So I ordered a BR Ported Exhaust Mani from AWD Motorsports (coated black) and dropped it off at Team De Fries (Evo Rally Team here in Germany) as they were doing some other work for me on my head.

I went back yesterday and they said they had a problem with the fit of the manifold. Something about the inside turbo bolt holes being a bit to far away from where the bolts go into the block. I was pretty confused by this as I'm sure anyone reading this may be....

The thing is, these guys are pros, they have six or seven full rally evo's in their shop and their head mechanic Joerg supposedly built a car or two for Tony Makinen back in the 90's or something. I know these guys know their stuff....

So they told me they believe that the manifold could have been used as a core from someone who's car was running really hot and perhaps it warped just a little bit. Either way... they said that it would have created problems if it were running on my car because it was messing with the location of the turbo.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? I hate the situation because I don't want to get into it with AWD when I try and send it back... nor do I want to do that because it took too damned long to get it in the first place.

Any advice would be great! Anyone else heard of this happening since the manifolds we buy ported and coated are used? Thanks!

-Chris

 

I'm confused. Which mating surface is warped? The seal between the head and manifold? Or the seal between the turbo and manifold?

 

^^^ I'm with him.

While not impossible, it's pretty damn hard to warp the stock cast manifold.

 

I agree.The stock manifold is tough as hell.

 

Wow that's the first time I hear of this occuring on a stock manifold.....that's nuts.

 

Have you contacted AWD, they should honor the defective part and make exchange

 

Well I'm not saying that is in fact warped... and he said it was the back bolt holes to the turbo... I'm confused as well. I'm not saying one way or the other, as I wasn't the one who tried putting it on.

I just wanted to see if anyone had heard of this happening before and if it was possible. I obviously hope it is not the case and that I can in fact use it.

 

How are they lining it up? I've had them be tricky at times but to be warped in the manner you're describing seems incredibly unlikely. Are they slipping it over the two studs then the two bolt holes don't line up?

 

it was probably a EDM manifold with ANTI LAG, its slightly different