Exhaust Header Building Help

Hello, I'm starting to build a header for my latest project. I have built some in the past with no real big problems.I saw somewhere, but can't remember , that someone makes little sleeves that go inside the pipes that hold the pipes together when you weld. I have **** welded them in the past , but sometimes working by your self its difficult. Does anybody know were i can buy some of these for 1 3/4" od exhaust tubing. Thanks in advance Deek

 

Holley/******

Omar

 

Hello Omar, Looked On ******s Website NO Luck, Thnks Deek

 

I went to a local muffler shop and bought a 2 foot piece

 

You can get them from Summit http://www.summitracing.com/search/?keyword=weld%20sleeves&dds=1

 

No, the sleeves he is asking about are the same as the id of the tubing and have a little weld ridge to them.

 

This what you looking for?

http://www.holley.com/types/Miscellaneous Components.asp

 

Mine were the same I.d. but had no ridge

 

Hey guys Thanks for all of your SUPER fast help, will order them today Thanks Again Deek

 

these are what I was referring to

Omar

 

Hey Deek, i have tried to get them i tha past and came up short. They are in the catalog but...
What you can do is buy a short piece of 1 5/8 (one size down, 16ga) and it'll be a snug fit inside your 1 3/4.
What i do is tape the 2 pieces together with alumninum foil duct tape, i go about 1/2 way around the joint so you have enough room for a couple tack welds. You have to clean the metal so the tape will stick, when the tubing is warm the tape comes right off - just don't weld too close to it or you'll have some discoloration from the adhesive and its' a pita to get off.
I have done bunches of headers and that is how i do them. The sleeves are a good idea, trouble is you never have enough straight sections to use them. Everything is always in a curve, if it is straight you won't need them anyway - no welds in a straight section, welds are curves to curves.

 

I build and design headers for a living, have done it for a couple of major manufactures for years now. When I worked for ****** I would use them. We try and NEVER have a weld in a curve, you cannot reproduce that in a bender. We always take the mandrel bend and try and leave at least a little bit of straight, cut it there and then go to the next piece. Some times you do end up with a curve that goes immediately into another curve without any straight section but the sleeves will still usually work as they are very short on each end and are somewhat forgiving.
Of course there are welds in a straight section, how else do you join two non adjoining curves together, it probably won't be welded in the middle but it is best if you have at least a little bit of straight after each curve and weld there.