Exhaust manifold from stock Volvo seems much better than the very basic and short cast-iron "candelabra" from a VW LT engine. I never thought that volvo manifold's exhaust flange faces downwards, in LT it faces sidewards so I was pleased to find out it in these pictures. This simple information can be quite valuable for me
Also thanks for the pic and info about oil return pipe to the oil sump!