306 XSI Exhaust Manifold

[Haribo Man]

How big a job is this? I have read a few bits and unsure. There is talk about moving the subframe or an alternative being the engine off the mounts? I am gaining spannering skills and gradually getting more competent but dont want to bite off more than I can chew. I can take my time over the job which is a bonus.

Also will a GTI-6 manifold be a suitable replacement?

Any advice is greatly appreciated

[StoatInACoat]

A pain in the backside to be honest. Hardest bit I found was undoing the bolts from the downpipe to cat - buy more and cut them off, saves a lot of time.

Undo top engine mount with the engine jacked up then rock it forwards to aid access and soak the bolts in pentrating oil the day before you start. Subframe can stay on and a GTI-6 manifold will fit but from memory you need to faff about with coolant pipes which won't clear it.

If you are just doing it for power gains as opposed to replacing a broken part I really wouldn't bother. It's a fiddly irritating job that'll cost you plenty of knuckle skin although it isn't technically difficult.

[Haribo Man]

Cheers stoat. Unfortunatly the manifold has gone so does need replacing. I'm not looking to spend a lot of cash on this car now so happy to have a bash at the job but it does sound a bit of a pig to do. Not looking for power gains but the GTI manifold seems to be more readily available

[Kitchski]

Worth pointing out if you've got an 8v XSi the manifold won't fit.

[Haribo Man]

Yes it is the 16v so presume ok. I am only suggesting the GTI - 6 manifold as there appears to more of these about. The car is too old now for a new one

[eliotrw]

The gti6 one is a great mod for a xsi. Won't cost you anymore either. As far as an own manifold goes its so good none of the ultra high boost supercharged guys bother changing it. Get the inlet as well and it will make that harmonized growl that makes a 6 quite distinctive. A xsi with the inlet and manifold can make nearly gti6 power on a remap I believe

[StoatInACoat]

Although the theory is great in practice the stock ECU wont like it and AFAIK cannot be mapped to take the changes = warning lights and rough running. Last example I know of resulted in very rich running leading to engine failure. No worth the effort in my experiance.

To clarify the exhaust manifold is very good and worth chagning if the original is knackered but I'd leave the inlet alone.