IC piping suggestions needed.

[Dr_EluSivE]

Ive been trying to find someone locally that can weld up my intercooler pipes and the only places i can find to do it are muffler shops, and for some reason they wont use pre bent pipe (mandrels) something about liablity. Anyway.. i really need to get this stuff done, so.. Should i do the crappy crushbent pipe and get over it, or should i buy bends then then ghetto rig it using lots of rubber in between bends, or does anyone have any other suggestions, I cant weld for crap, so i know i wont be able to weld a pipe and make it seal. Stinger... what would you charge me to basically Duplicate what you have on your car? I need to talk to my autobody guy still and see if he can weld some pipe for me, but he has told me before that he wasnt good at exaust so im not holding out for that. I just wanna get this thing finally finished. any suggestions?

Dr.

 

[mr_woodster]

do you have access to a welder? If so, cut and align your pipe and Tac it together. You can atleast tac it...then take it to any exhuast shop and have it welded. No liability problems when its out of the vehicle.

PS: you can practice tac'n anything together, just a little dribble of metal on a few sides so it cant come undone...pretty simple.

 

[Red_LX]

Even if you can just clamp the pipes together and take them somewhere to have them welded, that's an option. Mine are only welded together in 3 places, and 2 of those are spots that I had to put in reducers to mate them up to the intercooler and throttle body.

 

[Dr_EluSivE]

alright, so i have decided in favor of getting this thing done and just going and getting some crush bent 2.5" tubing. I know its not the best, but its better then nothing. I have a few questions though, I need to order some connectors, The turbo outlet is about 2" so i need a 2-2.5" connector, but what size is the volvo intercooler. It measures bigger then 2.5, but smaller then 2 3/4, what size do you guys use? Also am i correct that the 2.5" exaust piping is Outer diameter? And the throttle body measures 2.5" so that one shouldnt be a problem. I was planning to use rubber connectors, but my dad is willing to pay for silicone so i am gonna order hump connectors from turbohoses.com anyone have any cheaper silicone sources? Thanks!

Dr.

Heres what i have so far.. the IC is mounted, but the fan isnt wired yet so its just tied to the hose, and the hose that connects the turbo and TB blew out (see other thread) so the ducttape just allows me to start it. It wont drive like that.

 

[bhuff30]

Do you have a hacksaw and JB weld?

 

[Dr_EluSivE]

Do you have a hacksaw and JB weld?

dont tempt me, this thing is just sitting in the garage with virtually everything done but plumbing. Im a Union electrical worker (broadcast electrical), but i cant plumb stuff worth crap.

Dr.

 

[Red_LX]

Hm, yeah that may be a bit complicated. Dunno, I only had to run mine to the passenger side of the bay.

 

[mr_woodster]

you can sqeeze a 2.5 silicone coupler down or up to +/- .5 . Just make sure your clamps are upto the task.

Here is a picture of my first "plumbing" when i got the motor going. Basicly its 4-5 pieces of crush bend with lots of rubber and lots of clamps. (this was when i had a blow-thru vam)

1 long straight run with a 90* crush bend for the turbo-to-intercooler
2 pieces to make that wierd turn from the I/c to the black pipe
1 Volvo pipe (hey i picked itup for cheap, figured i could use it)
1 almost 180* bend from volvo pipe to vam.

The last bend is usaly the hardest becuase it has to be tight, and doing a 180* with a crush bend setup really
A: challenges the person forming it
b: Makes it hard not to kink the pipe
C: shrinks the pipe quite badly.

It's not pretty, but it worked for awhile until i got around to doing it the right way.

 

[evintho]

Hey Doc, what's that your using for a VAM hose and where did you get it?? :OT:

 

[Dr_EluSivE]

Hey Doc, what's that your using for a VAM hose and where did you get it?? :OT:

Autozone Rice boy section, its "spectre" flexible intake tubing, comes in those plastic blister packages. It has these collars that "screw" on the ends that can make it different sizes. With the collor it fits the big vam, without it it fits the turbo, so it worked out nicely, AND its got wire inside it so it wont suck shut. I think it was like 20 bucks or so. comes in Neon green, red, blue, and black. its stretches to any length you want.

Dr.

 

[evintho]

Great! I've got a pretty sharp bend between my VAM and turbo, looks like it might work! I wonder if it comes in hot pink?? j/k!