inlet manifold flange thickness

[Hans Efde]

I am trying to sell my turbo inlet manifold. Someone was interested, but he wanted it to use for a normal aspirated engine. He had made himself an exhaust manifold, but with flanges of 6mm thickness. He asked how thick the flanges on the turbo inlet manifold were. 13mm! Then I checked my "new" mg inlet manifold which has a flange thickness of 9.5mm. Is that a standard thickness and used for exhaust manifolds as well? I am still interested in buying a SS LCB, but hope not to fiddle too much with spacers to get them both clamped down properly.

flanges.jpg (115.43 KiB) Viewed 12246 times

[manifold]

Hans,

Take it that you WILL need to play about with washers whatever manifold you apply. I have always had to mess about with half washers....or cut down washers....Easiest option was to shave an edge off the inlet manifold as its usually thicker than the exhaust.

[max midas]

I had usual flange problems when I installed my new SS LCB, tried the usual washer/half-washer combos to no effect.
I used an old manifold gasket cut down where the bolt holes are, so the thicker flanges had one gasket, the thinner ones had two.
No problems at all now.

[Hans Efde]

I had usual flange problems when I installed my new SS LCB, tried the usual washer/half-washer combos to no effect.
I used an old manifold gasket cut down where the bolt holes are, so the thicker flanges had one gasket, the thinner ones had two.
No problems at all now.

Hi Max, is your engine already running with the new LCB? It looked great on the pics and for 93 pounds good value. How is the sound and performance?

[max midas]

hi Hans, once I'd got the flange gasket problem fixed, she's been running fine.
As to the sound, in the engine bay she sounds fine. Don't know what she sounds like from outside, that's more dependent on bore diameter of the rest of the system (mine might be a little small, don't know), also don't know what she sounds like from outside as I'm always driving!
The lovely shiney reflection has turned a bit blue with the heat, and I've covered it with an ali heat shield to keep the engine bay temp down. Shame really, but the rest of the car is hardly concourse at the moment.
There's a sliproad onto my local motorway with a steep incline which I use to test the engine under load. She pulls pretty well upto about 5k, then the increase tails off. I've only got a warmed head/cam and my fuel/timing isn't r roaded, so there could be more power to be found. Doesn't stop the grin factor though.
I'd say it was £93 well spent.
Will try to post pictures when I get back off tour.

[Hans Efde]

Sounds very tempting. I am offered a plain steel LCB for 135 euro's via my Mini specialist, so it seems for the same amount I could buy a SS LCB! Do you have a link to their website and/or p/n of the LCB?

[manifold]

Hi Hans, Here you go.....

URL: http://www.specialist-components.co.uk/

...home of one of the plentiful K head engine kits.

http://www.twinkam.co.uk/shop/article_SC001/Stainless-Steel-LCB-Exhaust-Manifold.html?shop_param=cid%3D16%26aid%3DSC001%26

[max midas]

One of the few times an advert correctly describes the product, from their website -
'High grade stainless steel, mandrel formed bends for efficient gas flow, with optimised pipe diameters to suit the high performance Mini engine. Look good, get a performance hike and no nasty rust after 5 minutes in the rain, all at an unbelievable price'

[Hans Efde]

I am waiting for a correct shipment quote so I can pay via Paypal. They were carging 2 times the VAT over the shipping costs. But indeed a wonderful piece of engineering. I googled the T304 steel, this is good stuff! I wonder if these LCB's are coming from China, they are about half the price I have seen until now.

[manifold]

Whats the internal diameter of the outlet pipe on the Y piece max?

I might get one as a spare for the Coupe as its starting to crack up now in the usual place....even with the bottom bracket.