Thunder exhaust manifold sucks

[43975]

I just re-welded my Thunder mani last week and I'm pretty sure it's cracked again underneath the header wrap.

Isn't the whole reason you can't run header wrap is because of the cracking??? I was under the impression that the wrap causes the heat to stay within the manifold which causes the metal and welds to heat up past it's limits and crack???
That's the exact reason the wrap and coatings void the warranty!!

 

[shane02pro5]

That's the first I've heard that other than if you have a vented cf hood to allow rain to get to it?? After welding the **** out of it 2x it looks more like s*** then it did when I bought it!! It was installed in a msp that was in a shop fire and even after sandblasting and repolishing... the black burn marks resurfaced after use.

The header wrap went on after the first time it cracked 4" and the egr nipple fell off like it was on with elmers glue!

 

[43975]

I found it hard to believe about the heat wrap or ceramic coating as well, until on went on google and started searching for info, I was looking to wrap what ever mani outside of the Steedspeed, but realized that the info is true. It makes sense. The whole purpose of the wrap is to limit the heat within the engine bay, and allow more heat to remain within the header thus escape thru the exhaust. I think this concept works well with an NA car, with less restrictions in the system. Which is probably why it's called a header wrap and not turbo manifold wrap...lol
The turbo manifold allows that exhaust gas and heat associated with it to linger longer then a NA header, due to the turbo being in the way. Then you add the fact that the turbo is adding even more heat.
You best bet to keep the Thunder mani happy is get as big of a DP as possible. In our case 2.5 and hopefully soon 3" DP. to help expel that heat and try to add some ventilation to the engine bay to keep the temps lower. I understand many people fears of a vented hood and the possibility of water getting on the mani. A proper well designed hood will have rain guards for that. or at least a cover

 

[DelB]

you can

Didn't you tell me that an adaptor can be had to run the t25 for $10???
What's the deal??

its really all on whos selling one but they go probley from 10 dollers to mabby 50 i would say

 

[_Sloteg_]

I will just throw in my .02 cent's here seeing as how I'm on my 3rd thunder manifold.....soon to be my 4th one that will be sold....



The runner wall's are too thin and the welding job is not that great thus leading to this manifold alway's cracking. You can brace this mani to holy hell and I still don't see that helping. Nothing short of a totally redisigned manifold with thicker wall's and less weld's will keep it from cracking IMHO.

Protophile is not at fault here at all. He is a very nice guy and has taken care of me every time I have contacted him for a replacement that's the ONLY good thing I can see about having one of these manifold's. He is also, losing his ass on repair's for these thing's and I feel kinda bad for him. The thunder manifold is just designed very poorly....


Like the OP I am done with changing this manifold it's getting a bit ridiculous for me to have to pull this thing off every few month's. My replacement manifold was sent to me with a crack that went unnoticed during the last repair and I just found another crack in a diffirent spot on the manifold a few day's ago....I am just going to get one made locally when money allow's. Who want's to change out a manifold every 4-8 month's? Not me...

Also, since I know the question will come up I'm running a GT28RS, CS full exhaust ( with a flex joint welded in), and full MM's....


Also, just to be clear I'm not here trying to bash anyone I'm just facing the reality of a part that I HAVE on MY CAR.



/rant

 

[43975]

I will just throw in my .02 cent's here seeing as how I'm on my 3rd thunder manifold.....soon to be my 4th one that will be sold....



The runner wall's are too thin and the welding job is not that great thus leading to this manifold alway's cracking. You can brace this mani to holy hell and I still don't see that helping. Nothing short of a totally redisigned manifold with thicker wall's and less weld's will keep it from cracking IMHO.

Protophile is not at fault here at all. He is a very nice guy and has taken care of me every time I have contacted him for a replacement that's the ONLY good thing I can see about having one of these manifold's. He is also, losing his ass on repair's for these thing's and I feel kinda bad for him. The thunder manifold is just designed very poorly....


Like the OP I am done with changing this manifold it's getting a bit ridiculous for me to have to pull this thing off every few month's. My replacement manifold was sent to me with a crack that went unnoticed during the last repair and I just found another crack in a diffirent spot on the manifold a few day's ago....I am just going to get one made locally when money allow's. Who want's to change out a manifold every 4-8 month's? Not me...

Also, since I know the question will come up I'm running a GT28RS, CS full exhaust ( with a flex joint welded in), and full MM's....


Also, just to be clear I'm not here trying to bash anyone I'm just facing the reality of a part that I HAVE on MY CAR.



/rant

I think you just swayed from the Thunder!!
I have a GT28RS and am about to install my final MM... the dreaded rear...But my Perrin exhaust has no flex joint which means I'll shake this mani quicker then you would!!!
I guess I;ll have to suck it up and add the extra money for a SteedSpeed unless another option surfaces in the next month or so.

 

[justanothermp5]

yea i heard that the wrap and coatings will crack the manifold faster, as soon as i heard that i took my header wrap off haha

i bought a header for my dads 84 gti and it says in bold letters on the package that header wrap will void the warranty, so i guess its a common problem with headers/turbo manifoldS?

 

[Outlawstar98]

Dude, I have a steedspeed you can buy, cause my car is torn appart and i can just order another one if you need one badly. Thats IF i can get another one whenever i need one. Thats if you need the mani soon. Just a FYI

 

[DelB]

ill buy it

Dude, I have a steedspeed you can buy, cause my car is torn appart and i can just order another one if you need one badly. Thats IF i can get another one whenever i need one. Thats if you need the mani soon. Just a FYI

Ill buy it just pm me

 

[43975]

I'm not sure if that offer was to me or DelB but if I end up getting the SteedSpeed I'm going to add the option to have MAZDASPEED etched on instead and might go with black. I already have black pipes and the black SSQV. so a black mani might add to the theme.

 

[nvmsp]

The original thunder mani sucks. You just have to have it super rewelded all around and it won't crack.
Mine is ported and super weleded all around, it's not gonna crack anymore ever lol.

 

[shane02pro5]

The problem though is that first i had a near 4" crack down between the 2nd&3rd runners then this past week another 3" crack intesecting with where the first one was and branching out right next to it. All the weld being built up so close in so many places will not allow the same expasion under extreme heat it had before.

 

[mspHtown]

The original thunder mani sucks. You just have to have it super rewelded all around and it won't crack.
Mine is ported and super weleded all around, it's not gonna crack anymore ever lol.

i believe either the shop lied to you or the porting is very very minimal. with the material being so thin, i cant imagine being able to port the manifold enough to have actual gains.

 

[nvmsp]

the porting is minimal but it's ported atleast in some spots. I got it used by member. I held them up side by side in/out and yes it is ported. Mostly or maybe only ported by the bottom where it connects to the turbo.

So protephile paid me for the rewelding of the ported one. Protephile sent me a replacement but he sent me one with a hole in it. So I figured why not super- reweld the ported one, and send him back the replacement he sent me. Nice guy, and he paid for the shipping and rewelding service.

The thunder only gained 5hp on a dyno so mine probably gains like 8-9hp.