Steel tube vs cast?

[codger59]

I know I'm bucking the trend here, but I'm trying to quiet my exhaust down LOL. My '89 2.5 has gone through a couple stock steel-tube manifolds...just replaced when I bought the thing (8K miles ago) and now needs another (!). Seems like the weak-points are where the "arms" are welded to main tube and the flange weld.
I've recently seen new cast-iron manifolds for the 2.5, and wondering if anyone has tried one?

[AaronK]

There's no way you should be blowing through manifolds every 8k miles. Something else is going on.

[codger59]

Yeah I thought that too...to be fair, I'm not at all confident in previous owners' abilities (case in point: galvanized pipe in exhaust line just before cat welded from what looks like 6" away LOL), and while I could tell manifold had been replaced with what LOOKED like new, I admit probably could have been POS to begin with.

[AaronK]

Yeah but you said you replaced it when you bought it and now it needs another one? Means the previous owner had nothing to do with the latest one?
Are they breaking off? Blowing through?

[codger59]

oops my bad...re-read my original listing and I see how it looks like I said I had replaced it...no, it had just been replaced when I bought.
Anyhoo...not blowing through...cracking/breaking where arms meet the center tube...just about every used 2.5 steel-tube manifold I've seen has same cracks (or has been re-welded) in same place(s) - which is why I was asking about the cast ones.

[curtisb]

I'm still pretty much a new guy on the site still, but I've been looking at alot of parts and things for my '89 4.3 V6 and so far the best site i found has been summitracing.com. So if your thinking at all of upgrading you should check them out, they probably got something for ya, and most of the prices a fair.

[dummyface]

they ALL crack right there.. iv seen dozens of them cracked there myself..

if your gonna change it out.. id recomend going with Cast..
just because in my opinion they are Much stronger..

my 84 Olds Ceira had a CAST manifold on it (2.5 iron duke) so there deffinatly NOT a new thing.. but i jumped that car.. fielded it.. mudded it.. creeked it.. wooded it.. you name it..

never ONCE had a issue with the manifold.. but the muffler didnt make it lol..

[dadmoonbunny]

Will the cast manifold from the Ciera fit a 1990 S-10 w/2.5L iron duke.

[dummyface]

well.. now that i dont know..

youd have to look at them.. since your exhaust is on the side.. and a ceira is on the front.. but they may be close enough to make it work.. same basic motor..

bolt holes should all be the same.. id hit a junk yard..

i like cast better than stock "steel"