stainless steel or coated or..
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stainless steel or coated or.. Sould I get turbo piping made of stainless steel, coated or what? I'm more interested in longevity and performance. Cost is a factor, but $600-$700 more is not a problem.
Originally Posted by eLTwerker
Sould I get turbo piping made of stainless steel, coated or what? I'm more interested in longevity and performance. Cost is a factor, but $600-$700 more is not a problem.
I found from my last turbo kit from a sponsor that used to be on here that stainless will not hold up to the extreme heat cycles. The stainless cracked several times and had to take off to be rewelded. My new kit that a good friend and I built we used mild steel. no problems at all.
IT depends on how the kit was engineered, and the grade of stainlesss used. 304 SS expands more than 321. Unequal length primaries with no slip joints made in 304SS will tend to develop cracks over time. 321SS with slip fit collectors won't have this problem.
Carbon steel will scale and break down over time, from the inside out.
Carbon steel will scale and break down over time, from the inside out.
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: May 2006
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From: Metairie, LA
So coated mild steel would hold up longer than stainless steel or even coated stainless steel?
Also, just to be sure, what are we talking about coating the mild steel (or stainless steel) with?
Also, just to be sure, what are we talking about coating the mild steel (or stainless steel) with?
Last edited by eLTwerker; Mar 25, 2007 at 09:58 PM.
Mild steel doesn't expand as much when heated, so it is better for resisting cracks, but is less durable in terms of how much heat it can take before it starts to break down.
Originally Posted by Whistler
IT depends on how the kit was engineered, and the grade of stainlesss used. 304 SS expands more than 321. Unequal length primaries with no slip joints made in 304SS will tend to develop cracks over time. 321SS with slip fit collectors won't have this problem.
Carbon steel will scale and break down over time, from the inside out.
Carbon steel will scale and break down over time, from the inside out.
Thanks.
Originally Posted by Whistler
321 will endure the stress better than 304 in that condition, based on my experience. ( a lot of headers come through my shop )
Would 321 still be susceptible to cracking under these conditions, because they are bolted to the exhaust ports? Or would they be largely immune, due to the higher quality of SS being used? I realize that no system is immune to this issue, but would they still be suspect?
The same coating is applied to each metal.
321 may still crack without slip joints, but not like 304. That being said, many people build turbo parts from 304 with no slips and never have a problem.
321 may still crack without slip joints, but not like 304. That being said, many people build turbo parts from 304 with no slips and never have a problem.
