16v Four Branch - ARB , Solutions Required!

Very nearly there on this conversion now. Starting to wish I hadn't bothered! Anyway, I now have the issue of my 4 branch exiting at my anti roll bar. I'm led to believe that the manifold is the Ashley mild steel variety. How have others got round this? I think my options are:

To buy a new manifold (same issue could arise?)

Source a kinked ARB if they even exist.

Use spacers on either ARB or rear engine mount or both as they seem to on the Polos:

(Link) http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t292905.html

There seems to be some suggestion of turning the ARB around although I don't quite understand that option. Willing to try though if anyone's done it with success previously. I suppose the old persuasion hammer could come in to play on the exhaust but even so, that's some persuasion!

I'll take a pic of mine for you tonight in case that helps. Definitely not a kinked ARB!

Yeah that would be great mate. Also with parts by brand name etc. Thanks.

I bashed mine precisely with a hammer where the arb is 

Mine was same issue but mines a stainless one. 

Could have to be the case Brad! How much was yours out by roughly?

About three hits 

Around 20-30mm fella il
Take a pic tomorrow if I think on. 

This is how mine looks. I'm pretty sure it's an Ashley one (was told it was) but it was on the car when I bought it:




not the best of pics but hope it helps a bit

Thanks Mike. Has your exhaust been bashed? Can't quite tell from the pics. It looks a good fit though.

I don't think so, no - it kinks up and over as part of the design as far as I can tell.  In the previous owner's build thread he said it's an Ashley 4 branch 16v manifold with Magnex system.
I'm changing my front coilovers tomorrow eve so can try and get a couple more pics while the front end is on axle stands if you like ( was doing the rears last night…)

hth

Don't worry about the pics mate, I can see how yours is mounted from the pics posted. Cheers anyway though!

Maybe some spacers in the rear engine mount to lift the rear up slightly… Depends how far you've gotta go as you can't space it that much before you can't bet the nuts back on the mount…