Heard a small hissing sound, somewhere below the MAF. Tracked it to somewhere around the temp sensors. Took it in to the shop.
Today I had a look at it after they removed the alloy manifold. It has two steel pipes coming from it, that connect to rubber hoses. Both the steel tubes have been eaten away from the inside. Full of pinholes. Cannot be welded.

They tried the dealers, the junkyards, everywhere. Not one spare to be obtained... so they are going to take it to a mechanical workshop to have the tubes cut out of the alloy and replaced by something custom-built. Ouch.

 

I've never heard of this....


WHat did it to performance wise?

 

If I were you I would just jb weld/quick steel the pinholes around the metal fittings It would be a lot cheaper solution...

 

are you talking about the coolant logs? Why not just pull one from a junkyard motor?

 

There are no junkyard motors available. I'm in Mexico. Not that many Max Gen 4s around. I have two and I am wondering what state the other is in.
The tubes have no structural integrity left. I think they'll Dremel or whatever the tubes out of the manifold and argon-arc some bent-up aluminised steel ones in. Pretty good at improv over here. They do stuff you'd never see in the USA. Like, only one has a CAT. The other has a straight-through.

 

Hmmm ... I have a PO Box in Laredo if anyone wants to make me an offer of these in good condition? Can pay Paypal?

 

Is there anyway you can post some pics?

 

Not at the moment unfortunately. They gave the manifold to a machine shop today I think. You know the two temp sensors? They both sit on that manifold.

 

Got my car back. They did a really good job, cut out the old tubes, argon-arced new mandrel-bent tubes, also replaced another long metal tube that was on its way out. Massive amount of time and it came to the equivalent of about $150.