Header Materials for Turbos
#1
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Header Materials for Turbos
What kind of material should be used for a turbo setup? Is coated mild steel fine or will the inside flake and break the turbo? Is stainless absolutly beyond all else neccessary?
#2
I found Corky Bell's book on turbocharging very useful for stuff like constructing a homemade header or turbo kit. It's called "Maximum Boost" and you can find it cheap at Amazon.com. Talks specifically about header flanges, metals, and other points.
I believe Corky states that mild steel would be acceptable, with modern ceramic coatings, for the heavily loaded turbo header and wastegate mount.
Jim
I believe Corky states that mild steel would be acceptable, with modern ceramic coatings, for the heavily loaded turbo header and wastegate mount.
Jim
#4
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Originally Posted by Spenser309
What kind of material should be used for a turbo setup? Is coated mild steel fine or will the inside flake and break the turbo? Is stainless absolutly beyond all else neccessary?
#5
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the pics I've seen of cracked 304 had one piece header flanges. the cracks suggests the metal is stressing out due to heat expansion. max boost specifically points out you need to plan for this expansion with oblonged bolt holes and and perhaps individual flanges for each exhaust tube. a proper fitting union between flange and tube along with smooth, stress free welds should go a long way to extending the life of 304.
#6
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Mild steel is the best way to go for the money. All will be equal in strength for a street car as long as you brace the turbo and the rest of the turbo system.. Anyone who tells you about their headers cracking due to poor material are morons for not bracing their turbo system correctly and letting the entire weight of it sit on the headers.. The best material though for all out performance is called Inconel- 1800*F fatigue strength but is very difficult to weld and very expensive.
The best way to connect the headers to the hot pipes is using slip-fit style connectors. Using bolt-on flanges will work but put added stress on the system for not alloing much flex..
The best way to connect the headers to the hot pipes is using slip-fit style connectors. Using bolt-on flanges will work but put added stress on the system for not alloing much flex..
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Originally Posted by TchargedLS1TA
Anyone who tells you about their headers cracking due to poor material are morons for not bracing their turbo system correctly and letting the entire weight of it sit on the headers..
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Just for conversation. How many of the six people that have replied above have owned or built a turbo system?
I have not owned or fabed a turbo system yet so don't think I am *******, I am just trying to weed out the " I read it some where and I think I can post about it now" syndrome.
Smokin, I know you are fabin your own kit.
Thanks.
Tim
I have not owned or fabed a turbo system yet so don't think I am *******, I am just trying to weed out the " I read it some where and I think I can post about it now" syndrome.
Smokin, I know you are fabin your own kit.
Thanks.
Tim
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Sweet, actual first hand knowlage.
The more I read in this forum the more I sit here and think about the people posting are saying to themselves "I don't have anything better to do but to read **** and then post **** I read like I know what I am talking about, even though I haven't done it."
You know who you are!!!!
Thanks.
Tim
The more I read in this forum the more I sit here and think about the people posting are saying to themselves "I don't have anything better to do but to read **** and then post **** I read like I know what I am talking about, even though I haven't done it."
You know who you are!!!!
Thanks.
Tim
#12
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Yup, its called bench racing- people sit on these forums and read what other people are doing/screwing up.. Then they go out and run the same product that got all the attention on these forums and claim they knew it would be the best setup all by themselves..
Im a trial and error guy- i know half my **** wont work the first time, but at least I know it first hand and know the results and what went wrong. I know some of my headers will fail due to workmanship- it happens to everyone..
Im a trial and error guy- i know half my **** wont work the first time, but at least I know it first hand and know the results and what went wrong. I know some of my headers will fail due to workmanship- it happens to everyone..
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Originally Posted by TchargedLS1TA
Yup, its called bench racing- people sit on these forums and read what other people are doing/screwing up.. Then they go out and run the same product that got all the attention on these forums and claim they knew it would be the best setup all by themselves..
Im a trial and error guy- i know half my **** wont work the first time, but at least I know it first hand and know the results and what went wrong. I know some of my headers will fail due to workmanship- it happens to everyone..
Im a trial and error guy- i know half my **** wont work the first time, but at least I know it first hand and know the results and what went wrong. I know some of my headers will fail due to workmanship- it happens to everyone..
Tim
#14
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Originally Posted by N20Silverado
Just for conversation. How many of the six people that have replied above have owned or built a turbo system?
Smokin, I know you are fabin your own kit.
Thanks.
Tim
Smokin, I know you are fabin your own kit.
Thanks.
Tim
on my turbotech kit i had my 304 stainless log coated inside and out, it never flaked off. it cracked a few times though. This time im going with cast manafolds, no cracking now
PTK has always used mild coated, they have released a LOT of kits, and can anyone find someone with their kit that has cracked, or the inside has flaked off and ruined a turbo?
321 with slip fit would be your best bet, nobody can argue with that.
Cast is good as well for its properties, but your limited to the incon and stock or truck manafolds
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Originally Posted by N20Silverado
Just for conversation. How many of the six people that have replied above have owned or built a turbo system?
#16
Originally Posted by N20Silverado
Just for conversation. How many of the six people that have replied above have owned or built a turbo system?
I have not owned or fabed a turbo system yet so don't think I am *******, I am just trying to weed out the " I read it some where and I think I can post about it now" syndrome.
Smokin, I know you are fabin your own kit.
Thanks.
Tim
I have not owned or fabed a turbo system yet so don't think I am *******, I am just trying to weed out the " I read it some where and I think I can post about it now" syndrome.
Smokin, I know you are fabin your own kit.
Thanks.
Tim
Smokin and TchargedLS1TA
know what they are talking about...
TchargedLS1TA he is currently in the process of fabbing up my new set up using 6.0 manifolds! YEAH!
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Originally Posted by nitrorocket
Here are my headers. I used all 321 stainless. So far they are holding up excellent and are a nice golden color after heated.
#18
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304 headers are fine as long as they are backpurged, and again, the turbo is mounted properly and/or you have THICK weld Els that can take the abuse.
Inconel is not hard to weld, It always looks like a dirty pool, but it just welds so seamlessly. Its really unique. Ti is the same way to an extent
Inconel is not hard to weld, It always looks like a dirty pool, but it just welds so seamlessly. Its really unique. Ti is the same way to an extent
Last edited by Louis; 09-20-2005 at 11:14 AM.
#19
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Originally Posted by N20Silverado
Just for conversation. How many of the six people that have replied above have owned or built a turbo system?
Design is as important as material. Proper welding technique and turbo support are mandatory. IIRC, 304 expands a lot more than mild steel so you have to be sure there is proper tolerance built in to bolt holes...
#20
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Originally Posted by N20Silverado
Just for conversation. How many of the six people that have replied above have owned or built a turbo system?
Originally Posted by Spenser309
What kind of material should be used for a turbo setup? Is coated mild steel fine or will the inside flake and break the turbo? Is stainless absolutly beyond all else neccessary?