Tubular Manifolds do I go for it?

[richardthestag]

Hi

For the sake of all things that are shiny I am thinking about installing tubular headers onto my Stag engine and am looking for some pointers. The car is a bog standard 73 RHD with TV8 and J-Type Man OD. I have a stainless system which is getting on in years a little but still works.

My reasons aside from shiny things attraction – which I really don’t have, are;

1. More power – readying the engine for a carb u/g

2. Replace my crappy looking manifolds and link pipes with something that actually fits the car. BW65 link pipes on a J-type o/d box – long story!!

3. Get around the old exhaust manifold kissing the steering intermediate shaft. Tried new engine mounts and manipulating the rack about and it still occasionally “clicks” when driving.

I have searched this forum for similar stories and not found my answers so here are my questions.

1. What tubular manifolds do I buy, Rimmers, Monarch .....?

2. Do I need to wrap them? The car doesn’t run hot at the mo only ever goes over the 1 / 2 way mark when pulling up after a bit of brisk motoring :P ?

3. Should I buy a complete system or will it link into my 16 year old rimmers sourced system?

4. Will they make the engine a lot louder? Sometimes the exhaust note can be a bit tiring – and no I am not gay! – I just don’t want it any louder than it currently is?

5. Will I need to move the alternator to n/s head mounting?

6. Will I still suffer from steering intermediate shaft clicking against the manifold?

7. Will it make access to oil pump/filter etc any easier?

Lastly and if I go ahead will I need to lift the engine off its mounts to get at the old manifold bolts. I seem to recall when I had a blowing manifold some years ago it was a royal PITA to get at. How have others installed their manifolds?

Cheers

Richard

[Camo]

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I went for Monarch manifolds on my RV8, they are wrapped so don't add any shine to the engine bay.

Also the engine bay heat increased significantly, before fitting the temp was always dead centre, now the fan comes on even when driving below 50 mph on warm days....

Admittedly I don't run a normal fan, just a Kenlowe type but always did, the heat increase was huge with the Monarch manifolds.

Stu

[stagmuffin]

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the only gain is in power!!! the noise may well get louder as the st/steel is not as dense as the old cast iron manifolds .

heat will be an issue unless you wrap or get ceramic coating which is ÂŁÂŁÂŁÂŁÂŁÂŁÂŁ.

clearance for steering may be a bigger problem or you might get lucky.

oil pump gets harder to access.

they wont stay shiney.

they will mate up to your old system with link pipes

no need to move alternator,but i did its a better place out of the muck.

old manifolds are a pig so do what is needed to make it easy for yourself

but ive fitted them with a carb upgrade love the noise and extra power on tap.



before you shell out see if a local owner got this set up they might take you out and you can judge for yourself. or you could pop down to enginiuty on sat morning and there will be a good few modded stags for you to listen to at full chat ont he rolling rd power challenge.



good luck steve............

[MB]

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I have very old Mild steel tubular manifolds, the design where both sides come down the front. The Alternator had to be moved to the topleft to fit these which is in its self a worthwhile mod IMHO. Mine is standard stainless from the silencer back. The noise is different to standard but still unmistakably Stag and I don't think there was any noticeableunder bonnet temperature increase. Don't know if that's a characteristic of mild steel over stainless.

I don't know if this design is still available because all the ones that appear to be available now have the right bank dropping down to the rear like the standard manifolds. I don't see how the latter type with theright bank still going down the rear of the engine is better. There's stories of adjusting engine mountings to get a few thou clearance from the steering shaft and not being able to remove the dipstick.

I have also heard stories that putting exhaust wrap on manifolds can cause them to crack. Can any one confirm/deny this.

Mine came from the "Stag Man" (who remembers him)many years ago and I believe where a copy of Tony Harts original design from his racing Stag.

[Sheepdip]

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Got mine from Robsport at ND a year ago and still to fit. One side had a warp in the face and had to be returned (they milled it out) - Robsport as usual sorted it for me. Bit worried about cutting the downpipes in case I make them to short!

Not sure why underbonnet temp should increase - I would have thought the cast iron would retain heat more, especially after stopping engine, if anything if efficiency is increased there would be less heat? The only advantage of wrapping that I see is to keep the heat from any nearby hoses etc.

[mjheathcote]

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MB wrote:

I have very old Mild steel tubular manifolds, the design where both sides come down the front. The Alternator had to be moved to the topleft to fit these which is in its self a worthwhile mod IMHO. Mine is standard stainless from the silencer back. The noise is different to standard but still unmistakably Stag and I don't think there was any noticeableunder bonnet temperature increase. Don't know if that's a characteristic of mild steel over stainless.

