For full spec and more info call Manu as Scuderia systems, he knows all .
First off the manifolds do look great. The problem with the factory manifolds is low grade (too thin) stainless steel and heat shields that contain the heat too effectively......resulting in a melted/deformed/blow out mess. If these aftermarket manifolds are such a good product (and I'n NOT saying their not) the stainless grade/thickness/warranty should be printed on a web site for all to see. Fabspeed comes to mind.....clearly lists this info on their website. You should'nt have to call a retailer privately to find out this info.
Bit of an update to this thread from a while ago... I've been investigating manifold (header) replacement options and have been in contact with X-ost directly who say they no longer make F355 manifolds. I've also been in touch with Scuderia Systems and the SECA manifolds are available but are £3995 plus VAT at 20%, so the best part of £5000. Here's some info from Scuderia Systems on the SECA manifolds: "It's worth noting that the Seca Competition Manifold set we supply, were actually designed for 355 Challenge cars running the world wide 355 Challenge series organised by Ferrari some years ago - the whole point of them was to increase power AND be reliable. They were designed to last many seasons of racing. The fact that they give so much over and above the stock manifolds (actually being an performance optimised header) AND they're cheaper than the OE parts, make them a great buy - the good news is that installation on the Seca manifolds is as straightforward, a non-invasive job as replacing the normal manifolds More to the point, replacing the 355s stock manifolds with the Seca manifolds on both road cars and Challenge Cars is a job that we are doing with ever increasing frequency for various 355 owners. The problem lies primarily with the quality of the original Ferrari supplied manifold. Put simply, they are made with a very thin and low quality stainless steel unable to withstand the temperatures within the F355's engine bay. The heat generated by the cars running (especially during hard/track/competition use) causes the manifold's mild steel to expand... when the car cools (when not running) the steel contracts. This continuous cycling of expansion and contraction results in minute cracks which eventually widen into full blown exhaust manifold failure and an exhaust leak which causes more engine bay damage, power loss, and a sound like a tractor! The Seca manifolds are actually not replicas of the original Ferrari part. They are actually sport manifolds - i.e. beautiful headers optimised to reduce exhaust backpressure from colliding exhaust flow pulses from the separate exhaust ports on the engine. They are made of thicker AND of much higher quality grade 304 stainless steel. Furthermore they are then given a very expensive thermal insulation coating to prevent the engine bay as hot as it does with the original equipment (which leads to further reliability issues). There's four reasons why we are selling so many of them: 1. They will genuinely give your 355 a very definite increase in BHP (and also give a fuller, deeper sound). They have been backpressure optimised - i.e. exhaust pulses from the individual exhaust ports in the engine do NOT collide with each other because of the length and shape of the manifold Seca - as a result the engine breathes MUCH more freely as the revs climb and particularly with a Seca exhaust, it pulls like a freight train to the red line. We've seen some 41bhp on a Ferrari 360 with these headers and we would expect some 30bhp on 355 in good shape with a Seca/Capristo exhaust and sport cats on as well... 2. They make the engine bay run cooler which is essential for hardcore track use. 3. They'll never need to be replaced again (they are under warranty). And the road use version contains the air injection rail to assist catalysts in coming up to temperature quickly which helps with low emissions and emissions testing everywhere. 4. Furthermore they are cheaper than the pathetic quality original Ferrari manifolds. The Ferrari manifolds whether new or used are prone to failure and there is no reason to suggest that you could be replacing a new set of Ferrari parts within a year of putting them on! (this is the typical scenario a Seca manifold buyer comes to us with - exasperation" Cheers, Bryn.
No it wouldn't, so quite a decent saving there. I haven't (yet) investigated buying direct from SECA but it may be possible. The price quoted earlier in this thread for these 18 months ago was £2600 inc VAT so I wonder if the increase is from the manufacturer or distributor? One other thing I forgot to mention, the spiel from Scuderia Systems states these are cheaper than the factory manifolds when in fact that is no longer the case. I believe the price from Ferrari is now £1735 + VAT each, although I don't know by how much theirs have been improved, if at all. Cheers, Bryn.
Cheers. Still makes them more expensive than Tubi, which unless I'm mistaken are generally seen to be the gold standard in replacement 355 headers. They'd want to be BLOODY good to be worth paying that much.
My only experience with X OST was on 456 Sport catalytic converters, and they were ugly pieces of scrap. Set off a CEL too. We ended up making our own, not because we wanted to get into the 456 market, but because our customer needed a working solution that wasn't the extremely expensive OEM Ferrari parts. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Just to let you guys know my new tubis look just like thos insulated and everything and I think they were 5000. According to tubi gives the same results as above.
Hi Bryn, Have you priced Tubi (for a pair) in the UK? I can get a price from Tubi France if you are interested. Ron
Hi Ron, Thanks for the offer but I've decided to use JP exhausts here in the UK to rebuild my existing manifolds. The cost is around 20% of replacing them and they are only an hour away from me so it seems like a good solution. John at GT Cars in Warrington who looks after my cars recommended them also which is endorsement enough for me! Cheers, Bryn.
I had my LHS manifold repaired by JP Exhausts 18 months ago. Quick turn round and good customer service. Ron
Never used them buy have read a thread that they were not happy but many have used them and I have only seen a few that were not happy. We all have to remember that the happy guys don't always post but the not happy guys post every time.
I think it was that only the bad portions were replaced instead of the complete pipes and subsequent refailure. I think they've since taken the method of completely replacing all pipes and just reusing the flanges and collectors. Do a search, though.
Hmmmm Anyone know anything else about QV of London and their manifolds? I had mine done about 6 years ago...but not fitted them on the car. I have a set of NAP manifolds....but would like to install the QV's soon.
I thought that I knew all the TLA's (my invention, Three Letter Acronyms) for manifolds but you have me stumped. What the blazes is a set of NAP manifolds?
I had a set of QV manifolds a few years back and burned through in 1-2 years. They just replaced small sections of the manifolds, mine were not all new tubes.
They're manifolds that i bought in the states about 10 years ago. I am sure the firm was NAP ...or something very similar. They have springs connecting the tubes to the collector pipe. If anyone knows who made them i would be very grateful. They are in good order and fit perfectly. Think they are ceramic coated on the outside. I have the original headers that were renovated 7 years ago by QV and am thinking of fitting them back next engine out service.
Not good to hear this. I have now read others similar. It appears though at sometime they began repacing the whole set of pipes...but when? Am looking at tubis...but soooo pricey.....3000 pounds + each side thru eurospares!
Oh..... The welding to secure the heat shields back on the QV renovated headers is of a very untidy standard.
