I bought a turbo with a 4-bolt flange included. I've been looking at a few pics of downpipes, and it doesn't look like there is too many bends (welds). I already have a 2.5" u-bend I have laying around. I have a friend that welds but he kind of sucks at it. However, I will have to use a handsaw to make all the cuts....is there any cheap alternative to cutting?

Curtis gave me a few quick tips: Use small radius bends and make sure all the cuts are straight. Could you guys give me more tips on making a downpipe? I need one that is A/C compatible. I'm probably going to do a 2.5->3" flare near the oil pan. Where is the cheapest place to get the flare? Is a flex section necessary? When I got my exhaust done, the muffler guy say you can either use flex pipe or springs and bolts when connecting the header (dp) to the muffler.

Could you guys post a couple more pics of your downpipe? (I saw the other post but there were only a couple).

Thanks.

 

What material are you making it out of?

What type of welder will your friend be using?

I would suggest going to a rental shop and renting a shop (with metal blade) or hand held/portable band saw to do the cuts, it'll make life alot easier!

As for the flex pipe it's something I would do. It takes alot of stress off of the manifold and turbo (from engine motion). You can get a flex pipe from http://www.jcwhitney.com for a fair price.

 

I used an electric miter saw with a metal blade to make the cuts, but I was looking at this http://www.jcwhitney.com/SearchCatCo...questid=101320 I haven't used it before, but it does look like a cheap alternative. You also could get a flare here http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...13&prmenbr=361 but it might be too long if you're doing the flare near the turbo.

Brad

 

Simple, any pipe cutter that can cut your diameter pipe. Cuts within seconds, cheap, no power needed, clean cuts and straight cuts! That's it. Hit up a hardware store.

 

You can borrow an exhaust pipe cutter for Auto Zone...link.

EDIT: Fixed link.


[Modified by Jeff C, 4:20 PM 2/12/2003]

 

Thanks guys.

I'm using the mandrel u-bends (I think it's mild steel) from jegs.com. My friend has a Mig welder.

How well does the exhaust cutter from autozone work? It's free, so I think I'm going to try that first.

Thanks for the inputs.

 

Not sure how it works, but I am going to rent one this weekend.

 

try not to "cheat" bends....u want a tangent cut. u can get a "swedge" or "flare" from almost any muffler shop for next to nothing

 

I'm not sure what you mean to "cheat" a bend. So just cut all the pipings perpendicularly...

 

Does the size of the DUMPTUBE (from the wastegate) matter?

 

back from the dead...

sorry to bring the post back, but im now in the same situation as you and i was wondering how everything went. Any pics of the donwpipe, any problems? where were the cuts made on the U bends to make the downpipe?

Thanks,
Ryan

 

I bought a new maxrev downpipe for a member on here. It doesn't look like it's too bad to make one though. Just make sure to get the tightest radius u-bends available. If you're in a hurry, I believe an exhaust shop should be able to make one easily. Sorry I couldn't help.