Custom y-pipe...what type of flanges to use?
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Custom y-pipe...what type of flanges to use? Hey everyone. Got an 87 TA, with an LS1 swap. Im using Hawks long tubes, and his y-pipe, and a magnaflow cat back. This set up stinks as it is now... Its all slip on, so to get the y-pipe off, I have to take the catback off from the rear forward.
Anyway...Im redoing it all. The headers have 2.5" collectors, and the y-pipe is 2.5"... Ide like to go 3" with the y-pipe...so its 3" all the way back. So, I want to weld some sort of flanges on the collectors...and on the joining y-pipe. Whats the best type of flange to put on there for ease of install, best seal, etc. I hear ball flanges are good.
So...I need flanges on the collectors to go to 3" pipe. Then I need to put a flange at the intermediate pipe side of the y-pipe. So Ide need to know what a good flange for there is.
There are a few pieces to the magnaflow kit as well..and Ide REALLY like to flange all that. Maybe with some triangle flanges...but that might be going overboard. I might just have to redo that with regular exhaust clamps. The band clamps arent holding it tight over bumps and all.
Just in case Im being super confusing, which I have a feeling I am...here is a primitive sketch I did in a few seconds. The circles are the flange locations obviously.
Also..any sources for getting these flanges? I would like them in stainless because thats what everything under there is now.
Thanks for any help you can give me!!..
Justin
Anyway...Im redoing it all. The headers have 2.5" collectors, and the y-pipe is 2.5"... Ide like to go 3" with the y-pipe...so its 3" all the way back. So, I want to weld some sort of flanges on the collectors...and on the joining y-pipe. Whats the best type of flange to put on there for ease of install, best seal, etc. I hear ball flanges are good.
So...I need flanges on the collectors to go to 3" pipe. Then I need to put a flange at the intermediate pipe side of the y-pipe. So Ide need to know what a good flange for there is.
There are a few pieces to the magnaflow kit as well..and Ide REALLY like to flange all that. Maybe with some triangle flanges...but that might be going overboard. I might just have to redo that with regular exhaust clamps. The band clamps arent holding it tight over bumps and all.
Just in case Im being super confusing, which I have a feeling I am...here is a primitive sketch I did in a few seconds. The circles are the flange locations obviously.
Also..any sources for getting these flanges? I would like them in stainless because thats what everything under there is now.
Thanks for any help you can give me!!..
Justin
If I had it to do over again, I would have gone with a standard 3-bolt flange. My exhaust has slip fit connections, and it seems like the band clamps have never sealed well enough for my liking. The only thing you'll give up is a little clearance under the body, but to me, it would be worth it.
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Originally Posted by MeentSS02
If I had it to do over again, I would have gone with a standard 3-bolt flange. My exhaust has slip fit connections, and it seems like the band clamps have never sealed well enough for my liking. The only thing you'll give up is a little clearance under the body, but to me, it would be worth it.
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Do the v-band type use a gasket? So those hold good and seal good??? I like the idea of the v-band...as far as how they look and all...I just dont know much about the workings.
The only thing with the 3-bolt flange type is gaskets. But I have one on my jeep exhaust and I used one of those "seal for good" aluminum gaskets, and it seems to hold good. I just dont rev the jeep up to 7000...haha. As for the little bit of ground clearance...trust me, ANYTHING is better than the way the y-pipe hangs down now. haha.
Any sources for picking up v-band type flanges? Or any of the others? Preferably in stainless...
Thanks for the input guys!!!
Justin
The only thing with the 3-bolt flange type is gaskets. But I have one on my jeep exhaust and I used one of those "seal for good" aluminum gaskets, and it seems to hold good. I just dont rev the jeep up to 7000...haha. As for the little bit of ground clearance...trust me, ANYTHING is better than the way the y-pipe hangs down now. haha.
Any sources for picking up v-band type flanges? Or any of the others? Preferably in stainless...
Thanks for the input guys!!!
Justin
V-band clamps are typically what I see on the hot side of turbo setups. They have to seal if being used in a forced induction application...otherwise, you will lose boost. From what I can tell, they do not use a gasket.
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the 3 bolt flanges are dog ****, the best flanges are the Ball flanges, no gasket to burn out and start leaking like the 3 bolt flanges do. Ball Flanges all the way!!! I love mine..
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Originally Posted by Flawless02SS
the 3 bolt flanges are dog ****, the best flanges are the Ball flanges, no gasket to burn out and start leaking like the 3 bolt flanges do. Ball Flanges all the way!!! I love mine..
