What's the best method to bead piping so that connectors are less likely to blow off? I know that it's done with a press, and that some people just put a nice lump of weld around the pipe to achieve the same effect, but how it is actually supposed to be done, and can it be done effectively for cheap?
And yes, I did a search

 

It's supposed to be rolled into the pipe with a bead roller, but a weld bead works just as well.

 

How important is it that the size (height) of the weld bead be remain consistent all the way around?

I know it's not the most important thing or anything, I just figured I'd ask before going ahead and doing this on my IC piping which I don't want bother re-doing because me bead method sucked

 

just make it way bigger than you need and grind it down to size

 

This is how I've always done it...

 

well the welded bead works, but if you want to be the cool kid on the block with the trickest part check these out!





These couplers clip onto aluminum 2.5" piping, and then must be welded, the coupler then goes between them with 2 hose clamps like normal. There are 4 rows of barbs that act to seal your pieces of tubing and keep your pipes from blowing apart, just like a hose barb fitting for a vacuum line!

 

Who's RX-7?

 

Those look pretty cool! Guess you measure three times, cut once to avoid any short pipes...

 

Another way to do it is to put a little bit of a "lip" on it by taking a long scredriver and using it to flare out the edge of the pipe. This will make it stay in the coupling without falling off.

 

kinda a ghetto version of the wiggins clamps...pretty cool

 

Well,... 2.5" wiggins clamps: $170, Barbed intercooler connectors that were meticulously thought over, and NO MORE BLOWN OFF pipes: $40... you decide!

 

You can mod some plyers by welding a bump on one side, and grinding away the other side, then use that to crush a lip in the end of your pipes.

 

So where can we get these at?

 

If you made them in some sort of steel material then i would buy 5 or more sets. I dont know of anyone that runs aluminum intercooler piping since its so damn expensive compared to mild steel.