Alright, so I'm starting to reach the limits of my inefficient log setup, and am considering upgrading to a tubular manifold. However, it seems like there is no "perfect" manifold for me. Everything seems to have compromises and I'm having trouble deciding if the compromises are worth the added power or if I should just stick with what I have...

The purpose of the car is a lot of mixed use. I love to race/drive the car in all fashions, but am not particularly serious (or care about being super competitive in any). This includes street/daily use, drag racing, autocrossing, road coures/HPDE... pretty much everything other than drifting. I just love driving and enjoying the car, and want to make a little more power without being a dyno queen, pure drag monster, or worrying about stupid classing.

My biggest concerns are reliability and response/spool, which is why I originally went with a log manifold, but now I'm looking for a little more power, so I'm trying to see if I can still have very good response/spool without making too many other compromises. Because of this, you'll notice I don't even have a sidewinder as an option, because I don't want to deal with cracking issues, or the mass ammounts of heat they generate... Please do not recommend a sidewinder. I will never buy one.

I've pretty much narrowed it down to three options:

1. Keep it like it is. Maybe up the boost a bit. (only currently at 16-17psi)
Pros:

• Cheapest
• Already decently well setup and reliable
• Spool/response is good

Cons:

• Won't make much more power.

2. Upgrade to FullRace Ramhorn Manifold
Pros:

• Known to be very strong
• Not as expensive as option 3
• Will make very good power

Cons:

• Produces a LOT of heat (#1 con IMO)
• Have to relocate battery (not a big deal to some, but I really didn't want to lose any trunk space). (#2 con IMO)
• Probably won't spool as fast as option 3.
• Have to spend extra money on a vband wastegate
• Might require relocating the fusebox too (just seems like a pain..)

3. Upgrade to Ptuning Manifold.
Pros:

• Will have better spool/repsonse (better than option 2?)
• Will make good power
• Seem to be fairly strong and not prone to cracking
• No relocation of battery or fuse box like option 2 has.

Cons:

• Most expensive overall (seee below; not that big a deal I guess, but definitely plays a role when considering between option 2)
• Requires Ptuning engine mount (not really a big deal, but I've read the vibration is noticeable and kind of annoying for a daily)
• Requires oil scavenge pump (not really a big deal, but just another expense and possible point of failure... may effect reliability?).
• Requires Tial Vband housing (just another added expense (~$500)... most frustrating in this case, because I already have a turbo and really don't think Vband adds much benefit/ease in this case)
• Requires intercooler piping to be run over the cross member instead of under (not that big of a deal... I just prefer under since over seems to get in the way and needlessly take up a lot of space)

...


So yeah, those are pretty much my three options and my thoughts on each.

Just curious if anyone else has any suggestions, thoughts, or good points that might sway me one way or the other since I feel almost deadlocked at the moment.

Thanks.

 

full race manifold is great and will def spool just as fast if not faster than a p tuning manifold, only con to the full race manifold is installing it and taking it off, have it ceramic coated and u really dont have to worry about heat, or go all out with the inconel wrap, have u considered a top mount like p fab?

 

out of your options i would go with the fullrace manifold manifold
expect to gain 50-75 hp just by switching out the manifold at the same pump gas boost level.

if you look at my signature i gained about 70hp from going from the revhard log to my mase sidewinder manifold at the same 10-11 psi boost level.

 

out of your options i would go with the fullrace manifold manifold
expect to gain 50-75 hp just by switching out the manifold at the same pump gas boost level.

if you look at my signature i gained about 70hp from going from the revhard log to my mase sidewinder manifold at the same 10-11 psi boost level.

 

If you relocate the battery, don't forget some tracks might require an external kill switch.

It sounds like the Full Race mani is the easiest upgrade to your current setup. I would expect it to be reasonably comparable to a Ptuning mani. Honestly not sure which is better. Might be worth paying to have ATP wrap it...

 

Have you considered switching fuels. I'm sort of in the same boat. I was looking for a little more from my pfab log setup as well. I decided to go with meth injection to try and pick up maybe 50 more horses. You could use E85 as well if its available in your area. I just started the retune with Evans for the meth I'll let you know my results. FYI i'm on a pfab log with a gt35 at 14psi. Of course if you've got deep pockets theres always race fuel like Q16 and the like. Def can up the power with that stuff. 15 bucks a gallon gets expensive quick if you drive a lot though.

 

Really? I thought I read that Sarek said that even ceramic coating it wasn't enough... that it really needed to be inconel wrapped.

Nope, don't really want anything top mount. If I'm gonna get something that produces a lot of heat and requires me to relocate the battery, it would be the full race...

Wow, that would be awesome. Was that on the exact same dyno?


Luckily, the track I go to doesn't care about tech. If I get the Full Race I'll be to the point where I need a 5 pt roll bar or cage anyways, and that won't be happening since its a street/daily car.

Full race would definitely be the easier/cheaper setup and require the least compromises/changes as long as I can keep the heat in check... but that is a big if.


I'm already on E85. Still looking for a bit more power... Currently at 355whp, and looking for 450-500whp on the same dyno. Nothing too crazy IMO.

 

i had mine ceramic coated for 3 years with no issues, might be good to put some heat shielding on the hood thats above the manifold

 

Wow, that would be awesome. Was that on the exact same dyno?

yes this was on the same dyno with no other changed besides the manifold

 

No heat problems with my inlinepro sidewinder.