Lucient

Im considering making a mild steel tubular manifold using schedule 40 pipe and weld els. What are the drawbacks to using mild steel vs stainless steel (besides the obvious rust)?
Any valid info would be greatly appreciated

Big Bronze Rim

I really don't think you are going to have a huge issue with making it out of mild steel. I made a manifold for my turbo BMW out of mild steel weld-els and so far it has held up great. It might not look as baller, but you can have it coated and it will get the job done, last well, and be a whole lot cheaper and easier to weld up.

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"Genius may have its limitations,
but stupidity is not similarly handicapped."

Andrew Bohan

just make sure it has good bracing

rainyD

mild steel is more elastic, fares better under heat stress= less prone to cracks and warpage

BeerBringer

Mild steel does not enlongate as much by heat as stainless do.
Material stress by heat will be reduced and by that way reduce the likelyhood of cracking.

On thing that sometimes is mentioned with mild steel manifolds is glow shell.
Some people claim that the glow shell can destroy turbos. I think it's a bit of a myth though...

Yellow4g63

If you weld it right you won't have any problems at all. The material itself won't crack but the welds will fail if it's not done right. Also you won't need no bracing sine it's so freaking thick.

Here is what mine was made out off.


part of the way


all the way without the coating on it

coated

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steve_o1989

^ That is one beefy manifold. Have you ever tossed it on the scale to see how much it weighs?

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1997 240sx SE
1998 Frontier SE
1990 240sx Coupe - Sold
1992 Talon Tsi - Sold

Yellow4g63

No but it's heavy tho lol.

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