This is a great buy for the D.I.Y. exhaust builders.
Just thought I'd pass on the info for you.
I recently bought some 3" x .065 wall (16 gauge) from Burn's Stainless... BIG Mistake! The going rate at Burns was $14.40 / ft. !!! About 2 days after I received it (damn luck ), a salesman (from a local stainless distributor - H.M. Craig Metal) came in to the place I work and said he had some polished 3" x .065 wall drops if anyone was interested. The drops are 75" in length which is awesome for the do it yourselfer to make a custom exhaust. I think he has about 150 of 'em. I had planned on making some 3" stainless exhaust systems based on the Thermal I currently have and sell 'em here at a big discount, but I see Slow_ass_4dr already has something going on and this requires lots of welding, so I doubt I could be competitive and make anything on 'em, but... for those of you who are interested, these prices can't be beat! The 75" drops are $2 / ft. Normally, they pay around $5 / ft. and charge $8 something (I think). This company also sells 3" x 90 degree elbows for $14.10 each (this is regular price) and poilshed ones for $39.27 each. Burn's sells them for $53.34 each!
Here's a cost comparison for the 3" x .065 wall (16 gauge) straight 304 stainless:
Burn's Stainless $14.40 / ft. H.M. Craig $2.00 / ft. (limited qty.)

For more info:
If you're interested, you can contact Andy Morris (at H.M. Craig Metal & Supply)
Here's a phone number:
North Carolina - 704-263-4771
NC WATTS - 800-222-1441

Here's their website (although I don't think this tubing is mentioned there):
http://www.hmcraigmetal.com


A few pix of my project laid out next to my Thermal 3":



3" stainless tubing & 4 90 degree elbows
3" x 90 degree elbows - closeup
Enjoy!





[Modified by The Mick, 4:46 PM 8/4/2002]

 

summit racing has DynoMax 3" 14gauge 180deg bends for only 15 bucks a piece. Cut them in half, and you have 2 90deg bends as well as 2 foot of straight 3" pipe. just thought id share... Thanks for the info though, looks good


[Modified by GudeH23a, 5:12 PM 8/4/2002]

 

Hey GudeH23a,
Are those 3" 14 gauge 180s in stainless? If so, that's an awesome price (and thanks for the heads up)! I wasn't sure if the 3" 90s I posted about were the cheapest, but I'm just about positive the $2 / ft. for the 3" poslished straight 304 tubing is the least you could ever expect to find it.

 

Dynomax 14 gauge mandrel bent 180 deg 3" WLK-42323, $18.50 a piece from summitracing.com.

 

Isn't 16 even 14gauge kinda think for a downpipe or exhaust? What are most exhausts made from?

 

14 or 16 is ideal. most exhaust companies go with 14 gauge for exhausts.

 

ordered mine...$2 a foot but they dont carry bends.

 

Cool! Glad you got 'em. About the bends... I got my 3" 90 degree mandrel bent pieces (pictured above) from them. Hmm?

 

Definately mild steel there.