What bends did you get for exhaust

[A2Carat]

This is geared to anyone who fabb'd up their own exhaust.

.. the car is a Lancer. I want to drop in a 3" exhaust system (e-test time!) as I am running cat-less right now and the exaust is fairly crummy .. I have a 3" cat and 3" resonator to go in and want to run a straight pipe back to the rear bumper. What bends would I need (mandrel)? I was thinking 2 90* wide U-bends and a section of straight pipe should be enough to get the exhaust over the axle and out the back from the cat-to-resonator portion.

Any ideas and what I should order up?

[jim34]

I used two 90's to clear the gas tank and two 45's to get over the axle, it was a bit of a pain to weld it where it goes over the axle but its not too bad.

[tryingbe]

Get two 180 degree bends.

[tkelly27]

Welding near the gas tank scares me. I'm a fan of welding outside the car, then using clamps under the car. It's a double benefit because I can't make a weld without seeing the joint and turning the joint. That's just me though.

[powermaxx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkelly27 Welding near the gas tank scares me. I'm a fan of welding outside the car, then using clamps under the car. It's a double benefit because I can't make a weld without seeing the joint and turning the joint. That's just me though.

I hear that! I added some collector flanges in those areas for ease of welding (out of the car) and as a bonus it allows me to change the muffler without having to keep cutting off good metal. (And I can run open if I want )

BTW, I hate clamps but they work if you do them right.

[A2Carat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tryingbe Get two 180 degree bends.

Sounds good .. I already have the cat and the resonator (straight through design) so that will take up most of the space from the engine to the rear axle. I was planning to use a clamp right before the axle anyway. A flange isn't a bad idea either. I suppose you get those at the same place you buy your bends.

.. anyway .. thanks for the information. Now I'll just get the piping and work away with the chop saw and MIG.

.. Cheess

[Subliminal]

Yeah, 45 from the downpipe 2 90s around the fuel tank and 2 45s for the axle.

http://store.racing-solutions.org/mildsteel1010.html

I'd go there, if'n I were you.

They're a vendor over @ www.****************

[A2Carat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subliminal Yeah, 45 from the downpipe 2 90s around the fuel tank and 2 45s for the axle. http://store.racing-solutions.org/mildsteel1010.html I'd go there, if'n I were you. They're a vendor over @ www.****************

Thanks for the link.

.. I want to make a 3" down pipe as well from the porte 2.5" swing valve .. should be alright.

[87turbodance]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subliminal Yeah, 45 from the downpipe 2 90s around the fuel tank and 2 45s for the axle. Mild Steel Mandrel Bends I'd go there, if'n I were you. They're a vendor over @ www.****************

Those aren't aluminized though? They'll rust in a heartbeat

[Terry Again]

They have intercooler pipe bends and ones that are aluminized for exhaust! Just check out the site!!

[86Tona]

I'm going to use some splints when I fab it up. With some hose clamps and strips of metal I'll hold the pipes together after they are in place. Then I'll pull the pipes down and tack weld where there is no splint. Once they are tacked I'll remove the clamps and splints and weld it all the way around.

Of course if the old exhaust is still viable just cut it off and use it as the template for the new one. This way you can do it off the car. It will match the 'old' exhaust routing.