Advice needed - is this repair worthwhile?

That's why I suggested finding someone via Ebay who's scrapping a similar car. Chances are, few people would realise an exhaust manifold for one of these has any value at all, and would jump at the chance of getting 30 quid from someone who emails them out of the blue.

======================== My experience has been excellent so far. The parts I asked for were sourced within hours and delivered within 2 days at a good price. Obviously it depends on how popular the car is but it's worth a quick try for any car.

Cic.

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Chris Bolus saying something like:

Toyota are taking the piss, though. At that price it's worthwhile going to a bespoke exhaust maker and having one made up.

I certainly wouldn't pay that money for a manifold, it not being the first time I've made one myself rather than be ripped off.

Get to a scrappy, pick up a replacement for about =A330, take to mechanic - manifold is about 2 hours work. Shouldnt expect the whole lot to come to more than 200 inc VAT.

I have it on good authority (metal fabricator friend) that welding cast is easy enough but requires heat treatment afterwards to remove internal stresses and most of the time that wont be done. Add to that the fact that the weld is a different density to the cast and will likely crack the remaining cast by having a different thermal expansion it was cheaper for me in the long run to get hold of a second hand manifold than it was to have a free weld job (while he was doing some aluminium welding for me) and maybe have to have it off again very soon.

Thats the reason i bought a full turbo-back stainless system for the same price as Toyota wanted for a back box :-)

A good one from a scrappy is always the best solution IF you can find one. And if the fault you have is not a typical problem for that engine... it's a real pain to fit a new one and find it's got the same problem!

Good luck with that too!