Performance Forced induction, intakes, exhausts, torque converters, transmissions, etc.

Building a custom exhaust in the garage...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-15-09, 08:44 PM
  #1  
JeffTsai
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
JeffTsai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DFW area TX
Posts: 5,392
Likes: 0
Received 43 Likes on 17 Posts
Default Building a custom exhaust in the garage...

So, the problem I've always had with my car is that I always bottom out on the exhaust system. Reason being that it's a 3.5" diameter pipe. I got tired of scraping all the time so I decided enough is enough. I've been practicing on my new welder for a few days now and my new oval exhaust piping just came in as well. Don't be dissin' on mah welds, I just got the machine 3 days ago

I'll get it mounted on the car and I'll be welding on the v-bands tomorrow.

Some progress pix



This is what you gotta do when you're too cheap to buy mandrel bent pipe
This oval piping is expensive as is already, the mandrel bends alone are priced way insane!






Side by side shot of how much difference in thickness there is between these two.


My new baby. She's a Miller Dynasty 200DX AC/DC TIG
Old 03-15-09, 08:48 PM
  #2  
FinLIFE
Pole Position
iTrader: (8)
 
FinLIFE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: chicago
Posts: 2,418
Received 37 Likes on 34 Posts
Default

my coworker did an oval exhaust on his camry powered by a 3sgte. Good stuff when you need the clearance. Nice job
Old 03-15-09, 08:59 PM
  #3  
Anthony
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (4)
 
Anthony's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: South Florida
Posts: 3,838
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Nice man, cant wait to see it when its done..
Old 03-15-09, 09:02 PM
  #4  
arpham
Lead Lap
iTrader: (2)
 
arpham's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Carlisle,Pennsylvania
Posts: 795
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Awesome. I can't wait to see the progress.
Old 03-15-09, 09:14 PM
  #5  
Alexus_300
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (4)
 
Alexus_300's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Jeff, how's the flow going to be with the sharp bends? Do you feel that it's going to flow better or not? I guess that's what the cutout is for right..
Old 03-15-09, 09:23 PM
  #6  
Infamous 1
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (20)
 
Infamous 1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: VA
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

very nice!!
Old 03-15-09, 09:35 PM
  #7  
JeffTsai
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
JeffTsai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DFW area TX
Posts: 5,392
Likes: 0
Received 43 Likes on 17 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Alexus_300
Jeff, how's the flow going to be with the sharp bends? Do you feel that it's going to flow better or not? I guess that's what the cutout is for right..
Yeah, the cutout will be in a fun place

As for the flow, I honestly don't think it's going to be much of a restriction. The pipe is huge lol, and even if it did affect the flow a little bit, I can live with myself since I saved $175 by not buying the mandrel bends. It really is that expensive!

If I was better at welding, I would cut them pipe section into 4-5 pie cuts instead of just the 2 that I have. Doing that would basically angle the bend just like a mandrel bent pipe.
Old 03-15-09, 09:47 PM
  #8  
Kaydee
Hacked CL to become a Mod
 
Kaydee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Vancouver >> Hong Kong
Posts: 6,713
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

haha at first I thought it was gutter pipe
Old 03-15-09, 09:53 PM
  #9  
4play4dr
Lexus Champion
 
4play4dr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Diego,CA
Posts: 2,750
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

dude..u should patent something like this and sell the kits..people like me need exhaust clearance! i jus dont kno how u would explain the diameter of the pipe for people who want certain sizes and etc(like what is it equivalent to in terms of a normal round exhaust?)..interested to see how this goes..gl bro
Old 03-15-09, 10:44 PM
  #10  
Clear2Cloz
Pole Position
 
Clear2Cloz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 287
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

when i was 17 i bought a welder from the auto body supply store to weld the exhaust leaks in my mustang. face shield...what face shield! needless to say 2 hours later i couldnt see a thing and was in the hospital lol
Old 03-15-09, 10:49 PM
  #11  
NAiL05
Instructor
 
NAiL05's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,157
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Thanks for blinding me without warning. Man you didnt get a pic of the tiki man on the old dp!
Old 03-15-09, 11:40 PM
  #12  
GSteg
Rookie
iTrader: (15)
 
GSteg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 16,017
Likes: 0
Received 78 Likes on 60 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 4play4dr
dude..u should patent something like this and sell the kits..people like me need exhaust clearance! i jus dont kno how u would explain the diameter of the pipe for people who want certain sizes and etc(like what is it equivalent to in terms of a normal round exhaust?)..interested to see how this goes..gl bro
The oval pipe thing has been done for decades on domestics cars. Some of those low riders are low as crap. It's real beneficial to have oval pipes when your car is 1" off the ground

As far as oval vs round goes, it's all in the cross sectional area. if the cross sectional areas are the same, then theoretically, they should flow the same. Heck I'm waiting for someone to make a star-shaped pipe
Old 03-16-09, 12:44 AM
  #13  
sleeper408
Moderator
iTrader: (6)
 
sleeper408's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NorCal
Posts: 6,209
Received 16 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

Show me some penny-stack welds Jeff!

Glad to see you got a TIG welder... should be much stronger than the MIG welds. I had a chance to do a little welding with a MIG and TIG when my friend and I were fabricating some custom pipes for my turbo for my Mustang. Needless to say, my welds came out very blobby and ugly.
Old 03-16-09, 05:30 AM
  #14  
SlvrGS300
Lead Lap
iTrader: (7)
 
SlvrGS300's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

How are you planning on transitioning from the oval to round pipe?
Old 03-16-09, 07:02 AM
  #15  
LEXUS_KID
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (4)
 
LEXUS_KID's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: IN THE POKER ROOM!!!!
Posts: 10,823
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Hey Jeff I'm on my way down to get a custom exhaust


Quick Reply: Building a custom exhaust in the garage...



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:53 AM.