This would happen just after Christmas!!!

[Paul.]

I think you will struggle to run those electrodes with that Buzzbox, I know it says OCV of 50 volts for the electrodes, but that is the miniumum, my experience is that to get good results and have a reasonable degree of arc control, you need DC and 70 OCV, those electrodes are pretty much what I refered to in my earlier post, A buzzbox is always a handy tool to have, so it may be worth buying one and risking a tenner on some rods, try them on some scrap first, if no good take them to someone with an inverter set. or a tig set and use them without flux as I did

 

[Porschemaniac]

Thanks for the advice Paul. Yes, I did wonder if it would be a bit marginal.

 

[gavuk]

post your car details s,maybe manifolds are cheaper out here in the sticks ?i'd be happy to check locally for you or you could put a request on partsfinder ,are there any jag clubs or forum's?who might be able to help?....i shy away from cast repairs at all costs ......is it engine mounts or heat that cracks the manifold's may help with repair options.

 

[Porschemaniac]

Cheers Gav - that is much appreciated.

As it happens, the car has (about an hour ago) passed it's MOT - so the heat to get these sorted is off.

Having said that, the tester did say that it struggled with emissions - which I am sure is a symptom of cracked manifolds (air in the exhaust gasses artificially 'leaning' it out and confusing the O2 sensors).

I think that the problem with the manifolds is a combination of poor design (show me an OE fit manifold that IS well designed), the large amount of heat generated by that thumping great straight six and the weight of the rest of the exhaust system adding it's own stresses.

I do agree that repairing them is probably only delaying the inevitable so probably won't go down that route now. Shame, though - I was using it as a legitimate excuse with the wife to buy a little buzzbox. Still, the money will be better spent on some good manifolds than on a new toy

Thanks again for your kind offer.

Best regards,

Ian.

 

[chevyman_de]

When you remove the manifold, please work your way from the outer bolts to the centre ones. Cast iron manifolds tend to shrink significantly over time and removing some inner bolts first just because they were easy to remove will put incredible stress on the outer ones. I've seen shrinkage of more than 6mm on a Jeep inline-6 manifold.
For the very same reason be prepared to modify the mounting holes of a replacement manifold if you don't buy brand new ones.

 

[Porschemaniac]

When you remove the manifold, please work your way from the outer bolts to the centre ones. Cast iron manifolds tend to shrink significantly over time and removing some inner bolts first just because they were easy to remove will put incredible stress on the outer ones. I've seen shrinkage of more than 6mm on a Jeep inline-6 manifold.
For the very same reason be prepared to modify the mounting holes of a replacement manifold if you don't buy brand new ones.

Thanks Steffen - I had not considered that.

I guess the shrinkage is also part of the reason that they crack?

Cheers,

Ian.