Fitting A St185 Manifold To A St205....

[Leeky]

I've been looking at these XS Power performance manifolds from the states, they are a 9 bolts pattern so are designed for the st165 and st185.

I think they may be able to get hold of an 8 bolt version for my st205 but just incase i was wondering if anyone knows if i could modify a 9 bolts st185 manifold to fit the 8 bolt st205 pattern?

Because i 100% want one of these manifolds but if i cant get one i will have to resort to getting a st185 version to fit :)

Any ideas?

here is a pic of the 9 bolt version

I think i just need to lop off the single hole in the middle to match the 8 bolt pattern.

[Bibbs]

can't you just, not put a bolt in it ?

[Leeky]

Exactly, i mean i cant see a real difference between the two except for the st185 version having an extra bolt hole.

Do you think i should just buy it anyway and see if it fits?

I mean what have i got to loose, its a very reasonable price and if it doesnt fit i can always eBay it again.

The rev 3 and rev 2 engines aren't 'that' different, surely the pipework is all in the correct place.

:)

[jay dh]

if its a good price, then even if it goes belly up, u shouldnt lose much dosh anyway, worth a go and a challenge for u

[Bibbs]

think it'll be like the downpipes .. extra hole on some, not on others, still okay to just swap though.

(P.S. you going to send your CV or what?)

[Leeky]

Ok in that case i'll buy it I'll have to send you the CV when i get home dude as i dont have it with me out onsite here at the mo

[Bibbs]

Ok in that case i'll buy it    I'll have to send you the CV when i get home dude as i dont have it with me out onsite here at the mo 

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NP, I think they have just phoned Charlie ;)

[Sketchy]

Don't know if they've changed the design of these ones, but the early ones where to big to fit under the Top mount intercooler. Have you got an FMIC??

[Leeky]

No i havent got an FMIC, but im sure i could raise the chargecooler to clear the pipework.

Or maybe i should get a FMIC anyway......

[Sketchy]

No i havent got an FMIC, but im sure i could raise the chargecooler to clear the pipework.

Or maybe i should get a FMIC anyway......

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When I said it didn't clear it it was by quite a bit the pipes on the mainfold come out of the head then up and over and down onto the turbo, It's a big difference to the standard cast manifold which is pretty much flat.

Also looks like their going to start selling one for the 205 soon so you won't need to worry about modifing the other one. :D

XS-Power ST205 Manifold

Make sure you get it well cleaned out if you get one, some people have had problems with welding burrs etc. And if they come lose your turbo will not thank you.

[mikeb]

Are you sure the difference between the 8 and 9 bolt flange is just a case of missing out the centre bolt? I would be amazed if there was nothing at all between ports 2 and 3 on one side of the flange.

I'm sure someone posted on here a while back that the rev 3 head has larger diameter ports as well.

When you consider the added complication of intercooler relocation and only a modest performance increase of a tubular manifold on a turbo car, you have to ask if it's really worth bothering with. Daktari had some trouble getting it to fit his st185, an st205 could be a nightmare.

[Leeky]

Your right, the only reason the st185 version doesnt fit is because of the charge cooler.

I'd have to upgrade to an FMIC to get around the problem.

I've decided to wait and get the st205 version, shouldn't be long

[Sketchy]

Your right, the only reason the st185 version doesnt fit is because of the charge cooler.

I'd have to upgrade to an FMIC to get around the problem.

I've decided to wait and get the st205 version, shouldn't be long 

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Cool, let us know what it's like when ya get it, might be interested in one myself, but i'll let you guinea pig it first... :P

[Leeky]

Cool, let us know what it's like when ya get it, might be interested in one myself, but i'll let you guinea pig it first... :P

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yeah sure, will do

[dawesy]

hope you havent bought it yet as it wont fit! the ports are way different on the 205 and the bolt pattern is completely different. sorry. :(

[Leeky]

Thats cool, i havent bought it. Im gonna get the st205 version

[GT4 BOOSTER]

lee is that purely for the BLING FACTOR or will it improve the performance or anything else ?? just curious £ 195 aint bad either.

[daktari]

Is that 195 just for the manifold???

[GT4 BOOSTER]

seems to be.

theres some canny gear on there .i want this http://www.xs-power.co.uk/product_info.php...&products_id=30

this http://www.xs-power.co.uk/product_info.php...products_id=175

and one of these , for xmas please. http://www.xs-power.co.uk/product_info.php...products_id=158

[Leeky]

no no, i never buy anything for 'bling' - i dont believe in it.

I always only buy stuff that has genuine performance gains.

Just by looking at the design of the manifold it is going to be a lot more freeflowing and unrestrictive compared to the stock manifold.

I am also getting the dowpipe and the full exhaust system.

All comes to £618 for a full block back exhaust system - not bad

[*rollaboy]

i went ahead and bought one, thinking the same thing as you leeky, but as dawesy said, the shape and size of the ports are different in the st205.

i simply held the st205 gasket in front of the xs power flange.

i rekon you could make up a new flange and weld it on, and taper the ports so they collect into the primarys, but a new section of tube would have to be welded to correct the position of one of the extractors as its way off

. all in all, its a lot of work, and judging by the quality of the manifold, the stock one would probably flow better.

i might wait for a purpous designed st205 one aswell

[mikeb]

no no, i never buy anything for 'bling' - i dont believe in it.

I always only buy stuff that has genuine performance gains.

Just by looking at the design of the manifold it is going to be a lot more freeflowing and unrestrictive compared to the stock manifold.

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i judging by the quality of the manifold, the stock one would probably flow better.

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I think you will find that a tubular manifold will only make a minor improvement over the stock cast item. The biggest restriction by far in a turbo charged car is going to be the exhaust turbine itself, purely by nature of the way they work. A free flowing exhaust downstream of the turbo can make a significant difference, but upstream of the turbo gains will be minimal.

(I'm not saying that you won't see any improvement by installing this tubular manifold, but it won't be as impressive as you might be expecting purely from the appearance of the thing).

Also be aware that these manifolds are seriously weak compared to a cast one, and the thermal stresses involved only make things worse.

[Sketchy]

no no, i never buy anything for 'bling' - i dont believe in it.

I always only buy stuff that has genuine performance gains.

Just by looking at the design of the manifold it is going to be a lot more freeflowing and unrestrictive compared to the stock manifold.

I am also getting the dowpipe and the full exhaust system.

All comes to £618 for a full block back exhaust system - not bad 

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Let me know what the exhaust system is like, only it's a 3 inch system and the only person known to have fitted it so far was a guy on the GT4OC who tested it. But he had a garrett turbo, so there still the question of weather it'll cause creep on the CT turbo. Also I will warn you that some people have had alignment issues with the downpipes, others have found they fitted fine. The guy that sells them is Jason seems to be a sound guy, and seems willing to provide replacement if any issues occur.