RK Autowerks intake manifold install difficulty

[Hot saws]

I have a brand new, looks like V2, RK Autowerks intake manifold I’m installing. Pics are attached as this one looks different than ones on website, and box says V2. Not sure exactly what they changed

In any case, the manifold doesn’t seem to fit quite right. With the phenolic spacer, it seems to make the flange of the manifold sit too tall to fit under the bosses on the cyclinder head. I’ve read where folks with other manifolds have had a similar issue, and sort of “wedged” it under but I have not had luck with that approach. Further, it doesn’t seem the manifold lines up well either the rear brackets. In fact, it looks like I am going to have to cut about 1/4” off the rear bracket to get the manifold to sit flush. This is a separate issue to the phenolic spacer, as even without the space I will have to cut the rear bracket as it is essentially too wide for the receiving tab on the manifold.

It looks like I am just going to have to call them and see if I can get my money back. There is no way I would have spent 3000$ on this manifold if I knew I would have had to do this much work to get it to fit.

Anyone use this RK Autowerks intake manifold and run into similar problem? I’m away from the shop at the moment but will post pics likely tomorrow.

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[Hot saws]

Attached are photos with NO phenolic spacer on, and the bolt holes for the top of the manifold line up perfectly, but as you can see below the rear support bracket has zero chance of lining up. First pic is the front support bracket, last three are the rear.

 

[Hot saws]

Here is another pic, bracket removed and out of the car. Unless there is a spacer that is supposed to go with this, it’s not going to fit without cutting this bracket. I find that inexcusable for a 3000$ manifold.

I’ve emailed them…. maybe extra parts were left out of my shipment or I’m doing something wrong.

 

[Hot saws]

The reply from RK is “you’re supposed to remove the rear bracket, it is not used on your vehicle.”

Seems easy enough, but also seems like maybe a “solve problem quickly, make customer happy, move on” answer. It will definitely fit without the bracket, after some grinding on the manifold, but I hope that bracket doesn’t really do anything functionally. I’m going to cut it and see if it can still be used.

 

[razorlab]

For contrast, my Wagner manifold lined up perfectly to everything. The only slight pain were the port o-rings staying in but a little bit of superglue helped moral improve.

 

[Traxion]

The manifold should be fine with only the front mount connected. If it was me, I'd zip tie the rear one to that rear mount.

For contrast, my Wagner manifold lined up perfectly to everything. The only slight pain were the port o-rings staying in but a little bit of superglue helped moral improve.

To throw in my own anecdote, for my Wagner I installed a few weeks ago my o-rings stayed in place easily but one of the bolt holes on the topside to mount to the engine was just ever so slightly off. The other ~5-6 bolts were easy enough but the last one I could screw it in but it was tight and made me feel like I might be stripping the thread on the engine block side. I did have the other bolts not tightened down all the way either and tried to barely start the thread on all of them first.

 

[Hot saws]

Well, it’s in there. I did have to ditch both the front and rear bracket and clearance the manifold slightly on the back runner flanges.

According to RK, this is common… customer service leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[Hot saws]

So does it matter which of the coolant hoses on the back of the manifold connect to which of the others? Not sure if there is a check valve or something in the manifold.

As you might imagine, this thing did not come with any instructions.

 

[Hot saws]

For future reference, it does matter, and the outlet from water pump goes to top line on back of manifold.

All in all, it does fit and it does look awesome. Hope it performs well.

BTW, this manifold came highly recommended by a buddy who deals with BMWs so I had high expectations. Plus, I live in Texas so thought would be cool supporting a local shop.

Had I known this was the process for installation, would have went a different route.

 

[tuskenraider]

The reply from RK is “you’re supposed to remove the rear bracket, it is not used on your vehicle.”

So the rear mounting tab they welded to the intake is just for show? But just happens to be right at the area of the factory mount, got it........and there's another application were this mount is used........which is what?

 

[tuskenraider]

Coming from the GR86 forums and groups, to the GR Supra groups, I must say it's amazing how many threads I now see about parts that fit like shit, or in my case with 2 AA cat backs, didn't fit at all.

 

[Hot saws]

We spent a little time getting fitment perfect. We ground some clearance on the flange portion of the intake manifold which helped a lot.

We also had to cut the rear bracket to make room for the manifold.

Also ran the bolts up through the bottom with some locktite/lockwashers to make some studs which made it easier to get everything to fit right.

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