Important! : Raceland Manifold still blowing, tried everything, pls help!

1. hudson701 Regular Poster Joined: Jul 2008 Port Talbot Posts: 279 Citroen Saxo VTS MK2. Lotus Elise Series 2

   #1 3rd January 2009, 20:50

   Following on from my previous thread for fitting a Raceland Manifold to a VTS, I'm still having problems with it blowing at the centre section, which is turning into a bit of a nightmare .
   
   I'm working on the car as we speak.
   
   Right, I joined the manifold to the centre section with a new carbon o-ring in place, and tightened the bolts through the Manifold flanges (as they have threads). The springs were positioned between the manifold and centre section. Even fully tightened, the section was still blowing. I then tried the springs on the end of the bolts as suggested in another raceland thread on here tonight. Again, the section was blowing.
   
   I'm out of ideas now. Should I remove the springs altogether? It just doesnt seem to be sealing. Please help
2. Rhea21 Frequent Poster Joined: Jun 2008 stoke on trent Posts: 649 now looking for a new car! NOT A CITROEN!

   #2 3rd January 2009, 20:50

   lots of exhaust GUM!
3. user_15516 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 6640 Integra DC5R & VTS

   #3 3rd January 2009, 20:54

   Does the fire ring sit tight around the front of the centre section? If not, put some exhaust paste on there so it's totally sealed.
4. willsy West Midlands Joined: Nov 2005 Nuneaton (West Mids) Posts: 13835 '64 Volvo V40 R’Design, '89 Ph1 309 GTi, ‘97 Mk1 S

   #4 3rd January 2009, 20:54

   Any chance you could get a pic of how its looking at the mo?
5. hudson701 Regular Poster Joined: Jul 2008 Port Talbot Posts: 279 Citroen Saxo VTS MK2. Lotus Elise Series 2

   #5 3rd January 2009, 21:09

   I just tried it without the springs in place and lol...yip the section is still blowing.
   
   I'll get a picture up now within the nxt 15-20 mins or so to see if my setup is correct. This is absolutely doing my head in I cannot believe it is still blowing!
6. hudson701 Regular Poster Joined: Jul 2008 Port Talbot Posts: 279 Citroen Saxo VTS MK2. Lotus Elise Series 2

   #6 3rd January 2009, 21:11

   Also the springs are pretty much obsolete as the tension is held by the manifold flanges themselves; as you tighten the bolt the thread comes out the otherside, and the tension is kept so the need to put springs and a nut over the thread seems a bit pointless...
7. hudson701 Regular Poster Joined: Jul 2008 Port Talbot Posts: 279 Citroen Saxo VTS MK2. Lotus Elise Series 2

   #7 3rd January 2009, 21:47

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. user_15516 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 6640 Integra DC5R & VTS

   #8 3rd January 2009, 22:25

   Looks like the gasket is a little too big for the manifold flange mate. Take the centre section/ decat pipe to a Kwik Fit etc. and they should have the right size gasket for you. Put plenty paste on the centre section before slotting the gasket on top.
9. Alexp Central South Joined: Jun 2006 East Sussex Posts: 3105 VTS :)

   #9 3rd January 2009, 22:37

   Can you feel it blowing, Mine sounds like its blowing but cant feel anything.
10. hudson701 Regular Poster Joined: Jul 2008 Port Talbot Posts: 279 Citroen Saxo VTS MK2. Lotus Elise Series 2

    #10 4th January 2009, 18:53

    The carbon ring is standard for the centre section so perhaps a smaller one is needed to accommodate the raceland?
11. VTR-Chris-VTR Established Member Joined: Jun 2007 Bristol - St George Posts: 2364 Mk2 Saxo VTS

    #11 4th January 2009, 19:21

    I agree gasket looks abit to bit, there for the center pipe cant sit into the downpipe properly.......just do best you can for now mate and try to get a smaller gasket if poss.
12. kornlover30 Established Member Joined: May 2006 Bordon, between Guildford & Portsmouth Posts: 1241 306 GTi 6, Group N 205 GTi 1.9 Fast road / Track c

    #12 4th January 2009, 21:25

    Mines the same, sounds like its blowing but its just a tinny noise due to the metal being thinner on the raceland than on stock manifold.
    BTW move your Lambda sensor wire off the drive shaft or you will be in more trouble!
13. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

    #13 4th January 2009, 21:51

    with no springs youll snap the bolts
    the engine will move about in the bay and the springs allow the exhaust to flex
    
    looks like the ring is too big to fit into your mani
14. Olly Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2008 Meerkat Harborough Posts: 2638 Saxo vtr mk 2

    #14 4th January 2009, 23:14

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by kornlover30 Mines the same, sounds like its blowing but its just a tinny noise due to the metal being thinner on the raceland than on stock manifold. BTW move your Lambda sensor wire off the drive shaft or you will be in more trouble!

    Mines the same, sounds like its blowing when u first start it up but then dissapears when u drive it, but isnt blowing atall.
15. user_15516 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 6640 Integra DC5R & VTS

    #15 4th January 2009, 23:21

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by sax-oli Mines the same, sounds like its blowing when u first start it up but then dissapears when u drive it, but isnt blowing atall.

    Common with the Supersprints bud - tis the sound of the gasses in the pipework.
16. hudson701 Regular Poster Joined: Jul 2008 Port Talbot Posts: 279 Citroen Saxo VTS MK2. Lotus Elise Series 2

    #16 4th January 2009, 23:51

    Well with the springs in place the centre section blows really bad...
    
    As stated above, the tension appears to be maintained within the threads of the manifold, so if you stick the springs between the manifold and centre section it will just force them apart. Alternatively, placing the springs on after the bolt is through the flange of the centre section and manifold will be pointless as the tension is already there courtesy of the manifold threads.
    
    I've just taken the car out for a quick spin and everything is much quieter since fixing the manifold according to the pictures above. Acceleration is more solid however i haven't noticed any improvement in torque as a result of the 4-2-1. My father reckons the car is no longer blowing and said the seal will improve as the join 'carbons up'. I hope he's right otherwise I'll look for a smaller carbon ring!