Stainless Exhuast
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1
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From: CLEVELAND oh
Stainless Exhuast
I have a couple of questions. I have the chance to get stainless steel pipes from my neighbor for free. They are straight pipes, I would have to have them bent to fit a 1980 vette. My uncle owns a muffler shop and said he could bend them for me. Someone told me that they might crack and might blow out in a short period of time. My question is what gauge of stainless should I get? Some of the vette catalogs brag about having 16 gauge. Does anybody have any suggestions? Has anyone done this made their own?
Mufflers? I want to get the Flowmaster 40's. Is there much of a difference between the Delta Flow 40 and the Original 40?
Mufflers? I want to get the Flowmaster 40's. Is there much of a difference between the Delta Flow 40 and the Original 40?
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 511
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From: St. Louis MO
Re: Stainless Exhuast (bugatti)
Did they have any reasons for why stainless would blow out and crack. Stainless is by far the better alternative to anything that is steel and should last forever. If maybe they were refering to bending the stainless pipe in a standard steel pipe bender then maybe they know something I don't but as long as your muffler shop has bent stainless with success I don't see a problem. Your better alternative is to purchase some stainless steel ubends and cut and weld the bends into the straing tube that way.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Stainless Exhuast (bugatti)
Stainless is the best for exhaust and it will not blow out but it is also very hard to bend. It work hardens too quickly so the bender starts bending and then everything starts to go wrong.
I have access to a 3 inch mandral bending machine, state of the art , computer controled. Anyway you can effortlessly bend a 14 gage heavy walled steel pipe, no problem but when it gets to stainless at 65 degrees it stalls out.
So your uncle might run into problems but if not it is the way to go.
Stay away from 409 stainless, it looks like normal exhaust pipe, it is a poor quality stainless used by the auto industry. The 300 series is the way to go.
Good luck.
I have access to a 3 inch mandral bending machine, state of the art , computer controled. Anyway you can effortlessly bend a 14 gage heavy walled steel pipe, no problem but when it gets to stainless at 65 degrees it stalls out.
So your uncle might run into problems but if not it is the way to go.
Stay away from 409 stainless, it looks like normal exhaust pipe, it is a poor quality stainless used by the auto industry. The 300 series is the way to go.
Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 6
From: Long Island NY
Re: Stainless Exhuast (norvalwilhelm)
Aren't most/all of the exhaust kits that use S/S use 409? I've heard bad things about S/S, I'm getting a new exhaust real soon and I'm not sure which way to go...S/S or Alum.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Stainless Exhuast (mvftw)
409 stainless is used in the auto industry because it is a cheap form of stainless, it is magnetic, doesn't work harden as quickly but lacks the bright luster finish. You would have a hard time telling it from normal pipe. It is also aluminized on the outside for lubrication while bending plus giving it a more lustrous finish.
Take 304 stainless and it comes with a bright shine and maintains a bright appearance for years but is more expensive and work hardens quickly.
This is 304 stainless after years of service. Rust can not form on it.
Take 304 stainless and it comes with a bright shine and maintains a bright appearance for years but is more expensive and work hardens quickly.
This is 304 stainless after years of service. Rust can not form on it.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,842
Likes: 230
From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Re: Stainless Exhuast (bugatti)
This link may provide some info on exhaust systems. Aluminized stainless exhausts are standard on C4s (don't know the starting year).
Click on the next-to-last item in the right column - "Aluminized 409-439 Data Bulletin": http://www.aksteel.com/markets_produ...s_ferritic.asp (loads in about 1 min)
Click on the next-to-last item in the right column - "Aluminized 409-439 Data Bulletin": http://www.aksteel.com/markets_produ...s_ferritic.asp (loads in about 1 min)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
Re: Stainless Exhuast (bugatti)
I've had stainless pipes on my 74 for about 10 or 12 years and they never gave me any problems. I think I have the 409 stainless because they aren't bright. Anyway they look like the day I put them on. I think a lot of wives tales are told by people who don't want to work with stainless and would rather sell you aluminized. I got my pipes in a kit and paid around $200 back then for the pipes and mufflers.
