GMC 4-1 Manifold Heat Wrap? And Fitting

1. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

   #1 26th February 2007, 09:38

   Just bought a GMC 4-1 manifold for my VTR 90bhp....
   Its mild steel not the stainless ones they now make. Is it best to heat wrap it?
   Whats the advantages of heat wrap? Would it be ok to run it without heat wrap for a while?
   Sorry its possibly already been asked before, i also read in a thread which i cant find any more something about its better using some hight temp paint on mild steel over heat wrap?
   
   Also when fitting can i use my original gasket or is it best to replace it?
   
   Anyone had a 4-2-1 and a 4-1 on their car? which was the better one? cheers gang
   
   And are GMC 4-1's any good?
   
   rep is sitting here waiting
2. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

   #2 26th February 2007, 09:49

   Update
   Cermakrome Exhaust Paint thats what i think it was called!
3. ChrisJ Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Sep 2005 Widnes United Kingdom (England) Posts: 3517 Saxo furio

   #3 26th February 2007, 10:47

   GMC 4-1 are a good peice of kit, 4-1's are better for top end speed, where as 4-2-1's assist more witgh acceleration, but you will lose a bit at the top end.
   
   Heatwrap is not a necessity, lots of people run manifolds without it.
4. landy Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2006 south elmsall Posts: 5147 cammed vtr

   #4 26th February 2007, 10:52

   heatwrap tends to keep the heat out off the engine bay.
   
   and as for the gaskets its allways adviced to change gaskets when you remove the part
5. Mark51p Super Moderator Joined: Sep 2006 Wakefield Posts: 14427 Golf GT

   #5 26th February 2007, 10:53

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Stevey Just bought a GMC 4-1 manifold for my VTR 90bhp.... Its mild steel not the stainless ones they now make. Is it best to heat wrap it? Whats the advantages of heat wrap? Would it be ok to run it without heat wrap for a while? Sorry its possibly already been asked before, i also read in a thread which i cant find any more something about its better using some hight temp paint on mild steel over heat wrap? Also when fitting can i use my original gasket or is it best to replace it? Anyone had a 4-2-1 and a 4-1 on their car? which was the better one? cheers gang And are GMC 4-1's any good? rep is sitting here waiting

   you dont have to heat wrap your manifold if you dont want. the advantages of it are that it keeps the heat out of your engine bay and helps that gases to flow faster becasue they are hotter
   many people dont wrap their manifolds and have no problems
   
   i have never heard of painting your manifold
   
   when ever you change a manifold its best to change your gasket, you can get a proper metal one from Citroen for about £7
   
   4-1 manifolds will give you a better gain top end
   4-2-1 manifolds will give you a better gain lower down the revs
   
   GMC do make good manifolds so yes
6. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

   #6 26th February 2007, 11:22

   cheers...... all rep'd
   
   does it make a difference performance wise if its heat wrapped?
7. brianS Established Member Joined: Oct 2004 adelaide Australia prev. maidenhead (England) Posts: 1866

   #7 26th February 2007, 11:55

   get it ceramic coated, does away with the need to wrap it then.
8. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

   #8 26th February 2007, 11:57

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by brianS get it ceramic coated, does away with the need to wrap it then.

   how much does that cost? apparantly if do it my slef got to cook it at 500 degrees i cant find the thread i was reading
9. brianS Established Member Joined: Oct 2004 adelaide Australia prev. maidenhead (England) Posts: 1866

   #9 26th February 2007, 12:25

   not sure on cost i reckon it cant be as much as wrapping though
10. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

    #10 26th February 2007, 12:29

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by brianS not sure on cost i reckon it cant be as much as wrapping though

    where the hell can i get access to a 500 degree oven?
11. KamRacing Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)

    #11 26th February 2007, 12:53

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by brianS not sure on cost i reckon it cant be as much as wrapping though

    wrapping costs about £90 or there abouts once you have all the material and seal and proper ties.
    
    Ceramic coating is a more expensive process.
12. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

    #12 26th February 2007, 12:54

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by KamRacing wrapping costs about £90 or there abouts once you have all the material and seal and proper ties. Ceramic coating is a more expensive process.

    i thought it was like £17 and just wrap it up lol
13. VTS_16v_Boy Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2006 Dartford Kent Posts: 5251 Pug 1007 HDi Sport (daily) / Abarth 500

    #13 26th February 2007, 14:11

    There is No real proven proof that a Heat Wrap manifold offeres more power gains but the therory deffentaly points to hot gases moving quicker.
    
