vspecpgt

hey guys, just had a question, are stainless tubular manifolds normally louder than cast manifolds? i ask because i have the stainless obx manifold (yea i know some of them crack....) and my car is pretty loud up by the manifold... i hear kind of like a clicking sound.... i don't think it should be so much louder than a cast manifold, cause my best friend has an rx6 kit, and his manifold from the engine doesn't sound like this... also i do smell exhaust as well...



the other thing i guess it might be is my wastegate... i can't feel any air leaking from it, but right now it is not plugged back into the exhaust.... could it be, that maybe just a little exhaust is coming through the wastegate and therefore making a loud sound? only thing is i don't really feel any heat either....again with my friend car rx6 , the car quieted down significantly when we plugged the wastgate back into the exhaust.....



i've tried using a vaccum hose to my ear and moving it around the manifold and don't hear any tell tale signs of a leak... but just wanted to double check.....



also, any other ways i could try and find a leak? i'll prolly take the whole thing off as i'm getting rid of the ac and ps. plus i have a giant oil leak... and i might as well buy dragons engine mounts while i'm down there.....



thanks

harrison

94touring

My hks manifold was louder than my apexi, but the quality and port sizing between the two is a world of difference. A ticking noise can be a leak though.

vspecpgt

if i do find a leak... say a cracked weld... can i just re-weld over it with more stainless filler?

94touring

Yeah should be able to, but i'm no welding expert.

Silver Ninety Three

Stainless does seam to transmit this distinct ticking sound, but you may still have a leak. The obx manifolds tend to crack cause the metal is too thin.

jspecracer7

Cast manifolds are definitely quieter than tubular manifolds. The ticking you hear could be the exhaust pulses hitting the manifold too

rx7tt95

I tell ya, I've been battling leaks coming from my manifold and downpipe due to bad gaskets and GReddy's failure to stock anything and everything absolutely necessary for their turbo kits. If you hear a ticking sound, it's more than likely a leak at one of the gaskets. An easy way to check is to take some small diameter vacuum hose about 2ft. in length. Stick one end in your ear and use the other to "probe" around the turbine inlet to manifold connection AND the turbine discharge to downpipe connection. Check the wastegate while you're at it.



You can also feel for leaks with your hand when you first start it up. It'll get hot pretty quickly so be careful.



If it's a leak a the gasket, it could be bad gaskets, inproper torque, warped flanges. It'll be louder when the engine is cold too, and should quiet down slightly when it heats up and everything expands.

vspecpgt

yea i tried the vaccum hose thing.. but couldn't hear any leaks... it just seems alot louder than johns... anyway i'll let you hear it again next time i'm down michel.....

rx7tt95

Leaving for London in a few hours here...I'll be back late on Friday. Weather is going to suck over there. I had to go out and buy warm clothes last night as I don't own any! Anyway, the point is I'm sure I'll have an extra day or two off to mess around. I plan on dynoing the car when I return.

apexkw

i still dont think that its the gaskets harrison. you already put a couple whole new sets of gaskets down there trying to fix the problem..... i also dont think its improper torque... as we cranked that thing on there... anyways.. its just wierd.



and as far as it being louder than mine. hahahaha i really need to fix that exhaust leak on the dump tube. where can i get a v band that small? i will probably get the dump tube vband and make my down pipe a vband also.