T coupe MINI Update: Home built headers!

Well took a little time off from the gimped door skins and started on my home built headers... I bought a s**** section of 3.5" tubing from the local muffler shop and wanted to see if I could make a cone.... did my measurements and started cutting. bought my U bends from Speedway and started mocking them up. Never done this before so it turned out pretty well I think...














Got several pm's asking me to show the different steps... I think I saw this as a tech a year or so ago. But here it is...

Started out with some straight 3.5" exhaust s****s. Cut to 30" long. Figured the diameter of the U bends I bought, you can actually get away with 3 U bend sections from Speedway. Figured how much I need to cut out to get the diameters I needed. Pie cut...





Then get a big Rubber mallet and start form it over working it length wise on the floor. Used the vise some also. Gotta keep rolling it also or you'll get a oval pipe and not a round one! Once you got it about a 1" apart, use some pipe clamps and pull it on over they'll help keep it round also. Tack it when it all touches.



I already had my pieces cut for the exhaust cause i had done the first one. But I set the first one nearest the front and set my height and how far out from the body I wanted, then set up the one closest to the firewall. I used a small section of square tubing and beat the snot outta the U bends to get them to fit the flanges.





Fit the middle two and you're set! Don't for get to drill your holes in the cone, or you're screwed!!



Last step is to Tig it all together!!

 

nice work Chad

 

Nice work, looks really cool.

 

They look just like bought ones and I mean that in a GOOD way!

Nick.

 

Should make some nice tunes very nice.

 

Thanks guys... I just wanted to see if I could make a pair for less than a kit cost!!

 

great job

 

Good Job man, you're work always turns out great!

 

looks good, thats on my list of things to do in the next week or two for my 27T

 

nice!! Yer metal working skills are amazing!!!

 

the headers are really cool. great job !

 

nice ! way to go , was thinkin of tryin sompthin similar for mine , think i'll give it a shot now ! those look good

 

Thanks fellas!!

It wasn't really all that hard... but it took the most time to shape that cone... that was a pain!!

 

Lookin good!

 

Nice job on the cone. Wish I had thought of that. I bought cones from Speedway and they are way thinner than the bends and standard exhaust tubing.

Pete

 

nice work cool car

 

Wow! Yeah! That's lookin' great Chad! Nice job!

 

Thanks guys... just trying to save a little cash and do it all myself.

 

the man has talent

 

Thanks blackout... I'm learning as I go!!

 

Man what in the H*ll is wrong with you.......trying to build something yourself instead of just buying it - AND making them way better looking than ones you can buy........kids today

Great job - Your car is looking great!

Dan

 

hahahahah what the heck... I should be a checkbook rodder!!

 

TIME OUT!!!!
BACK UP THE TRAIN!!!

What happen to steps 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10...

You went from Once Upon a Time and the jumped to THE END. ROLL CREADITS!

I only ask because I love the work. So please more in-between pics if you have them.
If not could you please explain what was done?
Nice work!

 

I'm going to work on the other side today, so I'll take pics for you... I didn't take any inbetween progress shots on this one!

 

those look great chad.... nice work.

 

Headers look great. I'm digging the dash also.

 

Looks great! Now show me how to reskin those doors. I'm going to hve have to redo mine soon.

 

Chad, those look great my friend! Gonna see you in Dewey?

 

Sweet ride. It is coming along nice.