Rotted Manifold/Header Dilemma

[JJDraper]

I tracked down the source of the pops & bangs and noise - a hole in the manifold right by the clamp. I judge this to be too far gone to repair, although I have put a bandage clamp over the hole for the moment. My dilemma is that I have a spare manifold branch for this, but it is a genuine Lotus one - see pic. Does anyone have a new Genuine Lotus matching one in the UK that I could use to make up a set as I only have this branch? Are genuine Lotus branches common enough for me not to worry about it and fit the new one?

My view is that there should be enough genuine original parts for us to compare pattern stuff to, otherwise we cannot judge if the pattern parts are good enough. Ill fitting and poor quality parts seem to be common and without a reference, who can refute the "they were all like that in the day" argument.

Jeremy

[billwill]

Doesn't look like a very serious hole to me.

Plenty of straight pipe there to saw off the bad bit and get a pipe made which flares out to secure to the shortened pipe. Or a section of the same size pipe with a sleeve of just a bit bigger pipe to cover the join.