Gauging interest: Custom Turbo Manifolds

B

Bad Ass Black Trucks

New member
Hey guys I'm trying to gauge your guys interest in custom made turbo manifolds. I'm relatively new to the SY/TY arena, but it seems as though aftermarket parts are getting harder and harder to come by. I have a fabricator in town that is awesome with a TIG and Turbo setups. I had him install the narrowed back half in my V8 powered Sonoma and he did an incredible job. And I'm pickey.
He has made several custom turbo setups and turbo manifolds/headers from mild and stainless steal that look and perform awesome. One of the setups that he made was for a 106 mm turbo stang that is capable of running 8s in the quarter. I'lll see if I can get some pics of that setup for you guys.

So, I was wondering how much interest there would be in turbo mainfolds for our trucks. He could use my truck as a template and make them a few at a time. He could even make them with whatever flanges you want. My other question is what kind of price point would he have to hit to sell them. I have heard that they run $1,000+, but I haven't seen any for sale.
 
D

denny

Active member
Re: Gauging interest: Custom Turbo Manifolds

Used ATR and KB goes from $600 to $700. PRM headers $1650 to $1850.

Goto kep the turbo in the stock location, unless your going to do a downpipe also.

Under $1000 you might get interest, people are going into 10s with stock manifold.

Denny
 
phoonTy

phoonTy

Truckless. For now.
Re: Gauging interest: Custom Turbo Manifolds

denny said:
Used ATR and KB goes from $600 to $700. PRM headers $1650 to $1850.

Goto kep the turbo in the stock location, unless your going to do a downpipe also.

Under $1000 you might get interest, people are going into 10s with stock manifold.

Denny
Click to expand...

What Denny said. The stock manifolds are actually quite good in our application. Lots of fast trucks running them. :cool: But again, if you get the price right, there's a market for anything. :tup:
 
James Thomas

James Thomas

"NO CLASS"
Re: Gauging interest: Custom Turbo Manifolds

Many WOULD be interested in headers if the price was more reasonable (in the 700-900) range but as stated above, they have to be SS, maintain the stock turbo mounting location and oh..... no cracks (purge welded).

__________
James
 
MRKING

MRKING

New Parts for Old Trucks
Re: Gauging interest: Custom Turbo Manifolds

In the few years Ive had my truck , a dozen or so people have come forward attempting this . Quality dictates price and any fabricator whos good enough to make top notch parts , isnt going to give time away for pennies . Pipes , flanges , and collectors alone almost hit the desired price range around here . Whats his ballpark asking ?
 
Daron

Daron

Active member
Re: Gauging interest: Custom Turbo Manifolds

Bad Ass Black Trucks said:
Hey guys I'm trying to gauge your guys interest in custom made turbo manifolds. I'm relatively new to the SY/TY arena, but it seems as though aftermarket parts are getting harder and harder to come by. I have a fabricator in town that is awesome with a TIG and Turbo setups. I had him install the narrowed back half in my V8 powered Sonoma and he did an incredible job. And I'm pickey.
He has made several custom turbo setups and turbo manifolds/headers from mild and stainless steal that look and perform awesome. One of the setups that he made was for a 106 mm turbo stang that is capable of running 8s in the quarter. I'lll see if I can get some pics of that setup for you guys.

So, I was wondering how much interest there would be in turbo mainfolds for our trucks. He could use my truck as a template and make them a few at a time. He could even make them with whatever flanges you want. My other question is what kind of price point would he have to hit to sell them. I have heard that they run $1,000+, but I haven't seen any for sale.
Click to expand...

Dayton eh? I used to know my way around that town. Who is the fabricator?
 
blk00z28

blk00z28

Forced to by choice
Re: Gauging interest: Custom Turbo Manifolds

I still find it kind of funny that you can get a set of headers for TB's for dirt cheap and those guys have had NO problems with them yet.
 
B

Bad Ass Black Trucks

New member
Re: Gauging interest: Custom Turbo Manifolds

The guys name is Bill, he is origionally from Florida. How he wound up in Dayton, OH I don't know. He was recommended to me by Mike Brown of Ohio Boys Racing (Famous for their rediculously fast turbo F-bodies: http://www.gmhightechperformance.com/features/0701gm_2002_pontiac_trans_am/index.html). Bill does all thier certified chassis fabrication.

I haven't been able to find the pics of the turbo manifold on the 7 sec stang. He doesn't have pictures of that car on his site, apparently the owner wants to keep it low on the radar. He uses pre mandrel-bent stainless and cuts to get the contour desired. It looks like it takes the heck of a lot of time but comes out very nice.

As far as a price goes, we haven't looked into it. His rates are fairly reasonable though.

I did see a set of used KB headers go for $666 on e-bay.
 
JSM

JSM

Active member
Re: Gauging interest: Custom Turbo Manifolds

I have $5-600 in material in my headers before any fab work. Probably 20+hrs to build them, and that is 304SS.

