The FR manifold is a bit tricky to install.

You can't just pull the exhaust and slip the manifold on. You have to loosen the lower passenger engine mount, and actually pry the engine over to the driver side, while slipping the manifold/turbo unit onto the studs.
This being said, it is advised that you weld the turbo flange bolts to the manifold flange to prevent the nuts from backing off once everything is installed and used for a bit. Over time other people have had their bolts come off/apart from vibration. The weld, just tack it in place, holds it together nicely.

 

There are other options other then welding the bolts in place. Could get some Stage 8 locking bolts (not sure of fitment on that mani), it's what I did on my log setup and I never had a problem since.

 

someone mentioned before that the stage 8 bolts won't work on the FR mani. But I haven't tried them.

btw, I've had my stud/nut combo come loose the first time and lost a nut
2nd time I had safety wire AND tack weld the bolt heads... my mani to turbo gasket failed and 2 of the 4 tacks. (maybe the weld was too small). But the safety wire held it all together.

3rd time is a charm. From the advice from some of the more experienced FI guys here, I now run red RTV instead of a gasket and nordlock washers with safety wires. So far so good (about 3k miles)




Spoolin, looks good! I think that will outlast any "soft" blanket, good choice

 

Thanks man. I believe just as you do.

Nice looking safety wire job. Looks to be the correct amount of twists per inch too. Where did you learn to safety wire? I have extensive safety wiring skills and knowledge from being in aerospace in the military and outside the military for around 9 years.

 

Wow thanks! Truth be told, I learned it searching on the internet and trial and error. I understood the simple mechanics behind it and went thru a few tries before I was satisfied with it and it looked like the pictures

 

Chadd, I just finished installing the AC relocation kit. I got in on it when David ran a group buy a little while back.

I hope I can get away with just bending that bracket like you did Chadd. I like keeping things as OEM as possible. Did you experience any sort of paint cracking on that bracket? Since you are bending a painted part.

I am going to order the exhaust manifold stud kit from ARP. Where did everyone order theirs from? Also I guess a tack weld will be needed on the manifold to turbine. I will not want to take this off ever again lol.

 

Hey Sarek... i was wondering were you got the Fuse box blanket shield? Is it custom or is the the one from ATP that the OP had mentioned? Any info will be much appreciated because my fuse box has had better days and is mounted the same way. But i have a different manifold setup.

Thank you


Mike.