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MG MGA - Anyone seen one of these? (exhaust manifold)

Hi,

When my dad bought the HRG Barrington cylinder head for my A, he bought an exhaust manifold to go with it but never installed it. So it sat in the garage for 35+ years. Does anyone know about this kind of manifold? Is it worth installing? He said something about it needing to be welded because of the flexible tubing. Even if it doesn't improve the performance, it looks better than the current one which is covered in surface rust.

Here's a picture (copy and paste):

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/5366/dsc068551sp7.jpg

Darian Henderson

I forgot to mention that the manifold came from the same company.
Darian Henderson

Darian-
It is Derrington, not Barrington.
That manifold is a very nice period piece, almost a shame to use it, can't be many left. I would have it coated to preserve it. The flex tubing looks like it is designed to be welded to the sawn off front pipe, but it is not very difficult to arrange it to clamp on. If you had the manifold coated, you would likely have to remove the flex tube anyway. The flex tube will eventually fail and need to be replaced, but stainless flex tube is easy to come by. The manifold is probably not a great improvement over the stock A one in actual use; it is definitely old school and out of step with today's thinking. On the other hand, it's way cool for a vintage restoration, and it's not likely any worse than the original.
I am a bit jealous of your good fortune in inheriting this car; sounds as if it should be returned to its former glory, in as close as possible a state as how your Dad had it.
FRM
FR Millmore

Thanks for letting me know. What would you coat it with?

Do you think it would kill it too much to remove the flex tube, cut off part off the bottom part of the old manifold and weld it to this new one so that it can be bolted onto the exhaust pipe? The idea would be that then I wouldn't have to worry about the flex tube failing.

On another note, I'm doing my best to get this thing respectable. More and more I'm learning about how lucky I was with this. So far it hasn't cost me too much, but the breaks need to be redone including a new master cylinder.

I still can't wait to drive it...
Darian Henderson

I had a header with a flex pipe on a B back in the 70's. The flex pipe kept separating and gave me nothing but grief. Replaced it eventually.

Rich
Rich McKIe

I had the same thing on my Austin-Healy-- ditto on the grief !! I finally welded a piece of solid tubing in place of the flex tubing..
gil

Forget about cutting off the end of the stock cast iron manifold and attempting to weld it to the tubular steel header. If you really want to use the header, the best thing to do is weld a flanged end onto it, that matches up with a similar flanged end on the exhaust pipe, with some high temp gasket material in between. Way easier to just keep using the stock type manifold and exhaust pipe.
Del Rawlins

As for coating it, IMHO nothing will beat the JetHot coating. This is applied inside and outside the exhaust manifold, reduces the chance of the manifold ever rusting out and cuts down on engine compartment temperatures.

I have no connection with the company other than being a satisfied customer (MG TC X 2).

www.jet-hot.com
Gene Gillam

A beautiful sculpture, but not terribly efficient by todays standards. Since it's irreplacable, I certainly wouldn't install it on a car unless it was with the original head and then only for shows, not sustained driving. And of course get it coated as well. For normal use I think I'd use a later header, coated as well to eliminate the rust problem.
Bill Young

Thanks everyone, I appreciate it. I think I'll hold off on installing this for now.
Darian Henderson

Because this is a piece of history, I would try to keep it as original in appearance as possible. From the picture it looks as though the flex piece slips over the manifold. I would carefully make cuts along the side of the flex piece to remove, then take your existing tail pipe to a muffler shop and have it "bumped out" so that it will slide over the manifold. A couple of 1.5" cuts at the front of the bump out and a good clamp and your in business. Shouldn't cost much either. Best part is you didn't screw up the irreplaceable part.
JohnB

Sorry, but I don't understand the "piece of history" and "irreplaceable" thoughts - it's an exhaust manifold that can be easily replicated. Not using it does nothing for it - that just means it stays as a wall hanging in a garage for another 35+ years.
Gene Gillam

Darian,

Before investing any money on Jet Hot Coating or other coatings (which by the way are excellent on tubular headers like this) I would try trial fitting this manifold on your car first. I'm assuming that since you are in Texas that you have a LHD car. While difficult to tell from the photo the manifold you have looks to me like it might be intended for a RHD car only and may not clear the pinion shaft of your steering rack. This may explain why it was never installed 35 years ago.

Frank
Frank Graham

I'm with Gene on this. If it fits the head and you want to use it, do it. What irreplaceable history buff is going to pay for this,and how much? It was made to go on the car, put it on. If nothing else, your exhaust flow will be smoother, hopefully giving a horse or two.
mike parker

Hadn't thought about that one, Frank. It is LHD. My dad ordered it from England, so you might be right.

I may install it after all. The thing is I haven't welded since high school and don't have the equipment, so probably not.
Darian Henderson

This thread was discussed between 06/02/2007 and 08/02/2007

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