Unless someone has an in on cost effective material and doesn't mind working at lower than standard rates I can see it working.

By all means see what you can do, if you can make a new set for $1k or less there will be a market for them. Mike makes some good quality pieces and although most consider the price high, it is what it takes when your making low production parts, paying someone to weld, and keeping the heat and lights on.
 
S

SCWolverine

New member
Re: Gauging interest: Custom Turbo Manifolds

JS Manufacturing said:
Unless someone has an in on cost effective material and doesn't mind working at lower than standard rates I can see it working.
Click to expand...

Anyone have a material "list"? Mainly curiosity, outside chance of more.
 
JSM

JSM

Active member
Re: Gauging interest: Custom Turbo Manifolds

at a minimum (prices are rough guesses I have done no research in awhile)

2 flanges 3/8" or thicker IMO ~$70 or so depending. Just a rough guess here.
2 collectors $50 x 2
6 U-Bends $40 x 6
2 Donuts 2 x $65
4ft straight tube $50
Turbo Flange $40
2 v bands $50 x 2

Just rough guessing here, someone can do some more detailed research.

~$450 (adding in my head) and I didn't include anything for a crossover, fab work, welding (should be back purged also if you are selling them IMO).
 
Foot Performance

Foot Performance

Donating Member
Re: Gauging interest: Custom Turbo Manifolds

JS Manufacturing said:
at a minimum (prices are rough guesses I have done no research in awhile)

2 flanges 3/8" or thicker IMO ~$70 or so depending. Just a rough guess here.
2 collectors $50 x 2
6 U-Bends $40 x 6
2 Donuts 2 x $65
4ft straight tube $50
Turbo Flange $40
2 v bands $50 x 2

Just rough guessing here, someone can do some more detailed research.

~$450 (adding in my head) and I didn't include anything for a crossover, fab work, welding (should be back purged also if you are selling them IMO).
Click to expand...


And then if someone else is going to buy them and then resale :rant:
 
G

Grimgrak

New member
Re: Gauging interest: Custom Turbo Manifolds

I'd pay abit more for 321ss but doesn't rpm's work better with aftermarket heads with different angle than the stockers?
 
S

SCWolverine

New member
Re: Gauging interest: Custom Turbo Manifolds

JS Manufacturing said:
at a minimum (prices are rough guesses I have done no research in awhile)

2 flanges 3/8" or thicker IMO ~$70 or so depending. Just a rough guess here.
2 collectors $50 x 2
6 U-Bends $40 x 6
2 Donuts 2 x $65
4ft straight tube $50
Turbo Flange $40
2 v bands $50 x 2

Just rough guessing here, someone can do some more detailed research.

~$450 (adding in my head) and I didn't include anything for a crossover, fab work, welding (should be back purged also if you are selling them IMO).
Click to expand...

Thanks Jeff. Like I said, mainly curiosity, but I work for a SS distributor, so I'm always looking for "good" uses for the stuff I handle (raw material).
 
ghettosled

ghettosled

SYTY SUPERSTORE
Re: Gauging interest: Custom Turbo Manifolds

in all reality, it aint gonna happen. With the time involved and the price of material sky rocketing like it has been for the last 1yr +, it would be nearly impossible to build stainless headers for close to $1000 and make it worth your while. Jeff summed it up quite well in detail. Stuff just adds up.

I know most of you probably think i'm lying and crazy when i say this, but even at the price we charge for the stainless headers it's hardly worth our time.
 
James Thomas

James Thomas

"NO CLASS"
Re: Gauging interest: Custom Turbo Manifolds

I have to agree with Mike. I have looked at this from several different angles and the bottom line is quality & material cost vs. production qty. I have access to cheaper labor Philippine, Chinese, Korean or Indonesian since I am centrally located in the pacific rim. Stainless is somewhat cheaper out here since most of it is produced in China (even if no one wants to admit it) and as with all products from anywhere in the world, there's the good quality stuff and the shit.

That being said, even with the cheaper labor and the slightly better cost on the quality stainless, it comes down to quantity. If I go to a company that has trained welders with good equipment, is set up for the purge process welding and has any type of QC / would stand behind the product, they want to do a minimum of a 500 set run or they aren't interested.... period.

If I go to a smaller company that is willing to do 20 or so sets, the quaility is from spotty to shitty (cracks, fit / alignment issues ect.) and when you mention "warranty replacement" they just offer an additional 3-5% discount in lieu or outright laugh at you. I have had 6 sets made (3 different shops) and all had some type of problem that I would not accept as a paying customer, so....... I ain't gonna pull an ATR and push a product that cracks and must be repaired several times.

Now if we could get group purchase of 25 or more PRE-PAID to Mike, he may be able to help us out but I don't know if even that would help much and 25 guys PRE-PAID is prolly asking to much.

_________
James
 
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