Well I finally got my order from Holley today from Fed Ex. The box was beat to crap, but I thought perhaps everything was okay inside. Well all the small parts are there, but very concerned about the manifolds. I have already emailed Holley and let them know I would like to send them these pics. Does anyone have these manifolds? Can you tell me if these looks like the Chinese norm standard on these? The pitting I am very concerned about. The flanges do not look clean at all. Note the black grease on the bags and they were ripped as well. I understand they probably have to coat them with oil for the boat ride, but this doesn't look right for new parts to me. Also I was told they would not show up till July and the Holley website said the same. They magically showed up today without any notification. Really seems like someone maybe test fitted these and didnt work for them. Thoughts?

 

Seen worse on knockoff manifolds, use OEM gaskets and they seal up just fine.

 

Seems almost just like a casting flaw rather than pitting. You could use some red exhaust manifold sealer on them and your gaskets and you really wouldn't have a leak.

 

Shoot them with brake clean to get the heavy stuff off, and then toss them on your BBQ for an hour or so and that'll get the rest of that cosmoline off. NBD.

 

Those pits are in places of NO consequence to their function. I actually wonder why you're even concerned with it...

 

Thanks All. Okay I guess I will roll with them since it looks like everyone agrees they shouldn't be an issue. I am used to seeing headers all nice and clean for a surface....heck even some factory manifolds.

Well the outside pit I am not too worried about as you are right it should not be an issue at all. The middle pit though is pretty deep and big. Hopefully the gasket will cover that area. I do not have a manifold gasket laying around to check where it would sit when bolted up.

 

So I lied, I found an old gasket and the center pit goes right where the gasket has the factory crush ring. Assuming that's still fine?

 

I wouldn't worry about it.

 

make nice parts. buy all the competition. begin reducing quality of parts to increase profit. shareholders.

 

I think that's what bothers me most. I have bought BBK headers for $199 and they looked fantastic.These manifolds are almost $600.....you could buy a nice set of Texas Speed Headers for that price. The manifolds should be immaculate for what they are charging. The swirl marks look like someone took a hand grinder to surface them.

 

Sounds like amazon

 

Not many cast LS turbo manifolds are available for $199 besides maybe some stock manifolds with vbands welded on, comparing cast to tubular manifolds is like apples and oranges. Swirl marks looks like they actually decked the surface unlike most of those chinese headers you speak of with flanges that arent flat. Much like headgaskets you don't need a perfectly smooth surface to seal, most companies actually spec a RA or roughness average for the machine shop to follow.