Piping material…which one?

[Checkered-Member]

So I’m assembling a custom kit, and I’m not sure which material to use for intercooler piping and exhausts. Its down to stainless steel or mild steel.

Stainless steel U bends are about 3 times more expensive then mild and strait pipes are about twice more expensive. Cost isn’t that big of an issue but I wouldn’t want to over spend.

Stainless will last longer but is it worth it? What’s everyone’s opinion on this?

Also, can I use stainless steel for the down pipe? In other words how resistant stainless steel is to high temperatures like right after the turbine. (I’ll be probability be using 16-18 gauge)

Lastly, does any one have a good site that has U bends for cheap?

[andrave]

I'm gonna use mild steel. Except for maybe one pipe, I'm probably going to have to use an aluminum bov flange so I may have a short aluminum pipe with the bov on it. the rest will be painted mild steel, hopefully aluminized.

[j-z]

if cost isnt an issue then go with aluminum for intercooler piping. and then stainless for the dp and exhaust. atleast thats what im doing cept at no cost. ill tell ya what you can do. browse some corvette forums and see if anbody is selling their c5 non z06 stock exhaust. its 2.25'' ID aluminum mandrel bent. there are 8 nice bends that will do your whole car. my dad just gave me his off of his vette and i put it up inside my engine bay and there are anough bends to completely do it out of aluminum. and then the tailpipes that come out of the mufflers will be for my dumptube.

[spitz7985]

if its between mild steel and stainless for the IC piping, definatly go for the mild steel. there's no reason for expensive stainless.

[daniel240]

JCWhitney sells all different size pipes in different bends. they sell stainless and aluminized and they have pretty good prices.

[Checkered-Member]

if cost isnt an issue then go with aluminum for intercooler piping. and then stainless for the dp and exhaust. atleast thats what im doing cept at no cost. ill tell ya what you can do. browse some corvette forums and see if anbody is selling their c5 non z06 stock exhaust. its 2.25'' ID aluminum mandrel bent. there are 8 nice bends that will do your whole car. my dad just gave me his off of his vette and i put it up inside my engine bay and there are anough bends to completely do it out of aluminum. and then the tailpipes that come out of the mufflers will be for my dumptube.

Aluminum was eliminated almost immediately, because I’m going to do all the welding and aluminum is almost impossible to weld (for me at least).

But the corvette exhausts is a very good idea, I’ll be doing an install of an exhausts system on my friends C5, and I might take it and reuse it.

JCWhitney sells all different size pipes in different bends. they sell stainless and aluminized and they have pretty good prices.

Thank You...just what i was looking for.

[WAbernethy]

I got my 3" T304 Stainless bends from a place out in California. 25 bucks for 90's and 23 for 45's. I highly recommend them for your downpipe. They only do 3" and 4" stuff right now. Debbie at California Stainless Steel will help you [email protected] .

[andrave]

an aluminum exhaust? never heard of that!

[LongIsland240]

I'll second the JC Whitney for the bends, i got all mine for like maybe $90 and i did all my ic piping and downpipe with some leftovers..always better to overbuy I would like to redo it in stainless just for the looks and corrosion resistance at some point

[erich]

I went stainless so I'd never have to paint them, but really I did it for the bling factor.

[andrave]

Summit racing is cheaper than JC whitney on most of the bends, especially when you consider shipping (8 bucks from summit no matter how much you order).

[Tictakman]

ive been told to call semi/diesl truck places. i heard they sell the pipes cheap and at different sizes. thats where ill be going in the fall if its true. anyone know about this?

Zak

[andrave]

I dunno, I've seen some mack trucks with some hefty silicone and mandrel on their IC piping so it would make sense. I may have to check that out myself, I didn't think of that. There are a couple semi yards not too far from here.

[Tictakman]

ya, please do. i have just been told this.

lmk

Zak

[j-z]

if its charge piping youre looking at on those diesels its most likely aluminum.

[HolyShiznit]

My whole intercooler plumbing was done in aluminum. Everything fit so perfectly that none of it had to be welded, just cut and then connected with couplers and T-bolts. Work is gorgeous. I will post pics soon.

[Checkered-Member]

My whole intercooler plumbing was done in aluminum. Everything fit so perfectly that none of it had to be welded, just cut and then connected with couplers and T-bolts. Work is gorgeous. I will post pics soon.

I wana see I wana see

On a serious note…how many couplers did you end up using?

[BoostFab]

either mild steel or stainless steel for the exhaust side. mild steel is cheaper, but it will rust quicker. use aluminum for the intercooler piping.

[daniel240]

ive been told to call semi/diesl truck places. i heard they sell the pipes cheap and at different sizes. thats where ill be going in the fall if its true. anyone know about this?

Zak

thats where i got all my mandrel bends at. there was a local diesel truck place and i just asked about piping and they showed took me to a room w/ nothing but mandrel bent pipes in ever angle and every size from 2''-6'' dia. i just picked out everything that i thought i would need and it was only like $40 and i had leftovers.

[andrave]

sounds promising then.

[HolyShiznit]

I used.....one for the throttle body to the pipe....then to the other pipe.....umm a total of 8. 4 on each side. It just fit perfectly, I am getting pics, I promise.