IC piping, SS vs Aluminum

[TheSparo]

would there be any benfits from using stainless steel piping or aluminum piping?
just curious

[Flybert]

Aluminum Piping

PROS

Lightweight
Dissipates heat better
Looks badass when professionally welded

CONS

More difficult to weld and will cost more if you don't do it yourself
Difficult to find aluminum bungs for vacuum lines and such.




I just made mine in aluminum recently because my dad is a welder and he does pro status work. I found a vacuum line fitting at home depot for my wastegate. I got my my IACV fitting from a shaved cast piece off of my S15 turbo inlet for the crankcase ventilator. You could always weld extra plate onto the piping and tap a copper fitting for the IACV but it wouldn't look as pimp. I'd post pics but I don't have a digital camera.

[uno]

looks mainly and stainless won't rust other than that, no.

[Flybert]

If you are like me and would like to make your intake temps even lower, get one of these intake manifold gaskets.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=33668&item=7986928575&sspagename=WDVW

When I have the time I'm going to get one and install it. I noticed that the heat from my engine travels and heats my intake mani, TB, and about 8 inches of my cold pipe.

[SirWarrior]

looks mainly and stainless won't rust other than that, no.
Aluminum dont rust.

[uno]

Aluminum dont rust.
ok maybe i was thinking steel? but whatever muffler shops use to make "custom" exhausts that pipe sure rusts around here all the time on all cars. we have salt on the roads in the winter and during the spring people get their "custom" exhausts remade.

edit: aluminum oxidizes though. was what i was meaning anyways.

[Yoshi]

ok maybe i was thinking steel? but whatever muffler shops use to make "custom" exhausts that pipe sure rusts around here all the time on all cars. we have salt on the roads in the winter and during the spring people get their "custom" exhausts remade.

edit: aluminum oxidizes though. was what i was meaning anyways.

u talking about crappy exhausts from places like Meineke (sp?) and such?
They sometimes use aluminized steel... which is crap.... others use galvanized, which is equally crap. But then if you go to a place like that looking for something quality and performance enhancing, you're stupid anyhow LOL :)

[uno]

u talking about crappy exhausts from places like Meineke (sp?) and such?
They sometimes use aluminized steel... which is crap.... others use galvanized, which is equally crap. But then if you go to a place like that looking for something quality and performance enhancing, you're stupid anyhow LOL :)
yeah that's it. the sign out front says "custom aluminum exhausts" lol but yeah they suck. sorry about the confusion guys.

[Gladman]

Stainless is heavier that aluminum by quite a bit, its easier to weld and its stronger.

Aluminum is light, harder to weld and is softer than stainless, if you hit it with something it can dent. Id much rather have aluminum though.

[TheSparo]

hmmmmm so since there is no significant imbalance, i think i will go ahead and go with stainless since it's cheaper and get it welded a lot easier... any objections ? :)

[Replicant_S14]

hmmmmm so since there is no significant imbalance, i think i will go ahead and go with stainless since it's cheaper and get it welded a lot easier... any objections ? :)

It's easier than aluminum to weld but that doesn't mean that just anybody is going to be able to do it. SS needs it's own filler and gas mix. It's also one serious bitch on cutting tools.

[Gladman]

I've welded stainless before, i used regular 75/25 gas and didnt use any filler rod, once you get a pool, you can just pull material off the pipe to make your weld. Welded fine.