at the end of the day its function over form that is important. ali is usually my last choice when it comes to materials
think i would have done the manifold with stainless
been tinkering out in the workshop and have made a charge cooler out of ali and shortened the sump on the new engine which is also ali. dont know what the composition of the ali on the sump was but the thing was a total pig to weld even using rods with extra silicone especially for welding cast.
will stick some pictures up when new year is all done and dusted and im let back out in the workshop.