My exhaust manifold is finally finished, I built it from 42.4mm mild steel internet bits and some square-round transition sections from KL Racing. Spent way too long welding and grinding all of the internal transitions. I had it internally ceramic coated to try to slow down the rust, not particularly impressed with the quality of the job though.


^ Cheated radii after hours of not finding the solution.

I should have built the manifold so that the turbo was pointed at the bulkhead where the down pipe goes down. Now the downpipe is unnecessarily swoopy and hugs the clutch master cylinder. Still needs a wastegate pipe adding and merging back in with the main pipe. And the wastegate actuator modifying. I actually built the whole lot with the exhaust-side engine mount slightly undone on the block, when I noticed I was seized by ice cold fear, realising that tightening the mount would raise the engine. Luckily there's just enough space, and if it taps the bonnet then I could just smooth the cold side casting down with a grinder, maybe stick a bit of neoprene on it


I sold my old progressive springs because I wasn't able to steer hard without it feeling like I was sailing a barge. Never again. These new ones are advertised as 60mm lower than standard on the front. Not sure how much heavier the front end is with the new engine and box, but it looks frickin bunches lower than the -40mm springs that I had before. I love the look but I'm unsure about the 100mm body-ground clearance. The exhaust will have maybe half that

So I can either send them back for -40mm, or clearance a couple of bits of outrigger box section bits to bring the exhaust up, and maybe put a 10-15mm spring perch spacers above the springs if I still struggle to drive down my road :/

I've also been cleaning and rust-proofing the underside of the floor, getting fixings and hoses, negotiating a new radiator. Next up should be squeezing at least enough of the fuel system in that I could run the engine from the swirl pot.