[LifeForLife]

Hi everyone !

My black mk2 came with a parts bin, including what look like an (almost) brand new exhaust manifold... Problem is, there's no branding on it, and the seller didn't know about it either.

Here's a few photos:

Any help identifying is welcome! 😁

@Tanya I've been told by @RedP85 that you have some very extensive knowledge about MK2 parts...

Cheers ! 🙂

 

[AJ]

Pretty sure that's a Doug Thorley header!!

 

[AJ]

There might be a 530Y stamp on the exhaust flange (THY-530Y)

AND these are California smog legal BTW

 

[LifeForLife]

There might be a 530Y stamp on the exhaust flange (THY-530Y)

AND these are California smog legal BTW

View attachment 22314

There is a 530 stamp in here, and a couple two more

 

[supraz]

Yes,

That is a Doug Thorley for sure.

Dale

 

[supraz]

I realize that you won't need it in Montreal, but for those in California, this is the CARB EO Exemption that relates to the Doug Thorley header.
This was posted here by another member, but I can't remember who, or where is was.

Dale

 

[Jeremy R.]

Bet that sounds nice!

 

[RedP85]

Nice surface coating Dale!
Is it yours?
If so, does it still look that shiney?

 

[LifeForLife]

Very cool !

Thanks a ton for helping with the ID everyone ! I'll keep the part for when the OEM header cracks then.
I thought it was some weird custom/noname piece, but it looks like it actually holds some good value and potential.

@supraz indeed, the state of Quebec has... Very lenient pollution restrictions... Pretty awesome that you had some photos of another Doug Thorley header ! Looks identical except for the rougher polish on the upper part and painting on the lower part on mine.

Cheers everyone, y'all made my day ! 😁

 

[supraz]

Nice surface coating Dale!
Is it yours?
If so, does it still look that shiney?

Jocelyn,

As a matter of fact, it is my header and it DOES still look that shiny.
I bought the thing new in the '90s, had it ceramic coated, and promptly didn't install it.
I bought a Tri-Mil header around the same time and could not make up my mind as to which one I wanted to use.
So I waffled and did nothing....

The Thorley is WAY better built than the Tri-Mil. The metal is heavier gauge, the tube lengths are more equal, the primary and collector flanges have more clearance.
Truth is, I'm too old to really appreciate a header. The sound will be significantly louder so I'm in no hurry to install it. But it is nice and shiny so I will have to install it on my 1983 on general principle.

My wife's 84 is an automatic so it could use some more power. I will have to prep the Tri-Mil for it to make it a little more peppy to drive. It will need to be modified like George did with the Raptor Racing Tri-Mil, shortening the O2 sensor mount, rotating the collector flange for more clearance and so on.

Decisions, decisions.

Dale

 

[Flyin' Hawaiian]

Yep, definitely Thorley. Installed one when I got my car back in '99 or so, ended up selling it to another member here, sure wish I hadn't though. There is a definite difference in the way the car runs with the tri-Y Thorley header, it it noticeably peppier with it, and has a better growl to it, although that depends on the exhaust muffler one installs with it and whether they keep the cat, install a hi-flow cat or eliminate it altogether.

Even in that shape its still worth quite a bit of money, as long as there's no rust or holes or bent pipes. I'd say run it and see if you like it @LifeForLife , but keep the whole oem exhaust system stored away. Some day you'll be happy you have the oem system.

 

[LifeForLife]

Yep, definitely Thorley. Installed one when I got my car back in '99 or so, ended up selling it to another member here, sure wish I hadn't though. There is a definite difference in the way the car runs with the tri-Y Thorley header, it it noticeably peppier with it, and has a better growl to it, although that depends on the exhaust muffler one installs with it and whether they keep the cat, install a hi-flow cat or eliminate it altogether.

Even in that shape its still worth quite a bit of money, as long as there's no rust or holes or bent pipes. I'd say run it and see if you like it @LifeForLife , but keep the whole oem exhaust system stored away. Some day you'll be happy you have the oem system.

