Exhaust manifolds

[69S4]

The tubular exhaust manifolds on my S4 have started to crack up and despite my best efforts with a MIG torch the inner half, for cylinders 2 and 3 looks to be beyond saving. A quick call to my favourite Bromsgrove based spares supplier has the price of a new, complete (they don't do just the inner), stainless (no mild steel any more) system at around ?500 . That's a bit more than my budget will run to (to say the least!) so I'm looking for alternatives / suggestions / advice etc. I have welded these things up from scratch in the past (although not for the Elan) so if all else fails I'll probably do that but if anyone knows of an alternative supplier (I've also rung Sue Miller - stainless only) or has a spare they no longer need ...

[oldelanman]

Hi Stuart,
?500
Have you tried SJ Sportscars ? They list the stainless steel manifold for ?166 - no idea if they have it in stock though.

Regards,

[ardee_selby]

"stainless (no mild steel any more) system at around ?500"

That's not good news, given the poor reports (in here) on certain stainless manifolds!

(Who makes them now? Do we know?)

But as Roger says, ?500? Does that include VAT?

Good Luck - Richard

[mark030358]

I bought one for my S4...

nice and shiney... bigger bore... 35mm I think...

BUT.....

it didn't fit, it hit the engine mounting. I spoke to "Roy" who said they would check with the supplier as "never had this before". So sent it off...

Anyway fair enough they fixed it, whacked it with a hammer... it fits now.

Mark

[mark030358]

... forgot... ?500 inc VAT

[69S4]

Hi Stuart,
?500
Have you tried SJ Sportscars ? They list the stainless steel manifold for ?166 - no idea if they have it in stock though.

Regards,

Yes they do have them in stock - ?200 inc VAT as opposed to Matty's at ?500 inc VAT. Not quite sure what marks Matty's out as worth over twice the money, (or SJ's as not) especially if you have to "modify" it to fit. Sadly SJ's won't sell me the inner half pro rata

Actually if the quality is there that's probably not a bad price considered long term. The rest of the system from the Y piece back on my car is stainless and has lasted more than the 30yrs I've had the car. Mild steel manifolds seem to last around 15yrs and then, patched up, another five. Unfortunately though atm there is so much other expenditure going on in my life that it's short term or nothing.

[ardee_selby]

Yes they do have them in stock - ?200 inc VAT as opposed to Matty's at ?500 inc VAT.

Sorry Stuart, but are you sure about the comparison?

I understood (from your OP)...

"the price of a new, complete (they don't do just the inner), stainless (no mild steel any more) system at around ?500"

...it was total system, not a manifold "system"

Cheers - Richard

[alan.barker]

i put stainless manifolds on my 1972 Sprint which i bought from sjsportscars. Do a trial assembly and be carefull. Mine did not fit and touched the chassis. So you need to adjust the manifolds or adjust the flange on the chassis. Fit the head without a gasket, nip up head bolts and assemble manifolds to be sure with "Y" piece . I didn't and i wasted a new head gasket otherwise the manifolds are well made
good luck
Alan B

[mark030358]

I did forget to say the manifold is beautifully welded and fit on the head really well. No files required

[BobS2]

Hi Stuart

I am sure that I have at least one 'standard' sized set of manifolds in stainless in the piles of bits which have accumulated at the back of my garage, left over from several rebuilds and race preps. I will check tomorrow and pm you.

Thought... doesn't everyone end up with a large collection of bits which are not in use but are too good to chuck away because "they might come in useful one day" ?

Cheers, Bob

[holywood3645]

There is a set for a Plus 2 on ebay in the US at present with one day left. They are called 'headers' in the US

http://www.ebay.com/itm/lotus-elan-head ... 20bee9fda4


James

[pharriso]

Thought... doesn't everyone end up with a large collection of bits which are not in use but are too good to chuck away because "they might come in useful one day" ?

Cheers, Bob

Absolutely.... I have piles of half used Brake pads, distributor caps etc. My wife is giving me therapy to throw away such stuff....

[archigator]

Mild steel Elan headers from r.d. enterprises in the US, $285.00. I haven't tried them, but am contemplating them vs. welding the crack in my stock (but Jet-Hot coated) Elan headers.
Just another potential option.

I am just now finding out what a bear they are to remove! *

Gary
'71 Sprint FHC
Miami, Florida

* A day later, after removing the carbs, both motor mounts and the mechanical fuel pump, my headers have been liberated!

[69S4]

Yes they do have them in stock - ?200 inc VAT as opposed to Matty's at ?500 inc VAT.

Sorry Stuart, but are you sure about the comparison?

I understood (from your OP)...

"the price of a new, complete (they don't do just the inner), stainless (no mild steel any more) system at around ?500"

...it was total system, not a manifold "system"

Cheers - Richard

I phoned them both yesterday, specifically asking just for manifolds and those were the prices I was given. I was talking to the guy at Matty's around the subject for a couple of minutes and I don't think there was any misunderstanding. Stainless steel "big bore" tubular manifolds (including the Y piece) for a 69 S4 Elan = ?400 + vat. My reference to "complete" above wasn't in reference to the manifolds and the rest of the exhaust train inc the silencer box etc but complete as in the two separate halves of the manifold as opposed to just the half for cylinders 2&3 which is what I'm looking for. Sorry if it didn't come across as clearly in the post as it seemed in my head when I was tapping it out. On the face of it though you would think that if one dealer is doing them for ?200 (inc) and another wants ?500 that you'd be getting a bit more for your money than just an extra 0.5 or 1mm wall thickness in the tubing.

How well these things fit (or don't!) is an interesting area. When I bought my Elan in the early 80's I'd guess it was still on the original manifolds. They fitted easily with quite a bit of "chassis rail" clearance and retained the fit when the chassis was changed. A year or two later though the patching started and eventually I replaced them with a new Lotus mild steel set. They however hit the chassis and I had to grind away a couple of semi circular patches to give them clearance. They also ran much closer to the passenger footwell and I soon saw signs of heat damage on the glassfibre. I ended up wrapping them in heat resistant tape which worked but is partly responsible for their current poor state . None of this would have been necessary if the replacement ones had been as accurately constructed as the originals - Lotus would have been on the phone to whoever made them pretty quickly if they didn't fit on the production line or if they were getting warranty claims for heat damage. We get "never had this before"

[elj221c]

I am just now finding out what a bear they are to remove!

That's probably because they are one piece!

All manifolds that I have ever had are three piece set ups, 1 & 4, 2 & 3 and a Y piece.

The last one I bought (a long time ago) was suposed to be stainless and was a bit of a rip-off. It wasn't until it had been on the car for a time that I discovered that the bolting flanges were in fact mild steel!