Afternoon all.

Due to being off work ill, I have far too much time to spend online thinking up things to spend money on!

Today's ideas have turned to making my exhaust manifolds. I was going to make them in mild as I have a good welder, plenty of gas and wire. However, I have also been thinking about making them in SS. But this means buying some wire, and probably some new gas.

I expect I will have no problems welding the tube, as from what I can make out it's not much different to welding mild. But I've only got Ar/Co2 20% gas, which apparently isn't suitable, and mild wire.

Is it worth the expense of going to SS manifolds? The bends and tube more, the wire is MUCH more, and I'd need a new bottle of gas, and mine is still 75% full. But stainless is shiny and should last longer. But will it sound a bit tinny, as SS can do sometimes? Oh, this is for a V6 as well, so I'll a good few bends. Either way, the manifolds will need to be either wrapped or coated to keep under bonnet temps down, and I'm unsure how this may affect SS.



So if you were me, which option would you go for, and more importantly, why?

Best way is to tig weld stainless. Far neater and less distortion. I bought a load of bends and tack welded them together.
I got a local guy to tig them for me. Saved loads of time and money. Just a thought.

I do know of a few local mobile welders, but I'm quite keen to try and do it all myself. Most of the welds would be ground smooth which ever metal I use.

I'm making my own manifolds for a V8 install and going the mild steel route.

I've been told Ceramic coating is supposed to be the ~Bees Knees~ for finishing & minimising
engine noise. Apparently not to harsh on the pocket either, but i haven't had any quotes yet?

I've been told Ceramic coating is supposed to be the ~Bees Knees~ for finishing & minimising

I would think for a pair of V8 manifolds you will be looking at at least £300. Anything less and the coating will not be any good.
We had an RS200 manifold done with the latest F1 spec stuff. Over £600!!!!!

Stainless mig wire - I have quite alot left on a part roll. I will weigh it, and check diameter

Colin

quote:

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Originally posted by nilocp
I've been told Ceramic coating is supposed to be the ~Bees Knees~ for finishing & minimising

I would think for a pair of V8 manifolds you will be looking at at least £300. Anything less and the coating will not be any good.
We had an RS200 manifold done with the latest F1 spec stuff. Over £600!!!!!

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I bought a roll of stainless wire from Halfords (<£20) and ended up using 3 disposable bottles of argon mix.

I am sure this isn't the cheapest way of making a manifold, but it was my first welding project.

Definitely a pro using TIG would be better but I enjoyed the process.

Thanks for the tips all.

Colin, if it's 0.8mm wire and there's enough there, I'll happily send some beer tokens your way.

Looks like I'll need some argon gas then. Just as well I've remembered I gave my brother one of Halford's disposable bottles, so that should save a few quid. And if it'll be that much for coating, I think I'll go with the wrapping! It'll also hide and dodgy welds I do!

I use arson/co2 for stainless MIG welding - pure arson is for tig only .

Ah. Having had a quick read on-line, most places said that the 20% CO2/Ar I've got wouldn't be ideal, but further digging has basically said it'll be fine. Just need to sort some wire now then.

Where did you buy your bends/collectors/pipe from Claire? I assume you've already found the cheapest place to get it from?

The bends were all from ebay - super tight bends , but I bought them ages ago intending to build manifolds for my Fury but........I just never got around to it !
The collectors I plasma cut at from sheet at work (from a cad-drawn template , rolled on the 3 in 1 sheet metal machine (again , at work....) , then welded and finish shaped in the shed

Just gonna go bolt it all on now - and start on megasquirt wiring

OK, I have weighed what is left. 10kg!!!! And it is 0.8

Any use?

Colin

quote:

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Originally posted by clairetoo
I use arson/co2 for stainless MIG welding - pure arson is for tig only .

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quote:

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Originally posted by nilocp
OK, I have weighed what is left. 10kg!!!! And it is 0.8

Any use?

Colin

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Welders warehouse has a good online site for all welding consumables at a good price.