metal talk

[formeRiceR]

I'm thinking about making my own intake...
I can cut and weld medal but I was wondering what kind of metal I should use, I afraid that the metal or the welds will rust and get sucked into the engine... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':crazy:'>

anyone have experience in this kind of stuff... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

[luke91]

1. Aluminized Steel piping from a muffler shop - This is cheap, readily available, and comes in a variety of sizes (for NA applications, any intake piping should be no bigger than the diameter of the throttle body). &nbsp;It resists rust fairly well, and can be welded with mild steel wire. &nbsp;The seams and welds will rust in time, though, and should be painted to prevent this. &nbsp;
As far as rusting on the inside - if used for an intake, use an oiled-cotton filter, and KEEP OUT OF WATER to prevent rust. &nbsp;

2. Stainless Steel - Probably the best, imo. &nbsp;It's fairly easy to find, easy to weld (ONLY with stainless steel wire and straight Argon gas), never rusts, and shows the best. &nbsp;

3. Aluminum piping - Hard to find, and expensive. &nbsp;Aluminum will never rust, but it still corrodes. &nbsp;Should NEVER be used on the exhaust side, because it will deform and smell bad at the same time. &nbsp;It's easy to weld, but different, and should ONLY be welded with aluminum wire and straight Argon gas. &nbsp;
Aluminum does not conduct heat as well as steel, making it ideal for intake and intercooler piping. &nbsp;Can be polished to resemble stainless steel. &nbsp;It's also lighter than steel. &nbsp;

--luke