V6 Custom Exhaust Headers ?

Post by **MikeyBikey** » Thu Dec 06, 2018 4:42 pm

Hi all

I need to build a set of custom exhaust headers for the omega engine.

bit like this

: Exhausts.jpg (73.24 KiB) Viewed 368 times

So thats difficult and expensive. Does anyone have experience with this stuff. Flexible stainless steel.

: flexi exhaust.JPG (81.77 KiB) Viewed 368 times

as per here

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/T304-CUSTOM- ... rk:31:pf:0

Post by **scimjim** » Thu Dec 06, 2018 4:44 pm

Only ever used it in the workshop to get exhaust gases outside - I’m not sure it would stand up to constant fatigue cycles? Even the best OEM flexible stuff (the cross-hatched strand type stuff) doesn’t last.

Post by **MikeyBikey** » Thu Dec 06, 2018 4:57 pm

ok thanks jim, as ever, for the prompt response.

Most curvy exhaust stuff on ebay seems to be bent bits that you weld together to make the shape you want.

: Bent Bit.JPG (40.71 KiB) Viewed 356 times

so why don't people use pipe benders. Is stainless much more difficult ?

And blimey, posting pictures makes them very big ?

Post by **philhoward** » Thu Dec 06, 2018 5:01 pm

Have you seen the cost of a 45mn pipe bender? Exhaust tube is also thin and kinks easily.

Post by **MikeyBikey** » Thu Dec 06, 2018 5:26 pm

When I did banger racing, for the roll cage we used scaffolding and hired commercial pipe benders. worked a treat....

Post by **Oaksey** » Thu Dec 06, 2018 5:38 pm

60s jaguars use a small section of flexible pipe and they last pretty well but they're only to reduce movement and dont really act as a bend.

Post by **reliant-reviver** » Thu Dec 06, 2018 6:06 pm

Look at handrail weld elbows. Cheap as chips, easily worked and indestructible. Bit heavy and no choice of bend radius though.

https://www.dciron.co.uk/welding-elbows/

Post by **philhoward** » Thu Dec 06, 2018 9:46 pm

A half-way-house is to get tubular manifolds from something else and adapt them? Still a fair amount of cut-cut-weld-weld though.

Now you know why I went the way I did. Might have lost 10-15 bhp but so much easier.

Post by **efi_sprintgte** » Thu Dec 06, 2018 11:13 pm

I used two of those flexible pipes on JKL when she was single turbo. Came out of the turbo in 4” and then Y pieces down to two 2” pipes (because of ground clearance issues) used those to form the bend. So only about a foot from the turbo!

They were recycled from her 2.9 guise.

I always saw them as a bodge and expected them to last badly but they lasted really well (lots of surface rust however)

Post by **Old and Slow** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 10:35 am

On Oaksey's recommendation I went to our local PowerFlow franchise for my new bits - they seemed to have all the pipe bending stuff to hand; might be expensive though?

Post by **RodH** » Fri Dec 07, 2018 2:24 pm

Is this any use Mikey.
http://www.westerntydens.com/accessorie ... RcQAvD_BwE

I think they are in your area
Rod