Custom Fab Titanium Exhaust

[misfitsfreak81]

Hello all zilvians. Im gaugeing interest in a project that Im planning in the very near future. My plan is to fab up a titanium exhaust for s14's with SR motors. We all know that Ti exhausts for the like of Greddy or Tanabe are very very expensive. My goal is to create a compareable product at significantly less expense. These will all be custom made and Tig welded by hand.

Currently Im in the process of sourcing the Ti Tubing. I should have an approximate price within the next couple days. Once I have the first exhaust completed I will post pics. Please feel free to PM or post here if you are interested.

Thanks for looking.

Mike
Owner,
North Shore Performance Auto

[S13SILVIA|E46M3]

Affordable Ti exhaust would be AWESOME! What about some S13 Love?

[gojira]

Originally Posted by S13SILVIA|E46M3

Affordable Ti exhaust would be AWESOME! What about some S13 Love?

+1! don't forget about s13 owners!

[misfitsfreak81]

Originally Posted by gojira

+1! don't forget about s13 owners!

I will try to get s13 figured out as well, its just that I have my s14 to do mock ups on so its easier. Im not sure how close the routing of the exhaust is between the different models. If someone local wanted to drop off their car I could work something out. thanks

Mike

[GSXRJJordan]

The problem with any Ti exhaust is that it's impossible to bend correctly. You have to make pie-cuts for everything... time consuming, and not good for flow if you take short cuts. Looks rad when done right

Another problem is that you'll have to laser-cut the flanges, gets costly real quick when it takes 4x 4x 1/4"+ just to make one flange.

I'm interested to see what you come up with for pricing and design.

[Def]

Originally Posted by GSXRJJordan

The problem with any Ti exhaust is that it's impossible to bend correctly. You have to make pie-cuts for everything... time consuming, and not good for flow if you take short cuts. Looks rad when done right

Another problem is that you'll have to laser-cut the flanges, gets costly real quick when it takes 4x 4x 1/4"+ just to make one flange.

I'm interested to see what you come up with for pricing and design.

Titanium bends nicely, it just requires much more force than aluminum for the same wall thickness/diameter.


I'd possibly be interested in an S13 piece depending on pricing.

[GSXRJJordan]

Originally Posted by Def

Titanium bends nicely, it just requires much more force than aluminum for the same wall thickness/diameter.


I'd possibly be interested in an S13 piece depending on pricing.

I've never seen a titanium exhaust be bent - not in motorcycle racing, or ultra-high-dollar automobile racing. They're all pie cut.

The only titanium I've seen bent is like super small diameter tubing lol.

[Paul2x]

Originally Posted by GSXRJJordan

I've never seen a titanium exhaust be bent - not in motorcycle racing, or ultra-high-dollar automobile racing. They're all pie cut.

The only titanium I've seen bent is like super small diameter tubing lol.

JIC,Trust, and Fujitsubo all use mandrel bending for their Ti exhuast today.

More of smaller priviate shops still do the pie-cuts. And since no-one really makes large bore Ti piping most just start with a big flat sheet, roll it to their desired dia' and start from their.

Here's a few i've had,

Mandrel:


Pie-cut


Back to the topic, I'd be very interested to see what you come up with, having tried several Ti-setup's out their It would be great to get something local. I personally would love to get a Quiet Ti exhuast. Somthing with a oval can, just different from the run of the mill like i had before.

Keep us posted.

[Def]

Originally Posted by GSXRJJordan

I've never seen a titanium exhaust be bent - not in motorcycle racing, or ultra-high-dollar automobile racing. They're all pie cut.

The only titanium I've seen bent is like super small diameter tubing lol.

I've got a few shelves full of mandrel bent titanium tubes at work, so it's very possible. It wrinkles less than aluminum tubing of the same diameter and wall thickness.

McLaren F1's stock headers and exhaust system are titanium, and they're all mandrel bent. I think the Corvette ZR1's exhaust is titanium as well, and I can guarantee you they aren't pie cutting that thing.

[Otherworldview]

Where in 'northern suck' are you located? lol

[misfitsfreak81]

Originally Posted by Otherworldview

Where in 'northern suck' are you located? lol

Im in northern Michigan. Like I said, Northern Suck! oh well though.

Mike

[Otherworldview]

Yeahhh... Was going to offer an s13 for mock, but that's a little too far.

Sorry

[Epic720]

interested pending prices for s13 and s14.

[xs240]

+1 on s13 and what GSXRJJordan said... If you can do it... alrighttttt!

[95KA-Turbo]

You should make a Titanium trust DD exhaust for the S14. I would definitely buy one of those!

