Aluminum exhaust tubes, why not?

Rory McNeil · 05-22-2012, 11:49 PM

Instead of saving some weight with aluminum exhaust, leave the entire exhaust off, and save all the weight! If a car was to actually run faster with some exhaust restriction, as well as carrying the extra weight, seems it wasn`t setup or tuned very well to start with.

2percenter · 05-23-2012, 12:55 AM

ooohps. I stand corrected. you guys are right, I totally did not realize the thread.

Harry 6674 · 05-23-2012, 10:48 AM

I used to run 2" aluminum sprinkler line on my cars back in the 60s. It will work.

Phillip marvetz · 05-23-2012, 11:16 AM

I would think the reason people don't use it is because it's harder to bend, I have never tried to run any thru my pipe bender but I suspect it would be prone to collapsing or cracking and most exhaust shop's are not capable of doing mandrel bends.

Oh and we don't run mufflers on racecars, lol

Barnstorm · 05-23-2012, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phillip marvetz

I would think the reason people don't use it is because it's harder to bend, I have never tried to run any thru my pipe bender but I suspect it would be prone to collapsing or cracking and most exhaust shop's are not capable of doing mandrel bends.

Oh and we don't run mufflers on racecars, lol

In the sixties we made some hedders out of a flange kit and "flex-a-tube" bendable aluminum tailpipe in about an hour on a 57 chev and picked up 3mph. No collector. Warren Johnson looked at it and wished us luck.

Phillip marvetz · 05-23-2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barnstorm

In the sixties we made some hedders out of a flange kit and "flex-a-tube" bendable aluminum tailpipe in about an hour on a 57 chev and picked up 3mph. No collector. Warren Johnson looked at it and wished us luck.

Did it sound like a Duesenburg?

2percenter · 05-23-2012, 02:07 PM

Not meaning to shoehorn into this class again, I was confused as to what this tech forum was specific too, so forgive the rant.
I'll interject with one small note, thin gauge Aluminum tubing is readily available from any good stocked speed shop in many sizes ranging from 2" all the way up to 5" along with many sections which are already mandrel bent. Straight sections are also available of course.
I was just wondering because so many people have to run exhaust systems in other classes and with so many noise restrictions nowadays, Aluminum for the system along with the Mufflers may be attractive to some. The Turbo guys use them for many applications on their hair dryer combos. What puzzled me was; is there an exhaust flow hampering with its heat being evaporated before it reaches the end of the system?
Maybe it's a cost issue.

James L Miller · 05-24-2012, 11:15 AM

I've wondered if the collector could be made of aluminum? It might last on a drag car.

05-22-2012, 11:49 PM	#1
Rory McNeil VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: from Vancouver BC Canada, now in Nova Scotia Posts: 1,312 Likes: 323 Liked 1,113 Times in 304 Posts	Re: Aluminum exhaust tubes, why not? Instead of saving some weight with aluminum exhaust, leave the entire exhaust off, and save all the weight! If a car was to actually run faster with some exhaust restriction, as well as carrying the extra weight, seems it wasn`t setup or tuned very well to start with. __________________ NHRA 6390 STK M/S 85 Mustang

05-23-2012, 12:55 AM	#2
2percenter Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 14 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Aluminum exhaust tubes, why not? ooohps. I stand corrected. you guys are right, I totally did not realize the thread.

05-23-2012, 10:48 AM	#3
Harry 6674 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 589 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Aluminum exhaust tubes, why not? I used to run 2" aluminum sprinkler line on my cars back in the 60s. It will work.

05-23-2012, 11:16 AM	#4
Phillip marvetz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lynden ,WA Posts: 820 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Aluminum exhaust tubes, why not? I would think the reason people don't use it is because it's harder to bend, I have never tried to run any thru my pipe bender but I suspect it would be prone to collapsing or cracking and most exhaust shop's are not capable of doing mandrel bends. Oh and we don't run mufflers on racecars, lol __________________ 2009 V/SA Record Holder

05-23-2012, 02:07 PM	#7
2percenter Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 14 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Aluminum exhaust tubes, why not? Not meaning to shoehorn into this class again, I was confused as to what this tech forum was specific too, so forgive the rant. I'll interject with one small note, thin gauge Aluminum tubing is readily available from any good stocked speed shop in many sizes ranging from 2" all the way up to 5" along with many sections which are already mandrel bent. Straight sections are also available of course. I was just wondering because so many people have to run exhaust systems in other classes and with so many noise restrictions nowadays, Aluminum for the system along with the Mufflers may be attractive to some. The Turbo guys use them for many applications on their hair dryer combos. What puzzled me was; is there an exhaust flow hampering with its heat being evaporated before it reaches the end of the system? Maybe it's a cost issue.

05-24-2012, 11:15 AM	#8
James L Miller Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 494 Likes: 6 Liked 25 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Aluminum exhaust tubes, why not? I've wondered if the collector could be made of aluminum? It might last on a drag car. __________________ Mopar 2 Ya!