03-04 cobra manis.......don't fit

bryantaylor

bryantaylor

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everyone says these fit, but no-one has ever posted pics as proof. well here is some pics, and guesse what? they really don't "just bolt right on." everyone also states "you might need a slimer steering joint." well, as you can see, there is PLENTY of joint clearence, ........but, the shaft itself is completly in the way, needs to be moved almost an inch to the side to be able to line up to the joint. looks like i will just hack off the cats off the stock manis, because i will not pay $800 for kooks.


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You need to modify the steering shaft...

I thought it was pretty common knowledge that they bolt on, but you need to modify the steering shaft to make them work.
 
Every time I mention the manifolds, I mention the shaft needs modification.

Flaming river makes the stuff you need. I think one u-joint and one section of shaft.

I dont have the details as I did my shaft differently and used more parts. Turned out I went over-kill.
 
bryantaylor said:
but just a new joint and a small peice of shaft isnt going to give you the clearence you need. the shaft itself needs to move about an inch over. you would have to do something like this to make it work: http://members.tccoa.com/392bird/birdworka1.htm
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That is what I did. I forget who, Jeremi or Jamie maybe, someone, found a more cost effective way.

I know the factory joint is removed. I think a new shaft is added from the steering wheel down, elongating it from that end maybe. That puts the shaft past the manifold where you then install the new, smaller u-joint. I cant tell from the pics.
 
unity said:
That is what I did. I forget who, Jeremi or Jamie maybe, someone, found a more cost effective way.

I know the factory joint is removed. I think a new shaft is added from the steering wheel down, elongating it from that end maybe. That puts the shaft past the manifold where you then install the new, smaller u-joint. I cant tell from the pics.
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everything i read, the joint itself is where the clearence problem is, but there is plenty of room around the joint. if you have a pic of how you did that double joint, i would love to see it. but with a joint only on the rack, i just don't see how its possible to do without putting in a second joint.
 
I haven't done this conversion yet, but, with a welder and some square stock, a drill press, box tube, and a regular joint, it would go together, no?
 
You guys are going about this the hard way! You need to let the steering shaft run in a straight line, to do this all one needs to do is simply drill a hole through the manifold. Then the shaft can go through it.:p
 
I like Turborich's idea the best!

If you want to fabricate your own parts more power to you.... all that matters is that it works.
 
They do make it a heck of a lot easier to unbolt the exhuast pipes though. Not welded on like the stock Mark VIII manifolds.
 
Why not just get the stockers extrude honed and polished, and leave it at that? Kooks can keep their $800.00 headers.
 
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On my car the only reason I'm putting on the Cobra manifolds is for being able to unbolt the exhuast easier....
 
the butt dyno says ther was a gain by removeing the cats from the stock manis. i have a nasty exhaust leak though, need to fix that.
 
Scorpio1118_2000 said:
Why not just get the stockersextrude honed and polished, and leave it at that? Kooks can keep their $800.00 headers.
Click to expand...

LOL!

1. Have you seen the stock manifold logs?

2. Have you priced any extrude honed work?

I suspect no... and no.

The stock manifolds are logs. Nothing more than a header runner and a Tee branch at each exhaust port. No amount of extrude honing and polishing will flow anywhere near a true set of headers with individual runners and a collector, even if they are shorties or mid-length.

Unless you have the equipment to do them yourself, the cost of having a pair of stock manifolds extrude honed, polished and coated will make the Kooks headers sound like a blue light special at K-mart. And they will still flow like crap.
 
Unless you have the equipment to do them yourself, the cost of having a pair of stock manifolds extrude honed, polished and coated will make the Kooks headers sound like a blue light special at K-mart. And they will still flow like crap.[/QUOTE]

Oh well It was just a thought, what about the 96/98s? Do they fit better than the 03/04s?
 
From what I remember, any manifold for the '96-'98 Cobras do bolt up alright but have the same issues with the steering shaft. I knew one in particular that put a set of longtubes on but had to re-route a tube or two to make them fit. That's fine if you have the facilities to do such but may be cost prohibitive to have someone else do it for you.
 
I had dyno numbers for 03/04 manifolds on B heads. There was some HP gain by more torque if I recall. Point being, they are an improvement when combined with 2.5" exhaust.

Headers are a WASTE of money unless you have a blown engine.
 
driller said:
Oh, really? :rolleyes:
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Show me some dyno numbers on stock Mark with headers and then tell me the time, labor and $$$ was worth it.

I think the money could be better spend elsewhere. If headers were cheaper it would be a different story.
 
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