Really lost and frustrated.....

[Hotch3]

2003.5 MSP with stock setup. Except for cat-back exhaust.

My exhaust manifold is cracked in 3 places. FML! I also broke the three top bolts to my heat shield. So the mani is mighty close to the front intercooler/turbo pipe. I took an old asbestos cloth and wrapped it around and hose clamped it so that it doesn't melt the plastic pipe while I figure out what I'm going to do.

I need some good advice on a possible combo setup for a new manifold/header and hard pipes that's not going to cost me an arm and a leg plus my first born. I'm kinda attached to my first born.

A friend suggested that I think about a FMIC setup because they sometimes come with the hard piping. Yes?

Can I fabricate my own hard piping kit out of aluminum piping or would that not be worth the hassle?

I know, so many questions. But I'm a bit lost and frustrated.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[littlemimus]

well. a new manifold is gonna cost u. id say find a used mani. if you really wanna go the cheap route you can get a ebay fmic core and piping. you can find piping for like 80 bucks and a core for maybe 150

 

[KrayzieFox]

Well you need a new manifold first of all but unfortunately there aren't all that many options out there.

You could go with another stock one, which will likely crack just like your first one did so you probably don't wanna do that. They go for about $150 or so.
You could also buy a Thunder, but make sure it's the revised V2 version with the reinforcement brackets. The original V1 ones had some cracking issues as well. They sell for about $300+ used.
Then there is the Steedspeed which is very clean and very sturdy, but also the most expensive. He sells them for $650 and you're not very likely to find one used yet as they just came out not too long ago.
And MAM made a few manifolds back in their day as well, but those are beyond rare and expensive. You can only get them used and they pop up a couple times a year, and they're priced at $700+ if it's the equal length tubular one. Not sure what the bullhorn sells for, but I think it's in the $500's.

As for hardpipes, FMIC will be your best bet. No one really sells new hardpipes for the SMIC except for a banned vendor, and they're pretty pricey there too. Your most economical option is the Altered Customs FMIC kit. Comes with a core, all the pipes, couplers, and t-clamps. I think it sells for around $400 or so which is a pretty damn good deal for a complete FMIC kit. The only new FMIC I know of is the Corksport and that's $1000+. Otherwise you can look for a used MAM, HiBoost, or Turbolife if you'd like but they're pretty hard to come by.

Plus FMIC allows for much better cooling and overall performance.

 

[Pez]

^^^ The altered custom FMIC is worth the 400. I bought mine and took a few hours to install. It comes with everything you need and she'll even ship the pipe for the BOV if you have one. Very easy install, and instructions. As for the mani, I'm not to sure. I haven't upgraded mine, and LUCKILY no cracks on my stock one. Good luck.

 

[Amdeus]

lol anyone ever called to order a new mani? I did 1900 bucks lol **** that

 

[Metallic36]

I haven't been on here for a long time, wow.. Thanks for the recommendations, I'm in the process of becoming an AV again, so soon I'll be allowed to mention things that I cannot at the moment. (sssh)

As for the mani, I liked the Steedspeed I had for the ease of the install. The placement of the bolt holes is wonderful. Nothing is worse than trying to get that MAM one on *sigh* Been there done that. They look nice, but geez. The Steedspeed design is nice, and also allows room for the FMIC piping as well so that it's not that much of a tight fit. The MAM stuck out near the turbo, gave limited room for the FMIC piping.

 

[Outlawstar98]

SteedSpeed Turbo Mani is a beast! Love mine!

 

[destineal]

SteedSpeed Turbo Mani is a beast! Love mine!

show off! does it change the sound any?

 

[Outlawstar98]

show off! does it change the sound any?

A little? It's hard to tell.

 

[BadBandar]

I also like the steedspeed. Its a well built manifold. And i got it in stealth black. hehe.

 

[NCoppersmith]

I'll chime in on the steedspeed, it's an exceptional piece of equipment, and the shiny arp studs/nuts and black coating looks sharp. Turbohoses makes a SMIC that may have hard piping, look it up. If you do go FMIC you'll probably end up replacing the radiator with at minimum a full length P5 one as well, and depending on how much room you have you'll need slimline fans too, etc etc.

 

[joghia]

I also like the steedspeed. Its a well built manifold. And i got it in stealth black. hehe.

Same here. Awesome manifold and really helps top end. Going from a cracked stocker to a mint Steedspeed, the car now feels like a totally different beast!