Topic: Making your own exhaust pipe?

[rbmgf7]

http://www.harborfreight.com/tubing-roller-99736.html

Haven't seen this posted in use to make exhaust pipes. Figure this would be excellent for making your own 4-4 headpipes. What are your thoughts? Looks like it could make some great compound bends out of a single peice of tubing.

I wouldn't doubt it's going to be a lot of trial and error but seems like a pretty cool idea. If you had a CAD program and mocked up, it could help in measuring your bend points.

Also seems like a great workout! 

[Skunk Stripe]

I would assume that is how they are made anyways, just with a larger roller. I don't know though but it would be cool. Another option would be frame bends.

[333]

Great idea, but no.  Downloaded the manual and it says the tightest radius for 1 1/2" pipe is 7 1/2".  Need a lot less than that for the first turn from the head.

[rbmgf7]

I was thinking the same for the first downtube out of the exhaust. That I would have to get prebent tube and sleeve it. I'm about halfway inclined to try it. Figure the price for the roller and a few hundred bucks for tubing would save me in the long run on getting an OEM or aftermarket 4-4. It would be a fun endeavor and I'm sure it would come with a lot of headache 

[333]

I was thinking this one;

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton-hydraulic-pipe-bender-32888.html

But it only goes to 90 degrees, and we need a little tighter.  That, and I was told by a friend who has one that exhaust pipe can crush easily in the bending process.

[faux fiddy]

The high performance stuff is mandrel bent- the tube maintains a circular cross section throughour the bend. This would flatten the cross section.

Mandrel tubing is available in many shapes , sizes and radius, but is kind of spendy compared to straight pipe. It's usually what  is used for high performance application.

[rbmgf7]

The reason I wanted to use the roller over a bender is I'm shooting for a large, sweeping radius (or radii) from the downtube to the muffler. Mandrel is only dependent on the die radius. With my experience with mandrels on small, thin walled tubing, it can get complicated.

I'd like to make my own mufflers but I figure one step at a time. I'll just order the peashooter style mufflers from Mikes XS. I don't have a welder at my disposal so I have to do as much as I can without one. Whatever welding I do need I'll have to go to a shop.

Currently searching some steel suppliers. Just going to roll with 4130. I'm gonna get the roller within the week. Once I make some progress and it's not looking like epic failure, I'll post the results 

[faux fiddy]

Currently searching some steel suppliers. Just going to roll with 4130. I'm gonna get the roller within the week. Once I make some progress and it's not looking like epic failure, I'll post the results 

Here's to no epic failures!

It is amazing some of the things you can find on Craigslist as far as  scrap metal. pipe, tubing  and building materials if you use google search.

I've looked at other stuff on e-bay- the goldwings have a lot of pipe on them that could make for ready made bends, and there are plenty of things from other bikes that can be used for expansion chambers on what you've got,  but welding required.

[Raef]

I made this exhaust with 2 trips to the muffler shop, a gas torch, and 30 feet of pipe, 1.5 tail pipe.

I have been thinking about getting one of the roller benders I have one of the orange bottle jack units, not a big fan of the unit but it does work once you get the hang of it.

I would have liked to make the down tubes more radius and sweeping but you just can't with a standard die in a mandrel bender.


mark

there are more pics in the build thread in my signature, i'd love to hear your thoghts

[Industrial Rat400f Killer]

I'm saving up for these two items right now. My experience with Harbor freight is that sometimes the tools won't even accomplish one job with out breaking or they just plane won't work.

I prefer to be patient and save up for the right tool. Sometimes I hire a professional instead. 


http://www.vansantent.com/model_32_bender.htm
http://www.vansantent.com/tube_bending_machines/pro_tools_manual_roll_bender.html

[rbmgf7]

I've used that same Model 32 (with the hydraulic ram) for a few years. Never used large tubing, mostly 1" and anything from 0.035 to 0.125 wall. Looks improved over the one I used. Instead of a U clamp to hold the tube, it was just another rack with a cleet. The thinner walled stuff was notorious for kinking before I could make it to 90 degrees. Tried packing with sand, heating, lubing, etc. and the tubing would kink and kink. Thicker wall would make it further but still had kinking issues.

Well, it's on. Got the roller today, about to order the downtubes, and buy some megaphone style mufflers.

Question. Anyone know anyone on here that can do some light machining? Specifically with a metal lathe? May need some flares/flanges machined to clamp the exhaust to the engine. Unless someone knows a trick to flare steel tubing.

[333]

I have thought about that.  I thought a piece of tubing split and then flattened, then use two hole saws, one for the inner diameter, and one for the outer.  Then weld it on the end of the tubing.  The stock hardware should then hold the pipes to the head just fine.