Exhast manifold/down pipe

[Oilburner]

More help needed i am afraid  I did have a look on search and in faq for this one, but cant see anything!!?

Sooo, whilst removing my heater matrix today (horrid ) I was checking out the manifold and down pipe. I have gases coming up in to the engine bay when starting from cold which go once the engine is up to temp which I am assuming is the gasket, there is also a serious blow from the down pipe to centre pipe connection, the result of an awsome hash job by the cars previous owner taking it to ATS, is being held by 2 U clamps on either side of the joint and loads of sealant!!!

Said previous owner came round today to laugh at me trying to do the matrix and we were talking about the boge job and the manifold. He then decides to mention that the 'bloke' at ATS said the reason the joint was not sealing was because it was a 16v manifold, which is apparently shorter than the 8v (like mine) so the centre section is to short to connect up...

So is the 16v manifold shorter? will it fit on the 8v? I cant realy see there would be any difference bettween them... or am I being stupid??

Cheers

 

[rubjonny]

He will have meant the downpipe, manifold is completly different fitment. its not shorter, its a bigger bore.  this would explain the need to bodge it so very badly to make it fit.

[Oilburner]

hmm ok that makes sense!!

Thanks; I will have to have a closer look...

Next problem is Haynes says a special tool is required for the clips on the Manifold to down pipe connection? there must be a way round this?

cheers

[rubjonny]

thats for the carby/early 8v GTI ones, if you really do have a 16v downpipe its got 6 bo0lts holding it on!

[Oilburner]

So its all good news then!! excellent, about time i had some of that!! 

[DOA]

I wont warn you that you have to take the subframe off to get the downpipe and manifold off then 

[Oilburner]

I wont warn you that you have to take the subframe off to get the downpipe and manifold off then 

WTF???

I bloody well hope not? 

[oakgreengolf]

If you can get the car in the air or if you have a pit it will twist out between the rack and the tunnel. You will need to undo the 3 bolts holding the gear stick thingy onto the rack and push this to one side. Its very tight!!

[rubjonny]

if you undo the rack and push it forward that would help, but droppin the subby would be easier.

what it might be is a 16v zaust fitted on an 8v, that could also explain the problem.  you can tell if its a 16v downpipe simply by looking at it, if it has a big round box on it then its 16v, if not its 8v (or a modded 16v )

heres an early 8v gti/carb 'toilet bowl' downpipe:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-Golf-Mk2-GTi-Exhaust-downpipe-manifold-pipe-NEW_W0QQitemZ320325848226

late 8v gti looks liek the above but it has a 6 nut flange, and a 16v one looks like an 8v one but with a big round box just before the end

[sidecarphil]

mine was blowing from the joint under the car ,

costs over 250 euros :O

because my car should have a cat 

SO cunning plan , fit a second hand 4 branch , 100 euros

(will be for sale soon as i'm changing to a VR6 engine )