IC piping options

TYTILIDIE

TYTILIDIE

METH HEAD
Hey everyone, I am getting pretty close to getting my truck back together. One of the next projects on my list of things to tackle is my IC piping. What I had before, I was NOT pleased with in any way. It was the basic 3" kit from E bay. It came with rubber couplers, hose clamps and very very flimsy piping. My plan is to buy a bead roller so I can make the connections stronger but as far as the actual piping goes I have a thought. First off, I need to finish my exhaust as well so I thought, what if I buy one of the mandrel kits from Jegs? They run about $250, you four of everything I believe.
4-straight
4-90*'s
4-45*s
4-U's
If I bought that kit, I would really only use either 2-90*s and a 45* or 3-90*s. This would leave me with a ton of piping left over to do my exhaust. The piping is just aluminized steel. Looks would be my only concern. Would this "raw" piping look be ugly? Should I have it powder coated? or maybe chromed? I would love to have it chrome since my compressor housing is polished and my throttle body is polished, it would make sense that everything on the psi side is shiny.:lol: If I had it powder coated, I have no idea what color I would do it in. Any, let me know what you guys think about this.
 
13Pelle

13Pelle

Active member
Re: IC piping options

Do you have a "color" theme going on besides polished? If you have the chrome or shiny theme then go with that. Mine is raw aluminum right now but I am not going for the pretty look. I just wanted function right now. I can and will dress it up later. IMO i would polish it.... powder coating chips too much for my liking.....JMHO
 
4C FED

4C FED

Absolutum Dominium
Re: IC piping options

You're going to buy a bead roller? Pretty expensive for one time use. You could probably save a bunch of $ by having some local shop roll the few beads you'll need.

Besides that, why not stick with the aluminum tubing & have it powder coated?
 
skipztt

skipztt

boost
Re: IC piping options

if it was me, i would just kinda copy the setup that u have now (unless your unhappy with how the piping is routed).

i would def do aluminum 3" piping. i wouldnt care for the aluminized steel too much. dont worry about buying a bead roller. take it to a shop, they should be able to roll the bead in the end of the tubing. if not send the stuff to me, i can do it for ya
 
eviltwin

eviltwin

"junkyard syclone"
Re: IC piping options

instead of buying a bead roller you can just weld a nice bead around the end of the tubing. worked great for me and a few of my friends.
 
TYTILIDIE

TYTILIDIE

METH HEAD
Re: IC piping options

I will never weld the beads again. It looks like crap and though you don't see it, I just assume why not have the extra tool laying around for when I need it again. It is not all that expensive, $150 at Harbor Freight. I do have something of a color theme, Black w/red everywhere. So I could get away with black powder coat I suppose. Not sure how the raw look would turn out but I guess that is an option. I am only against chrome because of the cost and the fact that I wouldn't want the inside of the piping to get in case it chipped off. I would stick with the aluminum piping kit but again, it is the flimsiest shit I have ever seen. With beads, my t-bolt clamps pinched the tubing. I just assume have something that can have some decent strength.
 
eviltwin

eviltwin

"junkyard syclone"
Re: IC piping options

i have a bead roller form harbor freight, it worked like crap when i first got it. i had to make a frame to weld along the plating to keep the top and bottom from flexing apart. that was on 16g tubing
 
JSM

JSM

Active member
Re: IC piping options

aluminized be better but I don't like MS due to to rust on inside and fear of it going into engine at some point.

I took off some MS pipes off a truck and was amazed how rusty the inside was, we went back in with stainless. My truck is stainless. I would spend a few extra bucks for stainless IMO.

If you can weld MS, a quick change of wire and SS can be welded. Even if you tack it that way and pay to have it finished you will be ahead vs powdercoat/chrome.
 
TYTILIDIE

TYTILIDIE

METH HEAD
Re: IC piping options

TwinTurboV8Ty said:
aluminized be better but I don't like MS due to to rust on inside and fear of it going into engine at some point.

I took off some MS pipes off a truck and was amazed how rusty the inside was, we went back in with stainless. My truck is stainless. I would spend a few extra bucks for stainless IMO.

If you can weld MS, a quick change of wire and SS can be welded. Even if you tack it that way and pay to have it finished you will be ahead vs powdercoat/chrome.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't think it would rust at all. Very interesting. Stainless is a bit more than a few extra bucks, its $250 for the kit I am looking at now, SS would be $850. Pretty big difference. Now I am really stuck, I definitely don't want the inside of the pipe to be susceptible to rust.
 
JSM

JSM

Active member
Re: IC piping options

But how much pipe do you need for just the intercooler. Your buying a complete system here for just a few pipes
 
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