Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance Chopping up the manifolds?

I just bought a set of manifolds from a junkyard off of a 1996 contour v6 to "fix" and put on my 1998 se v6. The front manifold doesn't have a spot for an o2 sensor on it so I believe they are older and I will need to add a spot for one to do the post cat 02 sensor with the MIL eliminator.

I already smashed the rear precat out with a ice chipper (steel blade on the end of a metal rod), but now I've come to the front...

Off the car where is the best place to cut the manifold open if you have access to a welder? I'm thinking of cutting it right at the seam (perpendicular to flow) and rewelding that once I've "repaired" the manifold, but I have to make a hole in it to add the o2 sensor anyhow. Which would be better as far as removing the catalist material goes? would it be bad to cut and weld across the whole chamber?

Also is there any kind of finish I could put on the manifolds that won't burn away or rust? the outsides of them already have surface rust.

Thanks everyone!

According to Terry, the manifolds are made of 18 Cr-Cb stainless steel... you shouldn't have to coat them.

that's good to know, but the manifolds already have surface rust and I want to prevent further damage in the salty Michigan winter, actually I think I might try some extreme high temp paint from VHT. But I could still use some advice on my other questions. Thanks.

check out this this link for information on how to gut your front precat

MC-NECO

So basically I should just use the hole that I already have to make to install an o2 sensor? If I have to weld in a bung for an o2 sensor, how big should I drill?