    If it was Stainless steel Id say it wasnt worth it but as its mild steel they do go a funny colour and look horrible after a while and can make the engine bay look untidy. For the money Id just wrap the top bits and not worry about the bits you cant see :-)
    
    I wrapped my 4-2-1 because it was mild steel but its cracked and Ive got a 4-1 Piper Stanless steel item coming and I just cant be bothered this time - Its more personal taste than a Performance adding item really unless your running very high bhp rally or race cars to be honest
14. riggsy Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2006 West Sussex Posts: 6280 Mk2 Saxo Vts

    #14 26th February 2007, 14:16

    I wouldnt use heat wrap on a mild steel manifold as it will rust! If water gets into it it will just sit there and cause it to rust.
15. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

    #15 26th February 2007, 15:21

    cheers for advice, is there anything i can put on it to stop it rusting? some black high temp paint from halfords?
16. craigy_87 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2006 Wishaw United Kingdom (Scotland) Posts: 7326 Nissan 350z

    #16 26th February 2007, 15:45

    sure i read somewhere camp david sayin that the heat wrap keeps in moisture aswell an that could give the mild steel a beating so ceramic coating sounds good
17. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

    #17 26th February 2007, 16:02

    would high temp paint not do the trick to help protect against the elements, how long does mild steel normally last?
18. riggsy Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2006 West Sussex Posts: 6280 Mk2 Saxo Vts

    #18 26th February 2007, 16:36

    I would say if you painted it that should stop it rusting? Right?
19. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

    #19 26th February 2007, 16:40

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by riggsy I would say if you painted it that should stop it rusting? Right?

    hopefully, get some nice black high temp paint!
    
    where can i pick the gasket up from?
20. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

    #20 26th February 2007, 16:40

    when i put the gasket on do i need to put any exhaust paste on or anything?
21. riggsy Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2006 West Sussex Posts: 6280 Mk2 Saxo Vts

    #21 26th February 2007, 16:49

    Erm citroen?
    
    I have the gmc 4-1 on my vts, it came with the car whe i bought it! I didnt know it was just mild steel untill some one told me. If i could put one on i would choose a stainless steel, they look better and obv last alot longer as they dont rust!
    
    Mine has alot of rust underneath where it joins the exhaust! Bit shit realy.
22. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

    #22 26th February 2007, 20:09

    it seems to be in good nik with hardly any rust al get a better luck at it during the week!
23. Adum Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Feb 2007 Southend, Essex Posts: 2568 Honda S2000

    #23 27th February 2007, 13:22

    I read a thread not long ago, and someone said to get ceramic coating was only 50quid?? it was a heat wrap thread by mattc i think.
24. belly_VTS Frequent Poster Joined: Jan 2006 Co Durham(north east) Posts: 626 cammed vts, (rest in pieces) corsa vxr - 340bhp

    #24 27th February 2007, 14:57

    wont mild steel start to crack if you wrap it??
25. riggsy Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2006 West Sussex Posts: 6280 Mk2 Saxo Vts

    #25 27th February 2007, 15:04

    Crack hmmm dout it but it will rust as water just sits in there!
    
    Best thing to do is to get it sand blasted and then ceramic coated, THEN wrap it!
    
    Thats what im going to do for mine as its already started to rust
26. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

    #26 27th February 2007, 16:21

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by riggsy Crack hmmm dout it but it will rust as water just sits in there! Best thing to do is to get it sand blasted and then ceramic coated, THEN wrap it! Thats what im going to do for mine as its already started to rust

    how long you had yours, think am just going to heat spray it to protect it from the elements! should i sand the old rust off or what?
27. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

    #27 1st March 2007, 19:15

    here she is
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Picked her up tonight, looks stainless but dirty! any ideas anyone?
    is there a good way i can clean it up ready for either heat spraying if mild and heat wrapping if stainless, whats the best way to tell. Its only 5 month old or something.
28. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

    #28 1st March 2007, 19:17

    was reading in haynes says clean around manifold and on engine where they connect before refitting, clean it with what? and when fitting do i need any exhaust paste or out on with it?
29. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

    #29 1st March 2007, 22:10

    
30. riggsy Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2006 West Sussex Posts: 6280 Mk2 Saxo Vts

    #30 2nd March 2007, 01:11

    Yeah make sure where the points that connect onto the engine are clean so its a nice tight fit!
    
    Shouldnt need exhaust paste.
31. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

    #31 2nd March 2007, 08:35

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by riggsy Yeah make sure where the points that connect onto the engine are clean so its a nice tight fit! Shouldnt need exhaust paste.

    what can i clean them with? or just wipe the shit off with a rag? (mams tea towel)
    
    cheers riggsy
32. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

    #32 2nd March 2007, 18:15

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Stevey what can i clean them with? or just wipe the shit off with a rag? (mams tea towel) cheers riggsy