by David Gentleman » Sun Jul 31, 2005 6:39 pm
Its not the flexing thats the problem. If you think about the layout, both manifolds come together and join at the turbo and this would be a completely rigid structure if you had no expansion joints. So when it heats up its most likely the joints on the headers will crack as they have nowhere to expand. You could fit stainless flexi joints as you find on the downpipes on most FWD cars.
The other problem with doing manifolds on the GTA is they have loads of bolted joints for a reason, to make sure they can be adjusted to fit properly. If you make rigid tubular ones, you have to hope they terminate at just the right angle to meet the turbo and vice versa, sit correctly on the heads, otherwise they are going to blow and there will be nothing you can do about it.
There are no other V6 engines that are turbocharged on the market that have the turbo centralised between the V. The other cars are the old 300xz Z31 and Buick Regal V6 turbos, but both of these cars have the turbo mounted on one cylinder head, with a link pipe from the other head going to it. Far easier to make, but again restrictive in power due to the massive unequal lengths, and if you were going to the hassle of making that kind of system, you may as well fit a turbo on the other side.
Supercharging would really suit the GTA. Sorts out the exhaust restriction, no lag, less underbonnet heat, and less emphasis on hot air going into the engine.