Thread: TD5 Warped Exhaust Manifold Again - third time

Seems my exhaust manifold is warped again (judging by the whistling noise and soot above the first exhaust port) - third time in about 100,000km or so. The first time the previous owned cut out the webbing and skimmed the face which lasted for a while, about 30,000km it went but there wasn't enough meat left to skim again so JC replaced the manifold with a use one that had warped, the webbings were left this time, 1 and 5 exhaust studs upsized to M10 due to damage, and now it's gone again.

I notice on eBay that there are a lot of cheap manifolds available in the $200.00 to $250.00 range - both cast looking units and stainless steel tubular. From what I have read tubular manifolds are rubbish on these motors for reliability and the cast ones I assume by the price are not worth it.

I'm now considering what to go with.

Option 1. Remove my manifold, have it shaved again (hopefully there is enough meat on it still). Deweb it maybe? Have it ceramic coated maybe? Maybe fit with JE Engineer stud kit (ref TD5 Exhaust Manifold Change | Alex Threlfall's Blog and JE MotorWorks - Land Rover Performance Specialists ) which they have quoted at GBP57.40 delivered.

Option 2. Spoke to Ben at APT Fabrications and he offers a ceramic coated manifold that has previously warped, dewebbed and milled for $550.00 on an exchange basis plus freight both ways. Maybe fit with JE Engineering stud kit.

Option 3. Allisport has an uprated manifold - see TD5 Exhaust Manifold - AlliSport and TD5 Exhaust Manifold, Extended Stud Kit and Gasket Package - AlliSport which they claim:

New design eliminates warping whilst improving flow characteristics thus reducing heat stress.
Noticeable improvement reducing turbo lag.
Ideal for tuned vehicles but gives a benefit even with standard tuning.

I have contacted them and it is not ceramic coated but they can arrange this (I'm waiting on quote for) or I can through an Australian applier.

At the moment I'm thinking Option 3 is the go and having it ceramic coated. It's bloody expensive, but the price is inclusive of the gasket and stud kit with spacers. It's also $250.00 less now when converted than last time I looked due to the Brexit effect on their currency.
It means less downtime for the car as it will be old manifold off and new one on in a day rather than option 1 which means going without the manifold for a while.
I'm also focused on reliability and reducing time spent repairing the vehicle.
Then there is the supposed performance increase which given what has already been spent on the vehicles tune, VNT, intercooler and exhaust may be a nice extra.

Anyone used the Allisport unit? From the threads I've read a lot of people linking to it but no one having used it...

The one I sorted is going strong after 100,000km