Aluminum IC piping Question - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

adoboboy · 09-21-2005, 03:25 PM

OK...I'm 99% done piecing together my turbo kit for my KA. (trying to keep a budget of $1500)
I picked up 6ft of 2.5"dia aluminum piping and 5ft of 3"aluminum piping for only 10 dollars shipped. Is that enough?
I did some research, seems like aluminum is hard to weld and bending it with tight radiuses will cause stress and crimps on opposite ends. Is there a trick anyone can share with me so I can complete my IC piping?
I have access to machines shops at work but i'm not too familiar with terms so please explain in detail.

Constraints: I also want to use the minimal amount of couplings since they seem to be a source of leaks and problems down the road. I also want to snake the piping myself. I like to be thorough with my work and not cut corners. So taking the piping to someone is my last option.

Thanks all ahead of time.

drftwerks · 09-21-2005, 03:30 PM

is a ll the piping straigt?

adoboboy · 09-21-2005, 03:31 PM

Yup, they are all straight right now. Their in my office collecting dust.

drftwerks · 09-21-2005, 03:36 PM

then you would have to have each bend welded from little cuts, or you should go buy some u bends

ask52 · 09-21-2005, 10:16 PM

We built my fmic pipes from 2.25" aluminum but i can't remember how much we used overall? If I can figure out how to post pics I will throw a few up!

Later days.....Josh.B

ask52 · 09-21-2005, 10:32 PM

a few pics

SochBAT · 09-22-2005, 12:27 AM

Sooo awesome. I saw a guy jsut having them expanded into each other, and using like, weatherproofing glue or whatever it was. Looks okay.

theicecreamdan · 09-22-2005, 12:49 AM

lovin that crazy miter cut intercooler piping

adoboboy · 09-22-2005, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ask52

a few pics

Thanks for the pictures!.
That is how I pictured it. So you just Tig welded them together?

Woo hoo.. my 200th Post!

ask52 · 09-22-2005, 05:19 PM

Yep just lay it out nicely and tig it up

Oh and post some pics of the finished product

sr240mike · 09-22-2005, 05:30 PM

You could always BUY the bends or since you have a machine shop, you may have a mandrel bender. Bead rolling the ends or welding around the pipe is necessary to keep the couplings on. Use good quality silicone couplers (use hairspray on them) and use T-bolt clamps. Good luck, its a lot of work.

adoboboy · 09-22-2005, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ask52

You could always BUY the bends or since you have a machine shop, you may have a mandrel bender. Bead rolling the ends or welding around the pipe is necessary to keep the couplings on. Use good quality silicone couplers (use hairspray on them) and use T-bolt clamps. Good luck, its a lot of work.

Hmm hair spray, not a bad idea. I wouldn't have thought of that. Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by sr240mike

Yep just lay it out nicely and tig it up Oh and post some pics of the finished product .

Yeah Of course I will...im a picture whore.
Btw the look with the welds look badass...

So how many couplings do you guys use? 6? 8?
the only site I have for hoses that seems reliable is www.hosetechniques.com do you guys know of others?

ask52 · 09-22-2005, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Btw the look with the welds look badass...

Thanks man! I like it also, plus its a bit different then the regular bolt on kits

Quote:

So how many couplings do you guys use? 6? 8?

We bought all are couplers from a local heavy-duty truck shop. They have bulk lengths that can be cut to your desire. We also bought a cool 2.25"-3" with a 90 elbow. Worked perfect for joining up to the tb. All of the pipe ends have a thin slice of a larger diameter pipe welded on to keep the couplers from blowing apart. As of yet, Besides the 1 time I forgot to re clamp 1 of the couplers I have NEVER blew an ic pipe. That's running daily of 11psi and 15psi on the track.

So far so good.

Josh.B

*NemeGuero* · 09-23-2005, 04:03 PM

mandrel bend the piping and keep it as few pieces as possible!! how many bends you make depends on where you want to route the IC piping through your body

09-21-2005, 03:25 PM	#1
adoboboy Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: ny Age: 42 Posts: 307 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Aluminum IC piping Question OK...I'm 99% done piecing together my turbo kit for my KA. (trying to keep a budget of $1500) I picked up 6ft of 2.5"dia aluminum piping and 5ft of 3"aluminum piping for only 10 dollars shipped. Is that enough? I did some research, seems like aluminum is hard to weld and bending it with tight radiuses will cause stress and crimps on opposite ends. Is there a trick anyone can share with me so I can complete my IC piping? I have access to machines shops at work but i'm not too familiar with terms so please explain in detail. Constraints: I also want to use the minimal amount of couplings since they seem to be a source of leaks and problems down the road. I also want to snake the piping myself. I like to be thorough with my work and not cut corners. So taking the piping to someone is my last option. Thanks all ahead of time.

09-21-2005, 03:30 PM	#2
drftwerks Nissanaholic! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: california Posts: 2,343 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	is a ll the piping straigt? __________________ giantroboteyes.wordpress.com/

09-21-2005, 03:36 PM	#4
drftwerks Nissanaholic! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: california Posts: 2,343 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	then you would have to have each bend welded from little cuts, or you should go buy some u bends __________________ giantroboteyes.wordpress.com/

09-22-2005, 05:30 PM	#11
sr240mike Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: California, Norcal biiaatch Posts: 1,185 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	You could always BUY the bends or since you have a machine shop, you may have a mandrel bender. Bead rolling the ends or welding around the pipe is necessary to keep the couplings on. Use good quality silicone couplers (use hairspray on them) and use T-bolt clamps. Good luck, its a lot of work. __________________ TWO IN THE COOT, ONE IN THE POOT

09-21-2005, 03:31 PM	#3
adoboboy Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: ny Age: 42 Posts: 307 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Yup, they are all straight right now. Their in my office collecting dust.

09-21-2005, 10:16 PM	#5
ask52 Leaky Injector Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North west Posts: 64 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	We built my fmic pipes from 2.25" aluminum but i can't remember how much we used overall? If I can figure out how to post pics I will throw a few up! Later days.....Josh.B

09-21-2005, 10:32 PM	#6
ask52 Leaky Injector Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North west Posts: 64 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	a few pics

09-22-2005, 12:27 AM	#7
SochBAT Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Abilene, TX Age: 39 Posts: 6,428 Trader Rating: (9) Rides Gallery: SochBAT Feedback Score: 9 reviews	Sooo awesome. I saw a guy jsut having them expanded into each other, and using like, weatherproofing glue or whatever it was. Looks okay.

09-22-2005, 05:19 PM	#10
ask52 Leaky Injector Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North west Posts: 64 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yep just lay it out nicely and tig it up Oh and post some pics of the finished product

09-23-2005, 04:03 PM	#14
NemeGuero No more nissan. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: RAIN, Washington. Age: 40 Posts: 8,132 Trader Rating: (10) Rides Gallery: NemeGuero Feedback Score: 10 reviews	mandrel bend the piping and keep it as few pieces as possible!! how many bends you make depends on where you want to route the IC piping through your body