Manifold upgrade?

[les]

Does anyone know how well the Janspeed 4-2-1 (small bore with flexi) compares to the Piper version? I'm assuming it works much better that the standard rover manifold. I'm toying with the idea for getting the KR1 upgrade to the head and hence fitting a new manifold (piper) to give a bit more torque at lower revs, however there is a Janspeed version on seloc for sale for £350 + p&p. Should I hold off and go for the piper one? thoughts? The elise is now only used for road use if that makes any difference

[BiggestNizzy]

Me

I fitted a 135 head and cams and lost all the bottom end torque. The manifold got some of it back. and it's shiny

[roadboy]

They are much of a muchness really. Very similar in design and therefore results.

£350 is a lot for a second hand manifold though IMO.

Dan

[les]

Dan,

Yeah I know , had a quick chat to kiwirog at sabreheads who suggested that a feckled S2 manifold might be just as useful and either save the money or budget depending, spend the cash on cams. I seem to recall that that was the route Campbell took. Campbell/Robin any thoughts?

[robin]

With a KR1 and no other mods I would have thought even the standard manifold would be OK, but the S2 one has other advantages, so you could certainly go for that.

If you decide against the piper/janspeed then I would be inclined to refit the one you have, wait for it or the downpipe to break, then replace the manifold and downpipe with the S2 type (common to loads of EU3 engine rover cars I believe). You can then buy a new downpipe for around the £100 mark I think - mostly s/s though some bits are still mild so doesn't last much longer than the normal, but much cheapness

Cheers,
Robin

[hiscot]

I found the 4 stud S1 manifold was quite restricted being full of welding slag , the advantage with the 6 stud is a larger bore with cleaner welds ,and from my early S1 with the crumbling bulkhead heat shield the 6 stud has a better bolt on arrangement
I used a s/h one from a mgtf but the pipe hanger had to be cut and moved ( re welded ) slightly further down
Just in case factor in a new lamb sensor because on mine it took both the thread from the sensor and the old pipe on withdrawal
I went on to replace it with a s/h large bore janspeed and felt this was better again ( quite a high tune engine )

[smee]

I think the piper doesn't have a built in flex link so you need a flexi cat? I recently put the janspeed on mine and I'm certain it has made a difference, it feels less strained above 4.5k rpm and revs slightly more freely. I only changed because my downpipe was fecked. I also had to put spacers in the undertray and bodge the heat shield to protect the alternator as the original did not fit.

[robin]

The piper manifold that kiwirog is talking about does have a flexi joint in the elbow before the cat.

It is best to fit the S2 heatshields and be done with it.

I also spaced out my undertray with a couple of fat repair washers. Still buzzes a bit when cold, but once warmed up it's OK, though my car is S2 obviously so not exactly the same.

Cheers,
Robin

[smee]

Les, saw this thought it may be of some interest to you

http://classifieds.seloc.org/ads/s1-flexi-pipe/

[les]

Thanks smee for the link. there an EP stepped bore manifold on ebay at the moment, finishing tomorrow night which I'm watching at the moment which doesn't need the flexi but you would need to install the EP adjustable engine mount as a result. Anyone got one of these or fitted the mount?

Robin, as well as the KR1, Rog was suggesting the newmans cams (phase 2) and the fuel pressure regulator to compensate the lean running might be a better choice for the money (rather than a 4-2-1_ and try and pick up a 2nd hand s2 manifold and feckle it.

Any thoughts?

[robin]

You'll certainly notice a difference with the cams - pretty sure UncleRon's car is essentially this spec and it scampers along nicely If you can get the S2 manifold and tidy it up then go for it ...

[campbell]

There is indeed an S2 manifold and downpipe on UJI, on Robin's suggestion about 4 years ago now I think. This was a maintenance "upgrade" rather than a performance related thing though, as the access for the manifold bolts etc is better (he tells me...I wasn't allowed to do any of them up ).

I bought a new lambda sensor for all it cost, made sense to change for fresh at the time.

I got my early Blueflame stainless exhaust re-welded by a relative with SS welding pal and we threw that in again too at the same time, with new saddle bracket etc etc.

We also put a new heatshield in, although can't recall if it was a stock S2 one or something we fashioned out of Nimbus.

The manifold was kindly donated by Robin and I bought a new SS downpipe with flexi built in, prob around £100 but can't be sure. The one before that owed me nothing...was donated by Tony Churly of Stelvio trips fame, after the original failed on one of McKean's first ever SE runs with us. He kindly shadowed us home whilst we got mildly gassed. Thems were the days...


Campbell