Turbo Piping question. Warning: may be considered stupid.

[apelpapa]

So in my HighSchool and College auto shop classes, I was told I was pretty good at welding. Even helped my friend weld a manifold on his Civic (He bent, I welded), but he ordered some real turbo piping. My question is, for low boost applications, say between 5-7 psi. Wouldn't some simple Home Depot galvanized steel piping do? It seems pretty sturdy to me. Of course I test it by welding it shut and attaching a compressor to it to make sure it could handle the pressure. But how would it handle the heat? Also I would coat it after it is all welded together. The reason I ask, is my friend (the same one, he has an FR-S now) wants to try to assemble a kit for his FR-S, since we were pretty success with his goals for his Civic (which I never approved of). But he is really low on the cash for real piping. Sorry if this is a really stupid question, just wondering and would love some feedback. Also if you know of any cheap piping for low boost application, I would love to know about them. Here is some pictures of the type of tubing we saw at HomeDepot

[CoupedUpSubie]

If your shop teacher never told you about the hazards of welding galvanized steel then I would say to tell your friend to just wait and save the money for a premade kit.

This should be the end of the thread.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Welding+galvanized+steel

[apelpapa]

Originally Posted by CoupedUpSubie

If your shop teacher never told you about the hazards of welding galvanized steel then I would say to tell your friend to just wait and save the money for a premade kit.

This should be the end of the thread.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Welding+galvanized+steel

The moment I read "hazards of welding galvanized steel" I remembered about the zinc. I did learn about that actually, I was so concerned with how the actual pipe would hold up with the turbo, I wasn't actually thinking about how the actual weld would hold up. But, still the question of what are some decent pipes for a good price remains, Thanks!

[apelpapa]

Also, the reason I'm trying to help him so much is that if I like the result, we can also put some of that effort on my car ))

[swarb]

It will work, but it won't last long or work good.
Steel will rust. Ok so you coat it.(wasted money)
And then steel heat soaks and holds heat much longer than aluminum.
So with all the time/money you spent welding, painting, fabricating, measuring...
You could have mowed some lawns/shovel some snow or find a side job and bought aluminum charge pipes for 150-200bucks.

$129-139. http://www.cxracing.com/mm5/merchant...gory_Code=PIPK
If you can't afford that, maybe you should work a DAY or TWO at minimum wage and "save"

[apelpapa]

Originally Posted by swarb

It will work, but it won't last long or work good.
Steel will rust. Ok so you coat it.(wasted money)
And then steel heat soaks and holds heat much longer than aluminum.
So with all the time/money you spent welding, painting, fabricating, measuring...
You could have mowed some lawns/shovel some snow or find a side job and bought aluminum charge pipes for 150-200bucks.

$129-139. http://www.cxracing.com/mm5/merchant...gory_Code=PIPK
If you can't afford that, maybe you should work a DAY or TWO at minimum wage and "save"

First off, no need to be a ****. Second, that is plenty cheap, everything I was finding was well over $500, which I didn't want to spend on low boost.... Just don't trust CXRacing much

[CoupedUpSubie]

My best recommendation on exhaust piping is a minimum of 16-gauge mild steel piping. You have to take into account the weight of the turbo. Also access to a mandrel bender, or buying pre-bent pieces. Then you get into collectors and flanges.

There is a lot of planning that needs to be done for a proper install, every owner built kit I have seen has taken at least 4 months to plan and execute. Between material costs and parts costs you friend will probably be spending at least $1800 if he wants something that should last a bit. I say at least as I don't know how the turbo, intercooler, and other parts will be sourced. Then add on at least $500 for a tune at a shop as it is a custom kit and probably doesn't have the same characteristics of any other kit.

I am assuming you want to make the exhaust manifold, the intake piping can be made from aluminum.

[apelpapa]

Originally Posted by CoupedUpSubie

My best recommendation on exhaust piping is a minimum of 16-gauge mild steel piping. You have to take into account the weight of the turbo. Also access to a mandrel bender, or buying pre-bent pieces. Then you get into collectors and flanges.

There is a lot of planning that needs to be done for a proper install, every owner built kit I have seen has taken at least 4 months to plan and execute. Between material costs and parts costs you friend will probably be spending at least $1800 if he wants something that should last a bit. I say at least as I don't know how the turbo, intercooler, and other parts will be sourced. Then add on at least $500 for a tune at a shop as it is a custom kit and probably doesn't have the same characteristics of any other kit.

Ok, sounds good! Thank you

[swarb]

Originally Posted by apelpapa

First off, no need to be a ****. Second, that is plenty cheap, everything I was finding was well over $500, which I didn't want to spend on low boost.... Just don't trust CXRacing much

be a what? be real? so you don't trust cxracing for aluminum pipes but you trust home depot?
Don't get mad. I'm trying to help. Nothing wrong with mowing lawns or shoveling snow for extra cash. Lots wrong with making home depot steel charge pipes.

[Calum]

Originally Posted by swarb

be a what? be real? so you don't trust cxracing for aluminum pipes but you trust home depot?
Don't get mad. I'm trying to help. Nothing wrong with mowing lawns or shoveling snow for extra cash. Lots wrong with making home depot steel charge pipes.

This site filters out d!ck.

[mrk1]

Are you talking about building a turbo manifold? As its been said galvanized is nasty stuff and wouldn't even last very long.

Try talking to metal shops and see if they have drop ends and such they will sell. I know I have built a bunch of things out of whats laying around.

That CXRacing manifold scares me, my last manifold had that much money worth of just flanges, not even getting to the merge collector.

[mrk1]

The manifolds I have built so far have been 0.065 304 Stainless. Yes not cheap but certainly not expensive as far as possible materials go.

[apelpapa]

Originally Posted by mrk1

The manifolds I have built so far have been 0.065 304 Stainless. Yes not cheap but certainly not expensive as far as possible materials go.

I like your work! Where do you buy your material?

[mrk1]

Source varies by what I need but verocious motorsport is a good start. Header flanges I had made to match the FA20, EJ flanges will also work just slightly larger ports.