apr manifold on k04

[Hydro-sweep]

Hey guys. I am sourcing alot of parts for my build and needed your help. I will be doing a standard k04 with apr stage 1 programming as mpg is a priority for me.

Going with the belief that the easier I make air going into and out of the motor will yield me the greatest net hp, I was thinking of replacing the stock exhaust manifold with the investment cast Iconel mani that APR includes with their stage 111 and 111+ kits. My question is has anyone done this before on a k04 ?? I searched but all I got was bits about an 034 motorsport mani that was not that well received. Any comments or thoughts on my proposed idea???



ps. I already have TT downpipe, catback, and 034 hfc.

[TurboBoost66]

As far as exhaust manifolds go, the more compact, the faster your turbo will spool but the more back pressure you will get. So go ahead and put the APR on since its MADE to be in the sweetspot for quick spool and less back pressure. And it well help your car to breathe SO MUCH BETTER than the stock. Its good to change it with all those exhaust upgrades youre doing.

[vwb5t]

The apr manifold won't bolt up to the k04, and last I knew apr didn't have a k04 file for the b5 passat.


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[Hydro-sweep]

The apr manifold won't bolt up to the k04, and last I knew apr didn't have a k04 file for the b5 passat.


Sent from my iPhone using AutoGuide.com App

Yeah, I thought about that but was going to machine an adapter to make it work "in theory" lol...I may go a different route, this might be alot of work for just a stage 1 gain..thanks for the input.

[scotts13]

In my experience from years back, once you add an adapter to an intake or exhaust manifold, you've usually negated any advantage it may have had.

[TheColoradoRed]

Here's a good manifold to use on a KO4, at a nice price:

034 Motorsport Hi-Flow Exhaust Manifold - The Audizine Classifieds

[Hydro-sweep]

Here's a good manifold to use on a KO4, at a nice price:

034 Motorsport Hi-Flow Exhaust Manifold - The Audizine Classifieds

Thank you for the link but I have read mixed reviews about that manifold.....Like cracking and what not. I do not know if there was a design revision that makes them more reliable so if you have any reviews I would like to hear them. This manifold was actually the first one I thought of when planning this build, I just don't want to get an inferior product.

[TheColoradoRed]

Provided you fab a brace for the turbo so the weight isn't fully on the manifold, the 034 manifold should be fine. But honestly for a KO4 upgrade the OEM manifold is probably the best bet.

[MikeyFresh]

Why would you get a KO4 and then only do a stage 1 flash? Maybe there's something I'm missing here...

[TheColoradoRed]

^ I didn't notice that. I think he was debating a Stage 1 tune and a KO4 tune (which Unitronic describes as Stage 2+: Audi TT 225HP Fuel Injectors (386cc), Audi TT 225HP Mass Air Flow Housing, K04-015 Turbo, 3 BAR Fpr, Turbo Back Exhaust System, Cold Air Intake / Short Ram, Upgraded Diverter Valve, Upgraded Intercooler).

But obviously get a tune appropriate for your hardware, OP.

[Mister T]

OK, let me lay it down straight. With a K04, an APR manifold, even if you could get it to fit, and notwithstanding the messed up flow you would get from going from a T25 rectangular flange to a KKK OEM round flange, wouldn't do squat for power.

The limiting factor on your exhaust side is not going to be the manifold, but rather that minuscule K04 turbine and turbine housing. As well, even if you could buy an APR manifold seperate from their stage 3 kit, it's incredibly expensive and I've never seen any published data on power gains made with their manifold vs other manifolds, other than APR's marketing hype about it being made out of inconel, unobtainium, ground up unicorn horns and a sprinkling of skull dust...

So I'll offer my 2c as a guy who has run 6 different turbo setups on these cars (everything from a stock K03 to a comp 5556). Skip the K04-015 and buy a Frankenturbo. It offers the best bang for the buck, the spool is almost identical to a K04-015 and the fact that it flows more air at lower shaft speeds (vs a K03 or K04) means greater volumetric efficiency and hence, fuel efficiency (assuming you keep your foot out of it).

[Steve in Chicago]

I got a high flow exhaust manifold just like the 034 part pictured in post #6. I got it from the FrankenTurbo people. It's ceramic coated. No problems with cracking. It should fit a K03 or K04 in the stock position so your exhaust and turbo support remain unchanged.

[Mister T]

Also, if you want to prevent your manifold from cracking, just make an L shaped or similar bracket that can brace the manifold to the head. There's a bolt hole for a bracket that holds the stock oil line just above the manifold collector, use that.

I had a $90 ebay manifold that I got ceramic coated and braced in addition to cutting stress relief cuts in the manifold flange and the thing never cracked. More than I can say for my two $350 034 'quality' POS manifolds (one cracked after less than 3 months).

Also, using a high flow manifold on a K04-015 is a waste of time and money IMO. I had one installed with my K04-015 setup and it didn't do anything in terms of peak power as far as I could tell, it just made the torque onset a little less sharp.

If you still want to free up some flow capacity on the K04-015 I would advise doing a good port and polish on the stock manifold. The narrow runner design on it keeps the exhaust gas velocity high and it'll spool faster and as far as I'm concerned will flow more than enough for a K04-015.

Where you may want to move to the high flow manifold is on something like a Frankenturbo, or GT28 and larger. Just remember, with a K03 or K04-015, the turbine housing is the bottleneck, not the exhaust manifold.

My personal advice if you want to make some more power on your current setup whatever it may be is to get a Water/Methanol injection kit for what you would be spending on a manifold. K03s and K04s really start heating up the charge air, especially since people are usually squeezing everything they can out of them due to their relatively small size. Getting that air charge cool and keeping your timing as high as you can will net you some noticeable gains and protect your engine all at the same time.

[Hydro-sweep]

Also, if you want to prevent your manifold from cracking, just make an L shaped or similar bracket that can brace the manifold to the head. There's a bolt hole for a bracket that holds the stock oil line just above the manifold collector, use that.

I had a $90 ebay manifold that I got ceramic coated and braced in addition to cutting stress relief cuts in the manifold flange and the thing never cracked. More than I can say for my two $350 034 'quality' POS manifolds (one cracked after less than 3 months).

Also, using a high flow manifold on a K04-015 is a waste of time and money IMO. I had one installed with my K04-015 setup and it didn't do anything in terms of peak power as far as I could tell, it just made the torque onset a little less sharp.

If you still want to free up some flow capacity on the K04-015 I would advise doing a good port and polish on the stock manifold. The narrow runner design on it keeps the exhaust gas velocity high and it'll spool faster and as far as I'm concerned will flow more than enough for a K04-015.

Where you may want to move to the high flow manifold is on something like a Frankenturbo, or GT28 and larger. Just remember, with a K03 or K04-015, the turbine housing is the bottleneck, not the exhaust manifold.

My personal advice if you want to make some more power on your current setup whatever it may be is to get a Water/Methanol injection kit for what you would be spending on a manifold. K03s and K04s really start heating up the charge air, especially since people are usually squeezing everything they can out of them due to their relatively small size. Getting that air charge cool and keeping your timing as high as you can will net you some noticeable gains and protect your engine all at the same time.

Any news on a Comp turbo?

[SleeperWagon]

Been running a $100 ebay high-flow exhaust manifold (on a Frankenturbo) for 2 years, didn't think cracking would be a problem, and it hasn't been. No brace, it's been just fine. Can't say anything in terms of power, you're not going to notice it much on the butt dyno, and I've never had it dyno'd for comparison.

[Mister T]

Any news on a Comp turbo?

Think it may be time for a 6th turbo setup (comp turbo 5556 extended tip)