Exhaust Manifold

[Maark]

Hi All,

M12 3R

After several very difficult and painful hours I managed to get my front Exhaust Manifold off the car and take it down to power speed exhausts in Ashford for them to look at effecting a prepair.

The manifold had cracked down three of the 4 sides of the interconnecting welds that take the pipes to collector end.

A quite long chat with the exhaust man revealed that he thought because of the colour of the manifold it was running very hot due to what he descibed as "a restriction in the exhaust system"
He also mentioned it looked as if the ignition was being retarded or it was running a bit lean.

Also noted was on the inside of the manifold the welds had not been finished off/cleaned and this would create hotspots.

My thoughts on reasons for this are the "y" section and the back box on the standard exhaust it is running???

I am having the manifold repaired and once the backs of my hands have recovered and I can get the manifold back on I am taking it to him to have a look at the exhaust in situ.

Does anyone have any thoughts on these comments?

Cheers Mark

PS does the Fuel Pump mod need to be done on the 3R or did they sort it?

Does anyone know a good/reasonably priced silicon waterpipe supplier?

Thanks Again

Mark

Edited to add:-

Looking for part number of gaskets I've got the one for inlet on Turbo , There is one for 6 "Trianglar Metal " Gaskets, When I removed mine it had one gasket with the metal gasket inserts. What do I order??

Thanks

Mark

Edited by Maark on Tuesday 20th July 18:49

[MadMacMcMad]

Mark
Not wishing to be devils advocate, but the Noble manifolds (standard and M400) are crap! May as well be made of chocy. I have had both before I get shot down.
Even if you get it fixed and gusseted ( as I have done ) they will still crack. Mine went at the turbo flange eventually, so I have bitten the bullet and have Elunox ones now. The difference in quality is chalk and chop suey.

I am still a bit miffed cause I am just about to remove and replace the rear cracked M400 manifold.

The brace at the front manifold does nothing really as it is at 45 degs off to the side. It should be straight down to do any good. The Elunox kit includes the correct bracketry. Not cheap ( expensive actually ) but 6 years of Noble ownership and I have had the front manifold off 4 times. Not any more I hope.
If you intend to upgrade the exhaust ( I'm sure you will, cause that's rubbish too ) Roush!

IMHO

Edited by MadMacMcMad on Tuesday 20th July 20:02

[TuxMan]

Fuel pump mod still needs to be done , I have a full set of turbo gaskets if you want the .... Cost a good bottle of red wine :-)

[2.5bluenob]

ive had a new exhaust and they put flexi joints in to stop the cracking. maybe ask dave at power speed if he could do it for you.

[wessexrfc]

I have gone for the Elunox manifolds, but talking to the men in the know, Noble have changed the steel they use for their manifolds, so I don't think they are now as crap as we think. May be worth a call to the factory or I know South West Lotus Centre have them in stock and ask what grade s/steel they are now using.

[andygtt]

Def need to do the fuel pump upgrade as its the wiring loom thats the issue... exhaust is restrictive as std and depends what you want as to how much you will pay as to which aftermarket exhaust, I got mine including high flow cats and flexis for around £1500 but you can just replace the rear section for around £800.

My std front manifold kept cracking but have fitted flexis into the exhaust and M400 ones so should be ok now but time will tell as even M400 ones have been known to go.