GMC 4-1 Manifold Heat Wrap? And Fitting

[Steve]

Just bought a GMC 4-1 manifold for my VTR 90bhp....
Its mild steel not the stainless ones they now make. Is it best to heat wrap it?
Whats the advantages of heat wrap? Would it be ok to run it without heat wrap for a while?
Sorry its possibly already been asked before, i also read in a thread which i cant find any more something about its better using some hight temp paint on mild steel over heat wrap? :homme:

Also when fitting can i use my original gasket or is it best to replace it?

Anyone had a 4-2-1 and a 4-1 on their car? which was the better one? cheers gang :y:

And are GMC 4-1's any good?

rep is sitting here waiting ;)

[Steve]

Update
Cermakrome Exhaust Paint thats what i think it was called!

[ChrisJ]

GMC 4-1 are a good peice of kit, 4-1's are better for top end speed, where as 4-2-1's assist more witgh acceleration, but you will lose a bit at the top end.

Heatwrap is not a necessity, lots of people run manifolds without it.

[landy]

heatwrap tends to keep the heat out off the engine bay.

and as for the gaskets its allways adviced to change gaskets when you remove the part

[Mark51]

Just bought a GMC 4-1 manifold for my VTR 90bhp....
Its mild steel not the stainless ones they now make. Is it best to heat wrap it?
Whats the advantages of heat wrap? Would it be ok to run it without heat wrap for a while?
Sorry its possibly already been asked before, i also read in a thread which i cant find any more something about its better using some hight temp paint on mild steel over heat wrap? :homme:

Also when fitting can i use my original gasket or is it best to replace it?

Anyone had a 4-2-1 and a 4-1 on their car? which was the better one? cheers gang :y:

And are GMC 4-1's any good?

rep is sitting here waiting ;)

you dont have to heat wrap your manifold if you dont want. the advantages of it are that it keeps the heat out of your engine bay and helps that gases to flow faster becasue they are hotter
many people dont wrap their manifolds and have no problems

i have never heard of painting your manifold

when ever you change a manifold its best to change your gasket, you can get a proper metal one from Citroen for about £7

4-1 manifolds will give you a better gain top end
4-2-1 manifolds will give you a better gain lower down the revs

GMC do make good manifolds so yes

[Steve]

cheers...... all rep'd

does it make a difference performance wise if its heat wrapped?

[brianS]

get it ceramic coated, does away with the need to wrap it then.

[Steve]

get it ceramic coated, does away with the need to wrap it then.

how much does that cost? apparantly if do it my slef got to cook it at 500 degrees i cant find the thread i was reading :panic:

[brianS]

not sure on cost i reckon it cant be as much as wrapping though

[Steve]

not sure on cost i reckon it cant be as much as wrapping though

where the hell can i get access to a 500 degree oven?

[KamRacing]

not sure on cost i reckon it cant be as much as wrapping though

wrapping costs about £90 or there abouts once you have all the material and seal and proper ties.

Ceramic coating is a more expensive process.

[Steve]

wrapping costs about £90 or there abouts once you have all the material and seal and proper ties.

Ceramic coating is a more expensive process.

i thought it was like £17 and just wrap it up lol

[VTS_16v_Boy]

There is No real proven proof that a Heat Wrap manifold offeres more power gains but the therory deffentaly points to hot gases moving quicker.

If it was Stainless steel Id say it wasnt worth it but as its mild steel they do go a funny colour and look horrible after a while and can make the engine bay look untidy. For the money Id just wrap the top bits and not worry about the bits you cant see :-)

I wrapped my 4-2-1 because it was mild steel but its cracked and Ive got a 4-1 Piper Stanless steel item coming and I just cant be bothered this time - Its more personal taste than a Performance adding item really unless your running very high bhp rally or race cars to be honest

[riggsy]

I wouldnt use heat wrap on a mild steel manifold as it will rust! If water gets into it it will just sit there and cause it to rust.

[Steve]

cheers for advice, is there anything i can put on it to stop it rusting? some black high temp paint from halfords?

[craigy_87]

sure i read somewhere camp david sayin that the heat wrap keeps in moisture aswell an that could give the mild steel a beating so ceramic coating sounds good

[Steve]

would high temp paint not do the trick to help protect against the elements, how long does mild steel normally last?

[riggsy]

I would say if you painted it that should stop it rusting? Right?

[Steve]

I would say if you painted it that should stop it rusting? Right?

hopefully, get some nice black high temp paint!

where can i pick the gasket up from?

[Steve]

when i put the gasket on do i need to put any exhaust paste on or anything?

[riggsy]

Erm citroen?

I have the gmc 4-1 on my vts, it came with the car whe i bought it! I didnt know it was just mild steel untill some one told me. If i could put one on i would choose a stainless steel, they look better and obv last alot longer as they dont rust!

Mine has alot of rust underneath where it joins the exhaust! Bit shit realy.

[Steve]

it seems to be in good nik with hardly any rust al get a better luck at it during the week!

[Adum]

I read a thread not long ago, and someone said to get ceramic coating was only 50quid?? it was a heat wrap thread by mattc i think.

[belly_VTS]

wont mild steel start to crack if you wrap it??

[riggsy]

Crack hmmm dout it but it will rust as water just sits in there!

Best thing to do is to get it sand blasted and then ceramic coated, THEN wrap it!

Thats what im going to do for mine as its already started to rust :(

[Steve]

Crack hmmm dout it but it will rust as water just sits in there!

Best thing to do is to get it sand blasted and then ceramic coated, THEN wrap it!

Thats what im going to do for mine as its already started to rust :(

how long you had yours, think am just going to heat spray it to protect it from the elements! should i sand the old rust off or what? :panic:

[Steve]

here she is

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q84/Steve_vtr/My%20VTR/Photo-0152.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q84/Steve_vtr/My%20VTR/Photo-0153.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q84/Steve_vtr/My%20VTR/Photo-0154.jpg

Picked her up tonight, looks stainless but dirty! any ideas anyone?
is there a good way i can clean it up ready for either heat spraying if mild and heat wrapping if stainless, whats the best way to tell. Its only 5 month old or something.

[Steve]

was reading in haynes says clean around manifold and on engine where they connect before refitting, clean it with what? and when fitting do i need any exhaust paste or out on with it?

[Steve]

:bump:

[riggsy]

Yeah make sure where the points that connect onto the engine are clean so its a nice tight fit!

Shouldnt need exhaust paste.

[Steve]

Yeah make sure where the points that connect onto the engine are clean so its a nice tight fit!

Shouldnt need exhaust paste.

what can i clean them with? or just wipe the shit off with a rag? (mams tea towel)

cheers riggsy :y:

[Steve]

what can i clean them with? or just wipe the shit off with a rag? (mams tea towel)

cheers riggsy :y:

:bump: