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Hot side pipe thickness?

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Old Jun 15, 2020 | 11:12 AM
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Default Hot side pipe thickness?

Jumped the gun and got a KB log for my hot side. Turns out I can't fit the 4" downpipe without loosing HVAC. Not happening. So I'm building a hot side with flipped manifolds. Question is, is 18 ga pipe thick enough? In the interest of experimentation, I want to build a 2 1/8" hot side and can't find it any thicker. Normally use 14 ga. Anyone running thin pipe before I build it and it cracks in a month?
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Old Jun 15, 2020 | 11:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Bad Apache
Jumped the gun and got a KB log for my hot side. Turns out I can't fit the 4" downpipe without loosing HVAC. Not happening. So I'm building a hot side with flipped manifolds. Question is, is 18 ga pipe thick enough? In the interest of experimentation, I want to build a 2 1/8" hot side and can't find it any thicker. Normally use 14 ga. Anyone running thin pipe before I build it and it cracks in a month?
Nice! Kyle is a great guy! What is this going in and what’s your goals with it? What turbo, engine, etc etc,

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Old Jun 15, 2020 | 11:26 AM
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I wouldn't use 18g. 16g minimum and 14g would be better. Assuming everything was laid out perfectly and no stress was put on the piping, people have used 18g, sure. I like to give myself room for error. I tend to "error" a lot! Mild steel is also more forgiving IMO.
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Old Jun 15, 2020 | 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Dragframe
Nice! Kyle is a great guy! What is this going in and what’s your goals with it? What turbo, engine, etc etc,

Yes, Kyle was great to deal with! It's going in a land barge with widely varying goals. 5.3 billet 78/75 for now. Hot side will be T6 flanged with a reducer to a T4 flange to start with. Then remove the adapter and up the turbo from there. The turbo will be frame supported, not hanging on the pipes.
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Old Jun 15, 2020 | 12:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Forcefed86
I wouldn't use 18g. 16g minimum and 14g would be better. Assuming everything was laid out perfectly and no stress was put on the piping, people have used 18g, sure. I like to give myself room for error. I tend to "error" a lot! Mild steel is also more forgiving IMO.

May have to do 2.25". It'll be mild steel either way. Everything I build is overbuilt. Hence heavy. My '61 ranchero goes over 3000 lbs, without me in it!

Guess I should have titled the thread "tubing" not pipe.
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Old Jun 15, 2020 | 12:53 PM
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16 ga steel
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Old Jun 15, 2020 | 02:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Bad Apache
Yes, Kyle was great to deal with! It's going in a land barge with widely varying goals. 5.3 billet 78/75 for now. Hot side will be T6 flanged with a reducer to a T4 flange to start with. Then remove the adapter and up the turbo from there. The turbo will be frame supported, not hanging on the pipes.

Big old barge and you even have ac!? Nice!

While you are using the 7875, just run a 3” dp? You can still make a lot of power on a 3” dp

And a 2-2.25” crossover will be fine, and easier to package. There’s Big sticky on crossover side in this section. Sometimes I kinda wish I would have done a smaller crossover
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Old Jun 15, 2020 | 09:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Dragframe
Big old barge and you even have ac!? Nice!

While you are using the 7875, just run a 3” dp? You can still make a lot of power on a 3” dp

And a 2-2.25” crossover will be fine, and easier to package. There’s Big sticky on crossover side in this section. Sometimes I kinda wish I would have done a smaller crossover

I don't know if a 3" will fit through there. Lotsa bad going on on the passengers side. And I'd like to build a downpipe once and be done. Easier to start with 4" and reflange one end during the turbo swap. Of course it probably won't work out that way, lol. On the 2" vs 2 1/8" vs 2.25" hot side. If I had the time I'd build all three at one time to experiment with. I think each combo has a sweet spot for best spool and power. Maybe a go fund me page to build all three, lol. And 3", 4" and 5" down pipes as well!
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Old Jun 16, 2020 | 11:04 AM
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ls1curt went 160+ at 3400lbs with a 2" hotside on a 388. So I don't think it's limiting at typical "land yacht" power levels. lol.

As far as exhasust goes, I vote for 3-4" dump and crushed 2" pipe all the way back to a caddy muffler! DIrt cheap and the best of both worlds!
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Old Jun 16, 2020 | 12:15 PM
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I used 16g stainless on a hotside directly supporting a 70lb GT55 and it worked fine, so if you support the turbo properly 18g should be just fine. I used a maven mount on my current kit which made the hotside piping super easy and didn't have to worry about it supporting any weight.
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Old Jun 16, 2020 | 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Forcefed86
ls1curt went 160+ at 3400lbs with a 2" hotside on a 388. So I don't think it's limiting at typical "land yacht" power levels. lol.

As far as exhasust goes, I vote for 3-4" dump and crushed 2" pipe all the way back to a caddy muffler! DIrt cheap and the best of both worlds!

Duly noted on 2" pipe. Already got the 2.25" stock replacement cat back system for $116 to my door and a 4" dump valve!
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Old Jun 16, 2020 | 12:49 PM
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Originally Posted by SLOW SEDAN
I used 16g stainless on a hotside directly supporting a 70lb GT55 and it worked fine, so if you support the turbo properly 18g should be just fine. I used a maven mount on my current kit which made the hotside piping super easy and didn't have to worry about it supporting any weight.

Thanks, found 16ga mild steel. This turd isn't worth stainless.
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