exhaust piping

[SwiftE30]

oh ok. I guess i just got them mixed up. Thanks. Calling columbia river today.

[SwiftE30]

so im checking out their site and they have a ton of different "ultimate builder kits." what does everyone recommend for gauge thickness, and style of metal. They have mild steel super, aluminum super, 409 stainless super, 304 stainless super, etc, etc. I'm not familiar with which one would be best for turbo setup, or if it even matters. Im assuming aluminum not so much because it is harder to weld.

[iansane]

The headers/crossover for my trans am are all 16g 304 SS. Haven't fired it off yet so can't comment on longevity.

[85bim]

Yep, no pinches in those pipes! Much better flow. Also just FYI I think it was about $400 for the header back setup including a magnaflow muffler.

[SwiftE30]

Yep, no pinches in those pipes! Much better flow. Also just FYI I think it was about $400 for the header back setup including a magnaflow muffler.

thanks for the price. I think im just going to buy a pipe set from them and weld it up myself.

Still trying to figure out which metal i should be going with. leaning towards mild steel.

[SwiftE30]

would this kit be ideal? theyre definitions of the product is confusing me a little bit. I want 3" piping but they say radius is 4" Can someone explain this to me (Noob question)

http://www.mandrel-bends.com/catalog/builder-kits-33/ultimate-builder-kit-111/3-00-od-4-00-radius-16-gauge-mild-steel-ultimate-bk-867.html

also i dont think i need all of that piping but the differences in pieces you get from the "ultimate builder kit" to the super builder kits in huge.

[iansane]

The 4" radius is talking about the U bends, smaller radius = smaller ubend.

[SwiftE30]

The 4" radius is talking about the U bends, smaller radius = smaller ubend.

ok great, thanks for that. makes sense now. what metal would you suggest?

[tonytony]

thanks for asking this question SwiftE30, so i dind't have to lol

[iansane]

ok great, thanks for that. makes sense now. what metal would you suggest?

The headers/crossover for my turbo'd trans am are all 16g 304 SS. Haven't fired it off yet so can't comment on longevity.

I will be ceramic coating everything though for extra heat protection. :) I'm still new to the e30 world. Most of my limited experience has been in domestic v8 stuff.

[tonytony]

so which would be ideal, 4" radius or 6" radius bends? or does it make any difference?

[SwiftE30]

thanks for asking this question SwiftE30, so i dind't have to lol

no problem. It seemed like a reasonable question.

I will be ceramic coating everything though for extra heat protection. :) I'm still new to the e30 world. Most of my limited experience has been in domestic v8 stuff.

with your v8 work, what have you found to be the best metal for the exhaust? As i mentioned earlier, columbia river mandrel bends offers 5 different types of metal.

304 stainless
aluminized steel
aluminum
mild steel
stainless steel

i've also found a kit from mandrel bending solutions that is aluminized steel with expanded ends.

http://www.mandrelbendingsolutions.com/servlet/the-707/Mandrel%2C-Bend%2C-Bends%2C-Exhaust%2C/Detail

[iansane]

Aluminum is not good for turbo stuff, or exhaust in general. It'll melt away.

Stick with the 304ss stuff. The price point is worth it over regular mild steel (and it'll last longer).

[SwiftE30]

Aluminum is not good for turbo stuff, or exhaust in general. It'll melt away.

Stick with the 304ss stuff. The price point is worth it over regular mild steel (and it'll last longer).

i'll go with that then, thanks.

edit: seeing as that is more than twice as expensive, would it be fine if i just went with mild steel and a ceramic coating?

[tonytony]

I think that would be ok unless you're going to be running anti-lag turbo setup which i doubt you are, most shops use mild or aluminized anyway