I went to JA on the 7th of May with Todger. Took Todger's SS mani with us for a comparision. They set it all up on the jig and set about creating one that was similiar.
All we had to do was wait around in the front of the shop for five hours while they made it.
Unsure about clearance around the sump in the shop. Thought it might be quite tight, only one way we could be sure though. So took it back home and tried it on the engine.
Looked pretty good. Only three issues. The top flange; wouldnt be possible to put a standard size nut too tighten it to the head.
The exhaust was rather close too the holes on the flange. Would have been possible too use a spring washer and a smaller nut. However the second problem was far worse. The bottom pipe underneath the sump was no where near parallel to the ground. No piece of flexi-pipe would have been able to correct it.
Also the exhaust is too long still, it would have hit the slam pannel/rad.
Todger's SS mani shows this in Chalky.
JA mani was about 6.5" from the head. While the SS is just about 5.25"
Due to work commitments and family stuff, I took a break from working on the car but then decided it was time to get it all sorted.
So two days ago i went back to JA, taking the engine on the stand with me. Meaning they would be able to use it as a jig.
Spoke to John about it and said as he had already created the mani I ordered (Standard 16v one) but as i needed a custom bespoke mani he would have too charge me half price to create another. So I left the engine with him for a day whilst I wondered what to do next.
Had a chat about it and decided it wasnt worth it. So I went back (another 80 mile round trip) and wanted my money back and no manifold. As the manifold he made for me was a bespoke mani, he told me i could either keep it (though reselling it would be impossible, due to issues i mentioned earlier) or I can have half my money back. (doesnt give full refunds for custom parts).
I wouldnt be given all my money back basically, no matter what i did.
So i asked for my second, standard punto manifold back. I had already bought it and though it wont fit a cento, I still owned it.
Before I left he offered me a deal however; he would create me another two piece manifold on the car. As in, i would get the car too Walsall on a trailer with the new engine in. He would then create a manifold on the car itself. No charge for the mani, just the full exhaust system
I tried to explain to him how tight the Cento bays are though, as even creating it on the car would be near impossible. Explaing how to get these engines in the car and showing him pictures of Todger's SS mani.
So basically, I am now (probably) going to get a SS mani.
This is not me trying to slate JA exhausts in any way. John was always helpful and tried to create a soloution for me.
Just I now have a large paperweight sat in my garage for sale...
Pirus
