welding a manifold.

[mark williams]

What would be a rough idea to charge for welding a new flange on a stainless manifold. Four cylinder one.

 

[SmartWerks]

I have similar jobs for you, I'm just after the void filled between the flange and pipe after porting but the same sort of timescale I would imagine - 4 pot also.

 

[AndyStobbs]

Would expect to pay between £60 - £90. I would charge THE AVERAGE manifold out at that.

 

[langy]

Couple of hours work for a normal manifold so I would of thought £60 -70

 

[SmartWerks]

Couple of hours just to weld a flange?

 

[langy]

Couple of hours just to weld a flange?

Its not just welding though, I would want to clamp it down well, being stainless it will move all over the place, I would also weld the primaries to the flange on the inside

 

[mark williams]

Totally agree there langy and you have answered a few questions I wanted to know. Firstly about clamping down and secondly do you weld inside if possible. Also do you purge inside the manifold when filleting the out side in case of side wall break through on the pipe?

 

[SmartWerks]

Its not just welding though, I would want to clamp it down well, being stainless it will move all over the place, I would also weld the primaries to the flange on the inside

That's makes sense, nicer airflow when welded both sides to. So 1 hour to do just the inside which is missing with the factory weld.

 

[mark williams]

I like to see any job I'm doing before committing to time lol! And it doesn't matter how long it takes long as it's right and the price is right for customer.

 

[AndyStobbs]

Plus unless the customer is unually meticulous the fit-up wont be 100%.

 

[langy]

Plus unless the customer is unually meticulous the fit-up wont be 100%.

Bang on Andy, I tell them no gaps and then they bring stuff in with 3mm gaps tacked with a Mig

 

[langy]

Totally agree there langy and you have answered a few questions I wanted to know. Firstly about clamping down and secondly do you weld inside if possible. Also do you purge inside the manifold when filleting the out side in case of side wall break through on the pipe?

I only purge if the customer asks for it, it's not really needed unless its high performance.
The reason I weld on the inside is it looks neater and provides more clearance for bolts, some bolt holes are very close to the primaries.

 

[langy]

That's makes sense, nicer airflow when welded both sides to. So 1 hour to do just the inside which is missing with the factory weld.

Unfortunately unless you have ever done the job it always seems a lot of time to the customer but that's how long it takes to do the job properly, bodge it and it will come back, better to do it right first time .

 

[langy]

Totally agree there langy and you have answered a few questions I wanted to know. Firstly about clamping down and secondly do you weld inside if possible. Also do you purge inside the manifold when filleting the out side in case of side wall break through on the pipe?

No fillet outside, welded inside, you shouldn't be breaking though the tube on an easy job.

 

[mark williams]

You don't fillet outside? The flange only sits on the pipes on this job not suiting through the flange to the forward face.

 

[langy]

You don't fillet outside? The flange only sits on the pipes on this job not suiting through the flange to the forward face.

In that case you will have to fillet outside, all my headers get holes the OD of the tubes and welded on the inside, neat tidy and are usually port matched

 

[mark williams]

This is for some one fitting a Honda manifold on a sabb turbo.

 

[hotrodder]

This is for some one fitting a Honda manifold on a sabb turbo.

First questions i'd be asking the punter are...

How close is the port spacing on the Honda manifold to the SAAB engine?
How does the port size & shape on the SAAB compare to the primaries on the Honda manifold?
Is the punter cutting the old flange off and correcting the above where necessary or are they suppying a complete manifold and a new flange?

If the port spacing and primary size/shape don't match this is a MUCH bigger job than just welding a flange. Especially if the manifold is used or a cheapnese POS aftermarket stainless example- they're often VERY badly made and will spring all over the place if you cut a flange off

As Langy my preferred method is pass the primaries through the flange and weld from the inside... as well as the bolt hole clearance thing it places the welds closer to the neutral axis of the flange which = less distortion potential and less residual stress

 

[SmartWerks]

So how would a factory manifold that has been cleaned, outgased, blasted, flange ported, inside surface of tubing polished and the outer surface peened. The manifold is cast and the tubing isn't stainless but when you port the flange their is a lip exposed between the flange an the tubing so that needs filling.

 

[mark williams]

not liking the sound of the tubes springing once cut, ive been told the new flange is a good fit, some slight gaps , will have to wait and see when it comes