get this, between the two I removed about about one cup of material. I really don't think I could have taken any more out without sacrificing strength. I may have gone a little too thin in some spots but I think they will hold. They are going to flow like mad now! It's really amazing just how restricted the stock manifolds are as I'm sure most of you all know. But there are huge mountains of material right around the area where the flow dumps into the turbos. There is plenty of thickness left after completely removing these lumps.
I also should be getting a box full of stuff back from the sand/bead blaster today. Basically everything that is steel that can be removed from the engine or engine bay. I even removed the tubes that run down to the intercoolers for powdercoating. (mine were scratched up and beat) It's all going to be powder coated bright silver with the exception of the intake plenum and water tubes, they will be bead blasted and anodized bright silver. I spent a few hours on the plenum removing the casting edges and other things that the bead blasting won't smooth out. I can't wait to see how the engine ends up looking, and driving!
