flex-piping for Charge pipe?
flex-piping for Charge pipe? Is it safe to use some of that "flex bendable exhaust" that you can buy from oreillys or autozone for a section of cold piping? Im working with very little space so I might have to resort to it. 75% of my charge piping is 2.5" 12 gauge mild steel ran along the rocker panel.
My truck is slammed also so "aint nobody got time for aluminum" lol
My truck is slammed also so "aint nobody got time for aluminum" lol
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 581
Likes: 0
From: Arkansas
yeah that's what I used. worked good for awhile. It did start distorting though. That's when I started learning how to tig weld haha!. But it was a good learning experience.
TECH Resident
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 916
Likes: 5
From: Las Vegas, NV
Yeah, it will distort a little over time if it's not supported every few feet, but the material is so light it can be supported with zip ties almost. lol Okay, that may be a stretch. haha It's also good for mocking up your setup. AND IT'S CHEAP! 
I used this for charge pipe once (Super rigid stuff):
http://www.lowes.com/pd_23953-1814-A...7C1&facetInfo=
Worked great! You have to heat the bends slow, or else you get a little wrinkle. I painted it and everyone was shocked to hear what it was afterwards. Looked like mild steel after painted (hammertone), lol. No leaks either! Great stuff.
I used this for charge pipe once (Super rigid stuff):
http://www.lowes.com/pd_23953-1814-A...7C1&facetInfo=
Worked great! You have to heat the bends slow, or else you get a little wrinkle. I painted it and everyone was shocked to hear what it was afterwards. Looked like mild steel after painted (hammertone), lol. No leaks either! Great stuff.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo I really have no other alternative... I plan on using this section of mild steel recessed under the rocker panel. If the exhaust guy can can get about a 90* degree bend OVER the rear frame (underneath the bed) to the compressor housing ill do that. But as you can see I really have NO room. The only other rational plan of attack is cutting out some of the floor where the kick panel is... for the rear I plan on mounting it like the last pic , see how the charge pipe swings over the frame right near the first leaf spring bolt
TECH Resident
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 916
Likes: 5
From: Las Vegas, NV
_full.gif)
I know the exact 3" flex pipe your talking about. Its plastic and I tried it... drove down the road and got into boost. BOOM! it ******* exploded. was fun to laugh at though haha
TECH Resident
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 916
Likes: 5
From: Las Vegas, NV
That sucks! PVC is good to 120-300 psi, depending on what you get. But keep it away from any exhaust. I had my section go from my intercooler to TB. Held fine.
Gotta do whatcha gotta dooooo...
Gotta do whatcha gotta dooooo...
TECH Resident
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 916
Likes: 5
From: Las Vegas, NV
Hahaha... Damn... sorry for laughing. Hey, you tried, right? lol
So that bursts under pressure, apparently... and the metal one leaks under pressure...
Looks like either custom bent mild steel, or PVC, OR a combination of the 2. Maybe run PVC from the turbo to the part where it needs to angle up into the engine compartment, connect with a silicone connector, straight metal pipe past the headers (Wrapped with header wrap of course, otherwise you're heating your charge pipe), then finish with PVC in areas not so heat sensitive.
So that bursts under pressure, apparently... and the metal one leaks under pressure...
Looks like either custom bent mild steel, or PVC, OR a combination of the 2. Maybe run PVC from the turbo to the part where it needs to angle up into the engine compartment, connect with a silicone connector, straight metal pipe past the headers (Wrapped with header wrap of course, otherwise you're heating your charge pipe), then finish with PVC in areas not so heat sensitive.
Hahaha... Damn... sorry for laughing. Hey, you tried, right? lol
So that bursts under pressure, apparently... and the metal one leaks under pressure...
Looks like either custom bent mild steel, or PVC, OR a combination of the 2. Maybe run PVC from the turbo to the part where it needs to angle up into the engine compartment, connect with a silicone connector, straight metal pipe past the headers (Wrapped with header wrap of course, otherwise you're heating your charge pipe), then finish with PVC in areas not so heat sensitive.
So that bursts under pressure, apparently... and the metal one leaks under pressure...
Looks like either custom bent mild steel, or PVC, OR a combination of the 2. Maybe run PVC from the turbo to the part where it needs to angle up into the engine compartment, connect with a silicone connector, straight metal pipe past the headers (Wrapped with header wrap of course, otherwise you're heating your charge pipe), then finish with PVC in areas not so heat sensitive.