MGF manifold that Mike Satur does, this is basically grinding off the welds internally and re-welding it from the outside to smooth out the bore, and Mike's stainless steel front pipe which has a shorter flexible section, resulting in marginally longer secondary pipes.

SF
Scarlet Fever

Alistair,
I would like to underline what Andy said.
IMO damages to the back box is the minor problem due to a missing flexy section.
The major is the load to the K-Engine head !!
And load to one side of the head is known as one cause for failing head gasket.
Not sure which supplier of SS down pipes has solved this by adding a flexy part replacement of the catalyst bypass hose. Wasn't in any Elise supplier ?

Regards
Dieter
Dieter K.

For info, will have some new 304ss manifolds in stock in 10 days, testing them out on the Highlander;-)
mike
mike

Do these ss manifolds cause any head gasket problems as detailed above?
Jason Humble

I am currently using Mike's reworked manifold & system, along with his BVH & ITG filter which produced 147 bhp @ 7000 at the Wheels. At this level the original manifold must be a restriction.

Can the engine movement not be reduced with poly bushes in the steady bar?

Mike if you need another one tested let me know. :-)
What price will they be and do they have a flexy section?

Cheers

Alastair
Alastair McLeod

Speak to Kingsley (he'll be along in a Mo),

EBD won't fit the F but the Janspeed will do the business with a little fettling. Or remove the existing one and remove the awful inner welding yourself with a baby grinder considerablly cheaper option and still gives you a decent(ish) manifold for the money (ie bog all cash!).

Tim
tim woolcott

Alistair, I e-mailed Mike about this very thing on Saturday, before I saw this thread. Perhaps we could get a bulk discount! But seriously, when I was visiting Mike thought that the original manifold was restrictive, and performance could be helped by changing this over.

Flexi-pipe's on the way out in my car anyway, so would be a good time to get a better replacement.
Leigh

"Flexi-pipe's on the way out in my car anyway, so would be a good time to get a better replacement"

So's the Head Gasket!
Darren

Thanks for the intro Tim, not sure what i can add...
The MGF has a subframe cross member under the car and the manifold has to pass inbetween this and the engine, this is why the EBD will not fit. The janspeed manifold seems to be working out quite well, but we'll see on the rollers next week.
One other thing to note, changing the flexi section of the manifold can be completed by any exhast place but changing the flexi to head section will not generaly be undertaken by quik fit type places. in fact many garages will not do this, i'd advise taking the car to a specailist garage to have the manifold fitted, (tech-speed, MS, b&g etc.)
Kingsley

Is the Janspeed manifold similar to the EBD, one piece from the head to the cat, and does it have a flexi section?

It would be interesting to see the dyno results, did you have any problems fitting it?

Alastair


Alastair McLeod

Alastair, the Janspeed system is slightly different to the EBD, in that it does, IIRC, have a flexible section ahead of the cat.

The Janspeed system (or PTP, depending on from where it is purchased) is not quite as good as the EBD, but much better than the restrictive lump of iron that usually passes as an exhaust manifold on the standard car.

The specific problem with the Janspeed is its bore size - but this, hopefully, will be addressed soon... ;o)
Rob Bell

So what's the set up Mike will be doing?
Leigh

This thread was discussed between 26/04/2003 and 03/05/2003

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