I'd have to find them first to verify I still have them 
They certainly aren't doing me any good wherever they are. Know anyone that would be interested? You can PM me to keep it out of this thread if so desired...they are some nice quality pieces though.
They certainly aren't doing me any good wherever they are. Know anyone that would be interested? You can PM me to keep it out of this thread if so desired...they are some nice quality pieces though.
3-bolters work great if you do these things.
Make sure the flanges are aligned correctly.
Make sure no pipe is sticking out past the gasket surface.
You turn them the RIGHT WAY for install (they are directional).
You use the biggest damn bolts that will fit (usually 3/8").
You use nice gaskets (I use dead soft aluminum).
V-bands don't use a gasket. As you tighten that single bolt on the band, it squeezes the flanges into that V, forcing them together.
Make sure the flanges are aligned correctly.
Make sure no pipe is sticking out past the gasket surface.
You turn them the RIGHT WAY for install (they are directional).
You use the biggest damn bolts that will fit (usually 3/8").
You use nice gaskets (I use dead soft aluminum).
V-bands don't use a gasket. As you tighten that single bolt on the band, it squeezes the flanges into that V, forcing them together.
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Great! Thanks for the responses guys. I like the ball flange idea as well. I dont think Ill have room though. Those typically have the two bolts oriented horizontally correct?? My clearances are kinda tight on the sides, which is why I decided on the band clamps... Here...here is a pic of my collector area.
Im kind of leaning towards the V type clams. They seem like they would save some space, and instally easily. Here is a pic of the back of the y-pipe where i need the 3rd flange.
You can see the right side of the y-pipe hangs pretty low. Its been bashed pretty good already, and Im sure it will only get worse. So maybe I could use a V type flange there too... I just want to make sure the exhaust is sturdy as well. I have no hangers between the headers and the over the axle pipe. Its so rigid that I dont even think I need them, but I wanted to put one on the I-pipe somewhere near the y-pipe.
Anyway... thanks for the help, and anymore input is definetly welcomed! I just gotta source out some V-bands/flanges in stainless and get started!!
Justin
Im kind of leaning towards the V type clams. They seem like they would save some space, and instally easily. Here is a pic of the back of the y-pipe where i need the 3rd flange.
You can see the right side of the y-pipe hangs pretty low. Its been bashed pretty good already, and Im sure it will only get worse. So maybe I could use a V type flange there too... I just want to make sure the exhaust is sturdy as well. I have no hangers between the headers and the over the axle pipe. Its so rigid that I dont even think I need them, but I wanted to put one on the I-pipe somewhere near the y-pipe.
Anyway... thanks for the help, and anymore input is definetly welcomed! I just gotta source out some V-bands/flanges in stainless and get started!!
Justin
You are right on the lateral clearance of the ball/socket flange:
I don't think they would be for you...
If I were you, I'd call up Speed Inc. in Cheecago...they do so much custom fabriacation of custom turbo systems that I'm sure they could easily source you some stainless v-band clamps.
I don't think they would be for you...
If I were you, I'd call up Speed Inc. in Cheecago...they do so much custom fabriacation of custom turbo systems that I'm sure they could easily source you some stainless v-band clamps.
I'm going to get a custom y made for the xs headers and i planned on just using some 3 bolt flanges that the exhaust shop had to connect the collectors to the y......is this a bad idea.
To the original poster i'm not jacking your thread. Im just in the same situation as you.
Sorry.
To the original poster i'm not jacking your thread. Im just in the same situation as you.
Sorry.
I just used the 3 bolt flanges with some high temp silicone. They were on the thin side so I doubled and welded them together. My headers had the 3-bolt to begin with and are threaded so it was an easy decision. No leaks here 
.
If I was joining two sets of flanges where one side wasn't threaded, I'd bolt them together and weld the nut to the back of the flange. This way there will only be clamping load on the joint without the worry of shear load breaking the silicone seal.
These flanges are steel but if you google "stainless exhaust flanges" some sites will pop up.
.If I was joining two sets of flanges where one side wasn't threaded, I'd bolt them together and weld the nut to the back of the flange. This way there will only be clamping load on the joint without the worry of shear load breaking the silicone seal.
These flanges are steel but if you google "stainless exhaust flanges" some sites will pop up.
Last edited by SSmokin 01; Dec 6, 2006 at 12:13 AM.