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STIBungy
10-07-2006, 02:42 PM
Majority of my boost leak problems as of late can pretty much be attributed to my GT-Spec header and uppipe.

About a month ago, I put in a capful of ATF, per 2fastnturn's recommendation, to find where my exhaust is leaking from. I dont think I used enough ATF because the car was suppose to smoke like a mofo and it didnt. Somehow the ATF just ran thru the engine and out the exhaust clogging up every leak there was. That's why my car was running very well during the S2K cruise

So I finally get off my butt and take the turbo, intercooler piping, subframe, header and uppipe off my car today. I noticed the following:

1. There's some carbon deposits coming from the slip joints on 2 of the runners on the header.
2. There's soot where the uppipe connects to the header(GT-Spec recommends 2 gaskets instead of 1).
3. There's soot at the wastegate flange(Pang did it! But he'll fix it).
4. There is an EGT bung welded in there by GT-Spec which has a crack all the way around. I only noticed it because ATF has leaked out of the crack and left a black mark around it.

Tobi, I think Vibrant and GT-Spec headers are one and the same.

Zach
10-07-2006, 04:21 PM
ive heard a lot of bad things about aftermarket headers for the STi. unfortunately it looks like there are a lot of crappy manifolds out there, and you got stuck with one. most guys on Nasioc, and iwsti.com say that APS is the only way to go.

M@
10-07-2006, 04:24 PM
Glad you found the problem, Hung. Now feex eet!

-=[Juztin]=-
10-07-2006, 04:31 PM
hmm time for me to get some gm bc's for the UTEC

STIBungy
10-07-2006, 08:06 PM
Get them from gmpartsdirect.com

Alot cheaper.

I turned over the uppipe and header to Pang. In the meantime, I'm gonna install my new swaybars.

john
10-07-2006, 09:00 PM
Damn that sucks. Damn damn damn...

Pang
10-07-2006, 10:34 PM
The mating flange of the manifold and uppipe was warped pretty bad. I got most of it down to where it shouldn't leak anymore with a new gasket. Same with the Tial 44 wg flange...I think the vband design is nice but at the same time it sucks since the flange always seem to warp some no matter how its welded and there is really no way to get a gasket in there. I checked out the o2 bung some more and it cracked because the weld was way undercut and the bung also hangs inside the collector a bit..I recommend porting that part.

I should have it done tm, just need to weld that bung.

I don't think vibrant and gt spec are the same... the welds look different same with the flanges. Unless they do it differently for the subies.

Pang
10-07-2006, 10:36 PM
wait tm is sunday, doubt the finacee will let me work.

STIBungy
10-07-2006, 10:43 PM
*cracks whip* Hahaha j/k. If you can do it monday, that'd be great. Then I can put the car back together monday night/tuesday and race wednesday.