What kind of metal is our mufflers made of?
 

What kind of metal is the axle-back made of? Thinking of recycling my stock ones since I can't seem to sell them.

Probably 400-series stainless.

400 series has carbon in it and will rust. 300 series stainless will never rust, it has no carbon in it. Not sure what ours is.

Aluminized steel. Stainless tips.

The mufflers and pipes are stainless...I would have thought 300 series, but some have said 400 is more likely...either way, they are stainless.:thumbs:

Quite awhile back, most OE stainless exhausts were the less-expensive 400 series---good but not great. And all the aftermarket ones were 300 series (I see Corsa's gone to a different, higher grade I think, and Borla doesn't even say which grade any longer except that it's in the 300 series).

What ever they have been making them out of they have been lasting a long time. I haven't had to replace a muffler on a Corvette since I had my C3s back in the 70s. Even the ones on my 03 Tahoe are still in good shape after having salt and sand being blown all over them through 10 winters.

Bill

According to the 2012-Corvette-Order-Guide.pdf the standard equipment exhaust is "aluminized stainless-steel with 3" stainless steel tips".
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...rder-Guide.pdf
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Take it to the recycle plant and they might have a scanner that they can tell you what series it is. :thumbs:

:flag: Good job, I couldn't remember where I saw it. Same in the 2007 order guide.:thumbs:

Scanner? You mean like a magnet? :rofl:
300 series are non-magnetic
400 series magnetic

C6 mufflers are 400 series with 300 series tips

That is incorrect generalization! It all depends!

Simply put, without getting too in-depth, even 304 will rust! 316 contains carbon, which has higher rust resistance and material strength than the non-carbon 304.

:iagree: And 316L is low carbon for even more corrosion resistance.

No, there is a gun that they scan the metal with and can tell you exactly what properties are in the metal and how much percentage. Dont know if all scrap yards use them but I deal with all types of steel fittings and sometimes we have to have these certifications done to fittings for customers that buy fittings for oilfield related items.

Not 304L or 316L :thumbs:

as a general rule 300 series in products for the consumer market will be rust free an example would be Borla or Corsa mufflers.

Bingo :thumbs:

And for the record some stainless is magnetic so that doesn't always work.

When speaking of rusting on 300 series, the implication does not imply with the exception of those with the "L" designation, it is across the board.

An illustration, when someone erroneously suggest to use "0000" steel wool to polished Borla/Corsa tips, unless the removal of steel wool dust is absolute 100%, otherwise those tips will have rusted spot that will lead to pitting. In addition, any iron oxide in the air that landed on those "rust free" tips, if left protected, will suffered the same consequences!

Never knew carbon rusts.

Based on the costs for replacement exhausts, gold.

300 series such as 302, 303, 304, 316 are non-magnetic, but can display slight attraction to a magnet if they have been cold-worked (like stamped parts or small turned parts). Nothing like the 400 series stainless steels or 17-4's magnetic attraction though.

300 series (sometimes referred to as 18-8 stainless) is really the most appropriate for an exhaust because is most resistant to corrosion and it is probably the least expensive, unless it is 316L (low carbon for ultimate corrosion resistance like metal orthopedic implants). 400 series is stronger, but less corrosion resistant and more expensive because heat treatment is required.