Yeah that's what I was thinking too, keep both and swap during winters to see which I like the best (and if it's the Thorley keep the OEM part).
I'm keeping every bit that can be reusable/rebuilt when I change a part since those OEMs are so scarce for the MK2

And yes, it's absolutely rust and ding free, just the outer "coating" that could be redone (but tbh, why bother when you can barely see the part once mounted ? 😂)

 

[LifeForLife]

@supraz do you know if this header is drop-in ? Or is there any changes required to make it fit an OEM type exhaust line with the OEM cat ?

 

[4SFED]

I'll keep the part for when the OEM header cracks then.

Include it in your will to your favorite young Supra enthusiast. I've owned about three dozen Supras over the last 35 years and haven't cracked any stock exhaust manifold yet. But then again, one of the first things I usually do when I acquire another Supra is either put exhaust headers on or swap in a 7mgte.

 

[Jeremy R.]

I have the Raptor racing header, I like the sound. Not too loud and I have the matching Raptor Racing exhaust with the cat, the resonator and the single outlet muffler. Sounds way better than stock . More power and responsiveness, not crazy loud until you really get into it and get the revs up past 4000 RPM.
I would love to hear that Thorley.

 

[LifeForLife]

I have the Raptor racing header, I like the sound. Not too loud and I have the matching Raptor Racing exhaust with the cat, the resonator and the single outlet muffler. Sounds way better than stock . More power and responsiveness, not crazy loud until you really get into it and get the revs up past 4000 RPM.
I would love to hear that Thorley.

Maybe you'll be able to before winter ends...
All this talk around headers made me want to try it out... So I started removing the OEM part (which looks very good still).

 

[Speedrye]

Nice surface coating Dale!
Is it yours?
If so, does it still look that shiney?

I did ceramic-coated headers on another one of my cars. 50k miles in, and they still look new! Not only that, but they cool off really fast and underhood heat was greatly reduced. I used to be skeptical of ceramic coating exhaust stuff, but I'm a firm believer now.

 

[supraz]

@supraz do you know if this header is drop-in ? Or is there any changes required to make it fit an OEM type exhaust line with the OEM cat ?

About the only thing that can be an issue is the header flange runs interference with the power steering pump mount.
One has to either relieve the header flange or the mount.
If you are coating the header, you REALLY want to do this before you get the coating applied.

I believe that the O2 sensor will reach without modification.

You will want a new exhaust gasket, O2 sensor gasket, and header collector-to-Cat gasket.

The O2 sensor location works pretty well, so it's about as close to bolt-on as you can get.

Dale

 

[LifeForLife]

About the only thing that can be an issue is the header flange runs interference with the power steering pump mount.
One has to either relieve the header flange or the mount.
If you are coating the header, you REALLY want to do this before you get the coating applied.

I believe that the O2 sensor will reach without modification.

You will want a new exhaust gasket, O2 sensor gasket, and header collector-to-Cat gasket.

The O2 sensor location works pretty well, so it's about as close to bolt-on as you can get.

Dale

Thanks Dale, that's all the info I needed !

Sadly I was not able to remove the header because of completely seized bolts and nuts at the cat and where the OEM header can be separated in two... I broke the tranny support bolt (looks like it's not really required at least..) and destroyed one of the header to collector nuts...
So overall, not good, had to put everything back together. At least that pesky vibration I was having at low RPMs seems to be gone, probably something loose that I fixed without knowing.

Also I saw some smoke after a quick start and warm up, but seeing where the smoke appeared I think that's just the WD40 and sprayed water evaporating (did not smell like exhaust at all) !

I'll run the car a bit longer tomorrow morning, since I'm not sure the neighbors would appreciate loud revving at midnight !

Cheers

 

[Flyin' Hawaiian]

Yeah, those bolts and nuts will be a bear to get removed after being on the car for 30+ years. Lots of penetrating fluid and a little heat from a torch should make them a bit easier to remove.