Context: I'd like, over the next couple of years, to re-build my engine to either 3.7 or 3.9 litres, because I have no sense of proportion and little in the way of self control.
This brings a whole host of challenges - one of which is that the M96 manifold is restrictive as stock - and as more is better, it would be nice to use an intake that allowed the new capacity to breath more easily.
I wanted to purchase an X51 manifold - but they're NLA, and have roughly the same available as Unicorns on the second hand market.
Enter the 3.8 litre M97 manifold - pictured alongside the lower, aluminium section of the M96:
The injector ports line up precisely, as do the ports.
But, and it's a big but - the retaining bolt ports do not.
The M97 manifold is wholly plastic.
Would anyone have a clever suggestion for bringing the M96 bolt pattern to the M97 manifold?
Currently I am at "mill out the current mounting sections, bond in new 3D printed sections", but I would be the first to admit that I'm beyond the frontier of my own ignorance here.
This brings a whole host of challenges - one of which is that the M96 manifold is restrictive as stock - and as more is better, it would be nice to use an intake that allowed the new capacity to breath more easily.
I wanted to purchase an X51 manifold - but they're NLA, and have roughly the same available as Unicorns on the second hand market.
Enter the 3.8 litre M97 manifold - pictured alongside the lower, aluminium section of the M96:
The injector ports line up precisely, as do the ports.
But, and it's a big but - the retaining bolt ports do not.
The M97 manifold is wholly plastic.
Would anyone have a clever suggestion for bringing the M96 bolt pattern to the M97 manifold?
Currently I am at "mill out the current mounting sections, bond in new 3D printed sections", but I would be the first to admit that I'm beyond the frontier of my own ignorance here.
