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Exhaust Fabrication
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- Posts: 68
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Exhaust Fabrication
Gentlemen (and Ladies...), I'm looking for a good source of mandrel bent exhaust pipe for a new down-pipe. I want to attempt the fabrication myself and there are no local shops in the area that I can find with a mandrel bender. Any suggestions? I have checked on ebay and jcwhitney, but would like some other options as well.
Mike
Mike
You can just use elbows and or U-bends that you cut to the angle you need. I just finished mine this past weekend. Here are some pics.
![Image](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/Dirtleg/535is/BMW152.jpg)
![Image](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/Dirtleg/535is/BMW041.jpg)
![Image](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/Dirtleg/535is/BMW044.jpg)
![Image](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/Dirtleg/535is/BMW050.jpg)
![Image](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/Dirtleg/535is/BMW057-1.jpg)
![Image](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/Dirtleg/535is/BMW074-1.jpg)
I agree that a mandrel bender would be much easier and quicker but you would need to do all the fitment on the first one anyway so that you would have the pipe configuration right.
It is really easy to undo and refit tacked up sections that need a couple of degrees adjustment. Mandrel bending doesn't provide you with that. Once you've programmed the pipe shape it's not changing. If it is wrong it just won't fit. Period.
If you're just doing one you would probably be better off welding the elbows.
![Image](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/Dirtleg/535is/BMW152.jpg)
![Image](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/Dirtleg/535is/BMW041.jpg)
![Image](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/Dirtleg/535is/BMW044.jpg)
![Image](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/Dirtleg/535is/BMW050.jpg)
![Image](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/Dirtleg/535is/BMW057-1.jpg)
![Image](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/Dirtleg/535is/BMW074-1.jpg)
I agree that a mandrel bender would be much easier and quicker but you would need to do all the fitment on the first one anyway so that you would have the pipe configuration right.
It is really easy to undo and refit tacked up sections that need a couple of degrees adjustment. Mandrel bending doesn't provide you with that. Once you've programmed the pipe shape it's not changing. If it is wrong it just won't fit. Period.
If you're just doing one you would probably be better off welding the elbows.
That is a Random Technology Cat. The core is 4" diameter and roughly 4" long. All stainless .065 wall housing. It is supposed to flow 620cfm. I am not sure how much that translates to in HP but certain it is more than I need for now.Sweeney wrote:Nice work on the exhaust, Greg! What resonator is that?
Here is a picture I took of the inside of the cat.
![Image](http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y13/Dirtleg/535is/BMW098.jpg)
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- Posts: 62
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Thanks. The magnaflow part # for the muffler is 14249.Lee in Ottawa wrote:Beautiful work. I've been shopping for some exhaust components lately. Can you tell me the part number of that muffler? Also are those flares at the end of the pipes?
The way I designed it is with V-Band flange clamps at the individual sections of pipe. They are really convenient for disassembling and reassembling the exhaust. Also they allow for minor rotational adjustments to help compensate for fabricator (me) error.
Great work Greg! 620cfm translates into ~ 400 HP - give or take.GregATL wrote:That is a Random Technology Cat. The core is 4" diameter and roughly 4" long. All stainless .065 wall housing. It is supposed to flow 620cfm. I am not sure how much that translates to in HP but certain it is more than I need for now.Sweeney wrote:Nice work on the exhaust, Greg! What resonator is that?
wkohler, I would love to make some more of these but right now there is no way I could find the time to do another. Plus, they would cost a good bit. In order to make it worth my time it would have to be $1200 +. For now I'll leave it to the guys with the right equipment. Laser measuring devices and mandrel benders make this work so simple.
M635csi thanks for the compliment and the info. I don't expect I'll be pushing 400hp for a while, if ever.
M635csi thanks for the compliment and the info. I don't expect I'll be pushing 400hp for a while, if ever.
Re: Exhaust Fabrication
Be sure to check out Burns Stainless:
http://www.burnsstainless.com
--Woody
http://www.burnsstainless.com
--Woody
[/u]Mike-TurboE24 wrote:Gentlemen (and Ladies...), I'm looking for a good source of mandrel bent exhaust pipe for a new down-pipe. I want to attempt the fabrication myself and there are no local shops in the area that I can find with a mandrel bender. Any suggestions? I have checked on ebay and jcwhitney, but would like some other options as well.
Mike