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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Exhaust manifolds for 948 or 1098 engines?

Hi

Seems the options for exhaust manifolds for small bore inline A Series engines (948cc or 1098cc) are extremely limited compared to manifolds for the taller block 1275 Spidgets or for Mini applications.

I wonder has anyone modified a FWD A Series exhaust manifold to fit to a Spridget RWD application, in particular a 998 Mini Cooper manifold (C-STR816) to fit onto a 948cc Frogeye/MkII Sprite? Maniflow's tubular, not cast, repo 998 Cooper manifold - http://www.minispares.com/product/Classic/Exhaust_and_manifold/Exhaust/Exhaust/C-STR816.aspx?110201&ReturnUrl=/shop/classic/Exhaust~and~manifold/Maniflow.aspxBack%20to%20shop - looks like something that might be capable of beng modified to suit by cutting and rotating the final output bend to face rearwards? As an alternative to Maniflow's LM030: https://www.maniflow.co.uk/index.php?view=product&from=206&product=1295 Note the price difference.

Any budget conscious, nifty cutting and welding Frogeye owners with standard-ish 948 road going engines tried this?

Cheers
Mike
M Wood

Mike, I had a mini cooper one that I thought I could modify by turning the outlet through 90 degrees. In the end it didn't work as the LCB connection was too far down and the dual pipes fouled in the gap by the chassis rail and the positioning of the pipes in that area made it difficult to modify.

That Minispares Maniflow Cooper one looks like a much better prospect as the pipes appear to come together much higher up. If you can get a measurement to check how high above the chassis rails that would be worth knowing. But a simple cut and reweld, or maybe a short sleeve and reweld looks very do-able.

Edit: Looking again at the photo, it almost appears that the bottom section is joined with a clamp. Are you sure it isn't designed to be rotated anyway?
GuyW

Thanks Guy.

I am tempted to buy one of these Maniflow 998 Cooper manifolds (LM001 / C-STR816) to try and modify for 948 Sprite use, particularly as it would also be handy for my Locost project that might be heading for an over bored 948cc engine with secondhand 998 Mini Pistons and 1098 Sprite rods.

A useful comparison picture attached between the two Maniflow 998 Mini manifolds that illustrates the point you make above. The 998 Cooper replacement that we are discussing on the left and the long centre branch 998 Mini long centre branch manilfold (the FWD equivalent of the small bore engined Spridget LM030 manifold they sell - https://www.maniflow.co.uk/index.php?view=product&from=206&product=1295) Image from: http://restorationmini.com/forum/index.php?topic=1491.0

Apparently this tubular 998 Mini Coopet manifold is a copy of the Special Tuning Downton developed item that replaced the standard 998 Cooper item (which has longer pipes than a Frogeye/MkII manifold).

Cheers
Mike


M Wood

Moss sell a LCB manifold which is listed as 1098/1275. This is obviously wrong because the taller 1275 block means that when the manifold is used on a 1098, you lose ground clearance.

Maniflow on the other hand specify 948/1098 with 1275 being a separate item.

I spoke to Maniflow who suggested, because my modified 1098 engine puts out the same BHP as a standard 1275, that I use the 1275 manifold, but they would make one for me with better ground clearance at no extra charge.
At the same time I bought the over axle front pipe kit, which, with the adapter they supplied, fitted to my 2 inch custom straight through silencer.
It all works very well and sounds great without being too loud.

Bernie.
b higginson

That's interesting Bernie. When I replaced my old Maniflow one on my 1275 car, the new one was too long, reducing ground clearance. Others here said they didn't fit as well as the original product so I did a cut and shut to reduce the length. It now fits much better but you now make me wonder if they had sent me a 1098 manifold!
GuyW

Have I got that the wrong way round? Is the 2098 one shorter, not longer?

If that is so, then mine must have been the correct 1275 one but when fitted on my car just hung a good inch lower than the departed 20 year old version.
GuyW

1098 should be shorter. When I fitted my type 9 gearbox I had to raise the rear of the 'box to get the bottom of the manifold parallel to the floor, but that was more to do with the fitting of the 'box rather than the manifold.

My latest Maniflow set up does give me better ground clearance, but it will still catch on those
sharp little sleeping policemen you get in the grounds of pubs and some other buildings, but it's OK on general roads.
b higginson

This thread was discussed on 31/12/2020

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