Kraken cast turbo manifold? ? Any good?

[The Zork]

I'm thinking of buying one of these for my SE as I need to replace my dodgy turbo with a Garrett GT2560. Does anyone have any experience with them? They are available for T25, T3 or To4 to suit a number of turbos.
Are they any good or advice about other alternatives. Problems?

[ManiacLachy]

Beavis has recently bought one I believe, but it's not up and running yet (at least not yet on his FB videos, which could be a little behind reality).

Generally have been hearing good things about them though.

[Lokiel]

They seem to have attained MT approval which is a good thing

[The Zork]

Thanks guys for your help and leads. I'd be interested in Beavis's experience with it. I am more interested in the fit rather than the flow potential (It looks the goods that way but is pricey). Because its is pricey, I would like to be sure that it is a better option than the Flying Miata unit.

I am wondering which of the two sits closer to OEM? I have the 2.25 inch SMB exhaust and aftermarket CAI and intercooler.

[NitroDann]

FM does

[The Zork]

Thanks ND. Which one would you go with?
Appreciate your opinion

[MasterOfMiatas]

Thanks ND. Which one would you go with?
Appreciate your opinion

Errrr, wouldn't that be like asking Holden which Ford you should buy?

[NitroDann]

Out of the 2 the FM is more proven but the kraken has a better nickel content so it shoukd be more durable. Both take up a tonne of real estate beside/above the engine.

Dann

[The Zork]

( Both take up a tonne of real estate beside/above the engine) - ND


Yes, that worries me a bit. There doesn't seem to be a lot of room there in the SE. Looking at the Kraken, it looks like it sits the turbo further forward than the FM one and further still than the stock manifold. In mine, with aftermarket CAI and intercooler, I see a lot of plumbing work is needed with both options.

Waiting to see the follow up Beavis Utube with the Kraken.

At the same time I have been looking at the Garrett GT2560 and the GT2860. The latter seems more efficient at making 250WHP on pump gas according to Garretts Turbo Selector maps.

Happy for any real world experience/advice with that.

[mx589]

The zork just go to someone like nitrodan and get a custom manifold and dump to suit and you get it all fitting smick etc.

[mx589]

Just looked up for some better pics of the kraken manifold. Im with nitro dan here why mount it so high.
id prefer a low mount plenty of room below the manifold easier to run the dump pipe and less heat in the engine bay

[The Zork]

I've had a number of people recomending the nitro dan manifold to me. I must admit it is exactly what I would do as far as the placement of the turbo. It makes perfect sense.

But.. and it's a big but. From years racing a turbo and regularly breaking manifold welds I went back to a cast manifold. No more DNF's and made more torque. That is my only concern. How long will the ND welded manifold last on the track?

[hks_kansei]

Just looked up for some better pics of the kraken manifold. Im with nitro dan here why mount it so high.

Looking at pics of both Dann's and the Kraken one, I suspect the reason the Kraken one is a higher mount is simply to ease manufacture.

the Kraken one appears to have the head flange and the turbo flange almost paralell, compared to Dann's where the turbo flange face points noticably downwards.

When making up the molds, and more importantly, the cores, for casting metals, it's a HEAP easier to make one that's fairly flat, compared to having internal compound curves.
Plus, it also means that the molten metal can flow around the mold more reliably, reducing the likelihood of air bubbles/pockets, or having the core shift.

Since welded manifolds are multi-piece it's a lot easier to incorporate odd curves internally, since you're using pre-fabbed curves and joining them.



So yeah, i'm guessing the high turbo mount on the cast ones is a combination of cost reduction (simpler mold = less labour to make)
and also to help with quality control, since it's easier to get decent casts from simpler shapes than complex ones.

i'm sure if they were a company as big as someone like edelbrock who make heaps of cast V8 manfolds they'd be able to offer a cast one with a low mount, but since they arent, the cost of tooling/setup, and increased QC needs would likely be passed onto the customer.

And since MX5 drivers are all tight, they'd sell bugger all.

[NitroDann]

Yes the cost of the kraken first run was in excess of 20,000 USD.

5 or 6 first gen manifolds have cracked all on track cars, of around 80-100.

So far zero 2nd gen issues at all including on 400+whp racecars, and the next run will be made of HyperTune high nickel content weld elbows, like all the time attack cars have. Cast manifolds crack too, it's just a fact, a manifold will not last forever on a very hard dríven very quick racecar.

Having said that, some of even the first gen manifolds are on their 50+ thousandth kilometer with dozens and dozens of trackdays and no issues.

Dann

[mx589]

hks_kansei thanks for the info
mx5 people being tight hehehehe

cast avo turbo manifolds crack
even factory cars with cast headers crack on some cars.

I think some people dont realise that a modified car exp turbo requires regular maintenance. The hot and cold cylces and extreme heat on turbos manifolds water oil lines dump pipe etc etc