I thought I saw some exhaust tubing that looked like va***e hose (from a va***e cleaner ) one time at AUTOZONE. Has anyone used this before? I have a tight drop I need to make, and this stuff will work perfectly if 1.) It does indeed exist outside of my imagination 2.) It does not leak exhaust 3.) I can buy it locally Thank you.
There's two kinds: The convoluted stuff and the spiral-wound stuff. Neither one works really well, I can tell you from experience. The convoluted stuff can't make really tight bends and is tough to un-bend if you get it wrong. The spiral stuff has the same problem and it tends to leak where you clamp it to a straight pipe. Both look like amateur ***, too. Best bet for a tight bend is to just buy a bend, cut to length and angle, and weld it on.
My dad used stailess flex stuff as tailpipes on our '65 Galaxie. Lasted pretty good. However, the experts say the ridges cause the gases to tumble, slowing it down. You want it to leave as quick as possible.
that stuff is pretty miserable,bro. it does have a cool look to it,though , in it's own way. You need to find an exhaust dealer that carries IMCO exhaust parts. they have Aluminized Mandrel bends for CHEAP. thick wall, street use stuff. 2 inch, 2.1/4, 2.1/2 and 3 avalible in 170 deree, 45's, and 90's. easy to use, and it makes for a nice system. Next time I do an exhaust system, I plan on doing a tech article on it.
You can get cheap manderal bends out of JC Whitney. I used them when I built the exhaust system on my Roadster. They are USA made in Michigan, I looked the company up.... It's aluminized steel pipe. I just bought enough and cut a mig welded it up. Turned out great!
A customer wanted to have some stainless flex tubing inserted into a mandrel-bent bike exhaust that we bent for him; however the flex tube didn't bend nearly as tight as our bender could bend the tube. IMO it also looks like crud on a rod. Hank
i ran some on one of my old beaters i would replace it about every 4 months becouse i would blow it apart.
flex pipe is ok for temporary use only, like maybe a few months cause it just isn't strong enough to hold up.It may hold up a little longer used in short lengths but I wouldn't count on it in the long run
flexpipe is what we used in High School to ***ist us in fabricating dual exhaust. It's also made in large sizes for semi tractors. All those blower exhausts on Deusenbergs, later Excaliburs, etc are all s.s. flex pipe with inner flexpipe also - they just don't last long. I had one blow out on my 65 Excalibur years ago coming through Snoqualmie P*** - the outer core unraveled, got caught under the LR tire, and pulled the whole thing right off of the ****py exhaust manifold that Brooks Stevens used to fabricate those things...it's pretty hard to look cool with a 2ft blue flame shooting out the side of your hood. Stay away from that stuff - previous advice is solid - you can bend any radius you want - can even be tighter with some pie-wedging/welding "...got a 2pack habit and a motel tan.." dj
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