I don't know if this design is still available because all the ones that appear to be available now have the right bank dropping down to the rear like the standard manifolds. I don't see how the latter type with theright bank still going down the rear of the engine is better. There's stories of adjusting engine mountings to get a few thou clearance from the steering shaft and not being able to remove the dipstick.

I have also heard stories that putting exhaust wrap on manifolds can cause them to crack. Can any one confirm/deny this.

Mine came from the "Stag Man" (who remembers him)many years ago and I believe where a copy of Tony Harts original design from his racing Stag.

I have the same.
Design is much better than the current offering, and having to move the alternator is a positive not a negative in my book!

Being mild steel they have a limited life, although mine are now 15 years old and still okay.
Fortunately I have a spare set, bought cheap through ebay because the seller though they had been fabricated incorrectly

[Dieter H. Marschall]

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Hello,

I had installed tubular manifolds on my TR6. There was no recognizable gain in power, but a very recognizable increase in noise and temperature - although I had wrapped the tubes. So I reinstalled my old cast iron manifolds again.

Kind regards, Dieter.

[KOY 23]

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Hello Dieter.

Thanks, that's just the answer I want to hear.

John.

[Arbman Al]

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KOY 23 wrote:

Hello Dieter.

Thanks, that's just the answer I want to hear.

John.

The TR6 has only got half an engine
The TV8 has twice as many exhaust gases all trying to escape, so the tubular manifolds have more of an effect. Since fitting mine I have been told it sounds smoother then an old manifold.
Going to power challenge tomorrow so all will be revealed.

As to wrapping, I spoke to a few specialists who all said for every day driving it is not necessary, only if you are racing.

Rgds.....Al

[MB]

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Not sure why underbonnet temp should increase - I would have thought the cast iron would retain heat more, especially after stopping engine, if anything if efficiency is increased there would be less heat? The only advantage of wrapping that I see is to keep the heat from any nearby hoses etc.


In my yoof my mate built up a Frienza with wild cam, webbersand banana shaped tubular manifold. On first start up it ran for about 15 minsuntill The plugs leads melted.

Got a god demo of how good silicon leads are though as these just discoloured slightly after continued use on the same car.


I think valve timing, mixture etc has effect of exhaust manifold temperature. From comments on here TV8not much changebut RV8 get hotter.

[Sheepdip]

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MB wrote:

In my yoof my mate built up a Frienza with wild cam, webbersand banana shaped tubular manifold. On first start up it ran for about 15 minsuntill The plugs leads melted.

Got a god demo of how good silicon leads are though as these just discoloured slightly after continued use on the same car.


I think valve timing, mixture etc has effect of exhaust manifold temperature. From comments on here TV8not much changebut RV8 get hotter.

I'm amazed the plug leads put up with what they do - sure everone had frazzled a finger tip on the hot manifold at some time.

I know this has differing opinions but maybe retaining a manual fan to gently waft air around the engine is a good thing.

Paul

[richardthestag]

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Hi

Thanks to all for the feedback. I am busy tomorrow morning with sons and football kind of thing so will miss out on the open day. I'd been keen to hear from any who can make it with their views on power noise etc etc.

Anyone live in the wycombe area who has em fitted? maybe we could meet up for a chat / demo?

Have a nice weekend

Richard

[Sheepdip]

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richardthestag wrote:

Hi

Thanks to all for the feedback. I am busy tomorrow morning with sons and football kind of thing so will miss out on the open day. I'd been keen to hear from any who can make it with their views on power noise etc etc.

Anyone live in the wycombe area who has em fitted? maybe we could meet up for a chat / demo?

Have a nice weekend

Richard

I used to - Tylers Green before moving downhill.....

[Richard B]

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arbman101 wrote:

The TR6 has only got half an engine
The TV8 has twice as many exhaust gases all trying to escape, so the tubular manifolds have more of an effect. Since fitting mine I have been told it sounds smoother then an old manifold.

As a confirmed Six'er I have to dispute this

The 2.5PI only is only 500cc down on a TV8 and in fact is the same capacity as the prototype Stag engine. Triumph had to go to 3 litre, as the prototype 2.5 V8 would not develop the power they required.

ps. and a good 6-3-1 exhaust manifold will add 15 - 20% bhp onto a 2500! :P

Stock check on garage, 1x Stag (3litre V8), 1 x 2000 Estate,2 x 2.5PI Saloon, 1 2.5PI Estate, 1 x 2.5PI Spitfire

pps. still wish they hadput into production a PI version of the Stag engine.

[Arbman Al]

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That's a lot of Triumphs Richard!:dude::dude:

Where about in Surrey are you?

Al.