steel or aluminum hotpipe

[Vboyq]

have the chance to buy a steel(powdercoated) mandrel bent hotpipe brand new from heavy throttle for an s13 sr20det for 100even shipped with a blitz BOV flange already welded on... that seems plenty worth it to me but my question is which is better for a hotpipe steel(powdercoated) or aluminum?

[ca18guy]

Is it stainless steel? If its SS it won't rust (or atleast rust as fast) Aluminum will rust faster (though none of the alumin. parts I own have any rust I'm concerned about)

[Jeff240sx]

Is it stainless steel? If its SS it won't rust (or atleast rust as fast) Aluminum will rust faster (though none of the alumin. parts I own have any rust I'm concerned about)

Powdercoating won't rust at all :confused:
Anyway, steel is cheaper, and easier to work with, but powdercoating and steel both will not allow heat transfer, so your intake charge will not get cooler post-intercooler. Aluminum is lighter, a better conductor, but harder to work with.
Up to you. If money is an object, get the HT pipe.
-Jeff