[usdm180sx]

Make it FLUSH for good ground clearance!

[xplicit240]

Originally Posted by 95KA-Turbo

You should make a Titanium trust DD exhaust for the S14. I would definitely buy one of those!

Originally Posted by usdm180sx

Make it FLUSH for good ground clearance!

S13 love with ^^^^^^

[95Gstman]

Originally Posted by xplicit240

S13 love with ^^^^^^

Everything these people said. Flush trust style in titanium. What more could you ask for in an exhaust? Oh, yeah and s13 love.

[KoukiMonsta]

dooooooooooo itttttttttttt

[chuy]

As another S-14 owner, I'm after one that is tucked under the car as much as possible and one that is like the DD. I'm running a KA-T with SR down pipe and test pipe, hopeing that your design will bolt right on?

[S-Nation S13]

s13 im looking into swapping out my greddy ti is this application going to have a silencer?? lol i ask cause i live in oceanside ca land of wack a** tickets

[S13SILVIA|E46M3]

You are actually able to bend Ti quite well, just no tight bends. Here's an example of my late M3s exhaust...

Goes into a couple of nice bends, then the rest are pie cuts...

And please make sure to get those mounts right....

Pic of Ti Mid-pipe on M3. Ti is strong but brittle. Mounts were a little off and Ti just CRACKED under the stress and heat. Sucked

[GSXRJJordan]

^^^ Wow, sick guys! I guess I've just never seen it, because all the stuff I've seen has been one-off. Cool ~ makes sense that Paul would have multiple examples... ballllllinnnnnnnn lol.

This thread is full of win already.

[Brian]

how thin will the pipe be?

From what I have seen, the titanium exhausts are SUPER thin and are not very durable.

With these low cars that scrape everyday, it wont last long.

[ManoNegra]

what price point are you shooting for?
from experience Ti is very expensive
and probably will fall off the reach of most 240 owners wallet

and while we're daydreaming, why not inconel?

[Def]

Originally Posted by ManoNegra

what price point are you shooting for?
from experience Ti is very expensive
and probably will fall off the reach of most 240 owners wallet

and while we're daydreaming, why not inconel?

Inconel would be good for a turbo manifold/headers, but not worth it for a cat back exhaust that could actually be made out of aluminum. The high temperature mechanical properties is what makes Inconel such a good material. It's actually heavier than stainless steel, or at least it feels that way to the hand.

[ManoNegra]

Originally Posted by Def

Inconel would be good for a turbo manifold/headers, but not worth it for a cat back exhaust that could actually be made out of aluminum. The high temperature mechanical properties is what makes Inconel such a good material. It's actually heavier than stainless steel, or at least it feels that way to the hand.

That's interesting, we have some at work
I'll try to remember to weigh it

[GSXRJJordan]

Originally Posted by Def

I've got a few shelves full of mandrel bent titanium tubes at work, so it's very possible. It wrinkles less than aluminum tubing of the same diameter and wall thickness.

McLaren F1's stock headers and exhaust system are titanium, and they're all mandrel bent. I think the Corvette ZR1's exhaust is titanium as well, and I can guarantee you they aren't pie cutting that thing.

Very cool info. Apparently I'm blind, or haven't been looking hard enough.

Aluminum, to me, is the easy choice here for cat-back stuff... doesn't corrode /rust (like mild steel) much, is reasonably cheap (about double the cost of mild steel, less than half the cost of Ti), and almost as light as Ti.

Oh, and the Z06 and ZR1 exhausts are Ti, but they're covered in heat shields. I'll have to get a peek at the bends the next time I'm under my dad's C5 Z06.

[misfitsfreak81]

Originally Posted by GSXRJJordan

Very cool info. Apparently I'm blind, or haven't been looking hard enough.

Aluminum, to me, is the easy choice here for cat-back stuff... doesn't corrode /rust (like mild steel) much, is reasonably cheap (about double the cost of mild steel, less than half the cost of Ti), and almost as light as Ti.

Oh, and the Z06 and ZR1 exhausts are Ti, but they're covered in heat shields. I'll have to get a peek at the bends the next time I'm under my dad's C5 Z06.

you would have to use pretty thick aluminum tube to keep it from melting. the heat transfer property of aluminum are way different than any form of steel. it also has a far lower melting point than steel. the heat from the cat alone would most likely destroy an aluminum exhaust, let alone the temp at the rear of the car in the bumper opening would be only a couple degrees different than right at the cat. just to clear things up, aluminum is not actually lighter than titanium. its just that ti is so much stronger it can be used in far thinner thicknesses with superior strength.

thanks

Mike
North Shore Performance Auto

[xs240]

What are some benefits of inconel?