Stainless 304 or Mild Steel for Charge Pipes?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Redmond, WA, King
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Stainless 304 or Mild Steel for Charge Pipes?
Which is better and Why? I have searched Google ect and found nothing more the about exhaust but I am wanting info on charge pipes. Thanks in advance
#2
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Carlisle, PA, united states
Posts: 1,557
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I used mild steel for mine just because I had it laying around. Mild steel will rust and look crappy after a few miles of driving unless you paint it like I did.
Stainless is cool cause it doesn't rust but will be expensive.
If I were you I would save some weight and not worry about the rust and just go with aluminum piping. Spoolin' and other companies make pre-bent aluminum piping and is very nice.
Stainless is cool cause it doesn't rust but will be expensive.
If I were you I would save some weight and not worry about the rust and just go with aluminum piping. Spoolin' and other companies make pre-bent aluminum piping and is very nice.
#3
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: CANADA, BC, Canada
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
well, if it was between the 2 and you didnt mind the extra expense, I would go with stainless, for the fact that any moisture that sits in the chargepipes will not rust if the charge pipes are stainless.
However, if aluminum was an option I would go with it hands down. Lighter, no chance of rust, and able to dissapate heat quicker than the latter.
However, if aluminum was an option I would go with it hands down. Lighter, no chance of rust, and able to dissapate heat quicker than the latter.
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Redmond, WA, King
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am looking into measuring out both sides so I only need 2 pieces for the whole setup and have whatever company pre bend it for me. Any companies you guys can think of that will take custom orders for aluminum? The diffrence between stainless and steel is only $1.59 a foot so not that much of an expense
#5
Honda-Tech Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Bloomington, IN, USA
Posts: 10,180
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
The only thing I don't like about aluminum is that it gets bent and crushed just about every time that we blow off and re-install an end of the intercooler piping. You can't crank down on the aluminum piping like you can on steel piping.
#6
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: CANADA, BC, Canada
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just used the vibrant stuff for aluminum piping. it is pretty cheap and I found it very clean and easy to weld even though it is polished.
I have used it on quite a fewe cars now (including my own)
I have used it on quite a fewe cars now (including my own)
#7
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: CANADA, BC, Canada
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
you need a bead roller or do the poor mans bead roller and put some weld at the end of the pipes
Trending Topics
#9
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Posts: 2,859
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are a lot of thinner aluminum pipes that will crush or bend when tightened down hard with a T-bolt clamp. Aluminum is also pretty easily ruined, say if the charge piping blew off during a pull and smacked the chassis or another metal object.
I would run mild steel if you are on a budget. Or if you want to be on a budget and still have a bit of bling, you can run mild steel from the turbo to FMIC, FMIC to fender, and then run SS from fender into the throttlebody.
I would run mild steel if you are on a budget. Or if you want to be on a budget and still have a bit of bling, you can run mild steel from the turbo to FMIC, FMIC to fender, and then run SS from fender into the throttlebody.
#11
Honda-Tech Member
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 4,136
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I use stainless piping but only because Summit made a mistake and sent me stainless instead of mild, which I had ordered. Fortunately I only had to pay mild steel prices. I love the stainless, especially with the humidity and moisture here, zero rust thus far.
#12
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Redmond, WA, King
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm not on a budget. But after the feedback I think I will go with stainless steel. The benefits seem to out weight the rest " Strong, Won't rust, Easy to weld" it just seems to be a win win. Thanks for all the input guys. I will post my setup after completion. Its been in the works for a 1 1/2 now. Nothing special EG with SOHC Topmount Turbo Fully Built and kept clean.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post