034 motorsport replica manifold cracked

[xgordyx]

If anyone is interested, I've been willing to sell this at a fair price it's only been used for less then 2000 km, maybe you can make it work for yourself.

PM me with a price if you like mate

[Bram]

Still I will buy this 034 RSR manifold after this story. It's just bad luck.....

[Petya]

Remember what i told you.

[Faheemo]

Stainless steel manifolds are Crap, My one cracks every month !!
I must point out , that Rubens from Audspeed replaced me a manifold all costs paid from the US, so was quite happy with that. (new one still cracks thou.)

[Big_kev]

Jamo

Just meaning that 034 supply the product. They choose which supplier to buy from and to represent them in the market. Who they deal with reflects on the seller.

But as s2central.net said, maybe i should reserve judgement until the outcome has been finalised.

Cheers

[aspro]

Hi All

I have seen so, so many ridged stainless manifolds with cracks non audi included, it is now getting boring.

The simple fact is that stainless can't compete with cast for durability as it work hardens when heat cycled, also the way most of these performance tubulars are designed makes them prone to cracking.

Until there is a performance tubular design out there with integral slip joints my money is staying in my pocket.

To be honest i would have expected the 034 RS2 manifold to have lasted longer, but you have to expect this from stainless tubular manifolds that have no provision for expansion, contraction and work hardening.

I think 034's offer of fixing it FOC is fair and realy can't be faulted, as there design might not be contributing factor to the manifold failing.

A few months ago i had the pleasure of looking at a ex works racing manifold from an 8v turbo made by lehman circa 1993. it was made with 3mm wall stainless tube, had slip joints built in and had most likely run in a season or 2 in an italian endurance series. There wasn't a single blemish in it.

[Audi_CQ]

Problem is that a lot of the manifold designs out there are using much to straight pipes from head to collector. With a lot of curves/bends there is much easier for the pipes to move without cracking.

[Billman]

A few months ago i had the pleasure of looking at a ex works racing manifold from an 8v turbo made by lehman circa 1993. it was made with 3mm wall stainless tube, had slip joints built in and had most likely run in a season or 2 in an italian endurance series. There wasn't a single blemish in it.

Lehman EMs are made out of Inconel. It doesent crack so easily.

[Bram]

The 034 RSR manifold has been taken off-line (not available anymore) on the 034 website today .......

[aspro]

Lehman EMs are made out of Inconel. It doesent crack so easily.

Hi Billman, you are absolutely correct they are made from inconel, just had stainless on my mind whilst typing that post. Although Inconel has much better properties for EM use, i still would like to see a stainless EM with slip joints produced.

[Bram]

I just got a message from Javad, that 034 motorsport is working on a cast version of their RSR manifold and will be ready in 2-3 months. So that looks promising!

[Billman]

the Cast Version is the Wagner one. You can find infos on the Wagner EM thread.

[aspro]

The Cast version from wagner looks like it will be popular, but it would have to be tested and tested again for me to part with some dosh, as the last thing i would want to be doing is welding cracks in a cast manifold.

[dubmeister]

Stainless manifolds are only there to look good on show ponies, I have lost count of the number i have seen that look good but are as much use as a eunuch in a brothel, if you use your car as it is supposed to be used then cast iron is the best bet unless you can fab your own out of inconel, I have seen some nice turbo manifolds made using pipework from the oil industry- but they needed additional support because they weighed so much!!
Most suppliers that sell 4,5 or 6 branch manifolds will not warrant them against cracking anyway so at least 034 have offered to repair the item. When i fitted a 4 branch on my golf i had to fit diesel engine mounts and a flex joint to give it any chance of survival, and that was a hd mild steel one.
Anyway porting the standard manifold is preferable on a turbocharged engine, at the end of the day if you dont want the problems then dont do it.

Remember - Speed costs...... How fast do you want to go?

[Wizard-of-OD]

I am surprised Corey didnt reply to this...

Makes me wonder..... did they select who to get the stainless steel tubing from or did you?..... Get my point?

Not really no...

but going by their response i will be trying to avoid them

hmmm...ok?
That seems like a fair assessment of the situation given the countless satisfied 034 customers.

Yes as Javad stated they did get a batch of poor SS.This has been rectified and should not change your opinion on what 034 is as a company.It is common knowledge that cast manifolds take long term abuse.Even robot welded SS manifolds built by Full-race require touch ups every now again.

Being the company that 034 is,the manifold has been removed and when the RSR version becomes available ,this forum will be the first to know about it.