Where to get block huggers

3xpendable · Post by **3xpendable** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 9:15 am

Its the the stage of my project where I've decided to prioritise getting the engine running mainly for morale, so I need some block hugger manifolds.

I've been in no immediate rush hence have had the luxury of taking my time finding maybe a never used set on ebay for example but that appears to be too much to hope. I've found two suppliers so far. Moss Europe and Maniflow but both you're looking at £500 alone for just the mild steel version. Does anyone know where I can get some that might have a better deal?

Also, is stainless worth getting? I've heard wrapping stainless headers still makes them rust so i'd planned to get mild steel and paint them with ceramic coating.

Thanks all.

3xpendable · Post by **3xpendable** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 9:17 am

Is this a viable option?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rover-Hugger-Exhaust-Manifold-Kitcar/dp/B00BUNIF30#productDetails

Blown v8 · Post by **Blown v8** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 9:59 am

Pop Browns sell block huggers,
Speaking from experience don't use the ceramic coating,I had a new set of headers done in it,expensive and under two years I had rust appearing !
The best coating I had was "flame painted " where alloy was melted over them using a torch ! A lot of media blasters do it
At the moment I am using stainless headers,but it's a little early to see how they are performing

Denis247 · Post by **Denis247** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 10:46 am

Try MGBHive http://www.mgbhive.co.uk

I bought just the ss block-huggers last year, very reasonable, but I see this isn't in their current catalog. but they may still do them. Worth a call.

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 8:04 pm

The block huggers are good at squeezing into a tight space around the block but boy are they restrictive !

If you can take the time to save up Welshie then go for the RV8 style headers that go out through the inner wings on the MGB.

These flow better as standard and can be opened out at the collectors easily up to 3". You can save a fortune by making your own system away from the down pipes if you dont mind a twin system with no crossover pipe.

I guess its down to how you ant the system to look eh?

My first road system on the RV8 headers was a couple of pipes from the headers to a pair of hedman turbo mufflers under each seat pan with the tail pipes coming out under the sill just in front of the rear wheels. It worked well and sounded ace. And the MOT man was happy with it

3xpendable · Post by **3xpendable** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 3:21 pm

Thanks guys, I know what you're saying Perry but I want originality.

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Tue Mar 18, 2014 7:51 pm

Welshie wrote:Thanks guys, I know what you're saying Perry but I want originality.

Then you need to find a set of original cast iron manifolds mate

They were actually ok, but the bloody flange at the down pipe tended to crumble

I only threw mine out last year because they were going to cost a fortune to repair properly and I couldnt sell them??

3xpendable · Post by **3xpendable** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 7:29 am

Really? I thought even the factory V8's had the block huggers?

I'm not THAT bothered about originality, moreso I meant I know that block huggers are restrictive but they won't be restrictive enough to stop me enjoying the car for road use which is what its for. I know you're always after every last HP