[Z06] Welding hedders ?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 5
Welding hedders ?
Has anyone welded LG system, Kooks whole system, or Stainless Works whole system. I don't like just being clamped together. Or do the clamps hold up without occasional tightening ? Also, do you need to be able to unbolt these hedder systems to do any maintenance jobs like a clutch ? 
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 147
From: Penfield NY
When I installed my LG's the clamps would not hold the connection between the cats and the intermediate pipes, even with the 1" slits I cut into the cats - that of course made it impossible to keep the exhaust tips aligned. I took the car to our local muffler shop and had them weld the X-pipe to cats to intermediate connections. I lined the whole system up back to the exhaust tips and they tacked the pieces while on the car, then took the whole thing down and finished welding it all together. The only clamps left are those that connect the front of the x-pipe to the header collectors. I would never weld that connection as it would be a real bear to do anything that required removing the headers.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,292
Likes: 0
From: Hockessin Delaware
My system is somewhat unique. I started with just the Borla XR-1, which has the center resonator where an X-pipe usually goes. This system clamps where you cut in front of the stock H-pipe, and also back at the over-axle pipes. I then added LPE long tubes, which connect to the stock cats with flanges.
A few months later, after adding the cam, etc., I still didn't think it was loud enough
, so I decided to swap the Borla resonator for an X-pipe. Problem is the X-pipe is a few inches shorter than the Borla piece, so I called Stainless Works and had them fabricate 2 sections of pipe to use as extensions, 2.5 inch outside diameter on one end, and 2.5 inch inside diameter on the other, together with clamps, so it would all slip together and clamp tight. It's been a couple weeks, and it all fits great, no leaks, no problems. I see no need to weld if your using high quality pipe (like the manufacturers you mentioned) and high quality clamps.
A few months later, after adding the cam, etc., I still didn't think it was loud enough
, so I decided to swap the Borla resonator for an X-pipe. Problem is the X-pipe is a few inches shorter than the Borla piece, so I called Stainless Works and had them fabricate 2 sections of pipe to use as extensions, 2.5 inch outside diameter on one end, and 2.5 inch inside diameter on the other, together with clamps, so it would all slip together and clamp tight. It's been a couple weeks, and it all fits great, no leaks, no problems. I see no need to weld if your using high quality pipe (like the manufacturers you mentioned) and high quality clamps.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 5,464
Likes: 2
From: Private
I have Kooks welded to a Random Flow x pipe, which is bolted to a Stinger rear section.
It's better to clamp the headers. I have already had to cut my pipes twice and had them re-welded because of work that had to be done on the car.
The next time I will have my shop convert it to a clamp. This was not a smart decision on my part.
It's better to clamp the headers. I have already had to cut my pipes twice and had them re-welded because of work that had to be done on the car.
The next time I will have my shop convert it to a clamp. This was not a smart decision on my part.