Aluminum Pipe?

[band1t]

Hey All,
I been seening some videos on youtube of
the import guys running Aluminum Exhuast pipe.
Now am wondering Why arent the V8 guys running
Aluminum pipe on there cars??

[GNon18s]

I asked about this on here and another forum a few weeks ago and got basically no response. I think it sounds like a good idea as long as you start back at the collector or down pipe. I found some cool pictures of full aluminum exhaust on google image but I dont know how to post them here. I think its uncommon because most people (even alot of welders) arent very good at welding aluminum.

[band1t]

hmmm the welding may have a small part to do with it.
the only down side I see is maybe if there was a back fire it would blow the pipe
cause aluminum is a soft metal.

[Rod]

we just had this discussion for a current project I'm building here is some notes on the subject ....that I have come across
Exhaust tubes experience stress from a variety of sources including thermal stress, vibration, exhaust pressure, hitting the ground (usually when loading car on trailer), chassis bind etc…
The combination of these stresses result in an applied stress to the tube material. As long as the applied stress is lower than the yield strength of the material, all is good in exhaust-land.
In order to bend aluminum, it is usually annealed to the “O” condition, reducing the yield strength of the aluminum. On top of that, when tubing is welded, it is no longer in the T6 condition. we have not even considered the reduced strength of the aluminum at elevated temperature. Now, it is possible to heat treat the aluminum bends or fabricated tube, but it is often not done. Also, if the tube is heated, as when running hot exhaust gas, it will change the temper and reduce its strength.

and then there is the whole operating cycles and vibrations, that create fatigue, so we gave up maybe I will look into it more

[INTMD8]

You can use it on a drag car, first section 11 gauge. I wouldn't use it on the street or anything that would see extended miles.

If you're worried about weight you could always use 20ga stainless.

[astroracer]

The smallest wall size for 3" dia stnls is 16ga. (.065) as far as I know. That weighs a little over 2lbs per ft.
3" aluminum is available in 1/8 wall which comes in at 1 .34 lbs per ft. It also reduces the I.D. to 2.75.
For all of the headaches involved I don't see a benefit on the street.

[INTMD8]

The smallest wall size for 3" dia stnls is 16ga. (.065) as far as I know.

Burns and Reid Washbon (and probably others) sell .035 stainless in 3in od.

[astroracer]

Burns and Reid Washbon (and probably others) sell .035 stainless in 3in od.

Thank You Sir, I'll check them out.

[RobNoLimit]

Some years ago I fabbed some rectangle aluminmum tailpipes for a 56 chevy I built. From the headpipes to the muffler was stainless, with stailess mufflers. From there backwas aluminum. I cut and fabbed much like a four piece frame rail, a top, a bottom, and sides. By doing this, i could transition the tube hieght and width over the axle, and sculpt the tube to fit perfectly. I milled rectangle end caps. It worked great. Not so hot, and much less load forces behind the muffler. I think that the aluminum soaked up the sound just a bit, no ringing or droning at all. Sorry, no picts, this was before the digital age.

[Anthony k]

I had 4" alum exhaust on my turbo 86 mustang. Granted I didn't drive it everyday, I did drive the hell out of it.

90 right off the gt4788 turbo, down under frame rail, back to passenger A arm, dumped just past the A arm. Had two mufflers made, one was a fake, 4" alum inside 5" alum welded up! And a stainless burns muffler. V banded of easy changing

Never cracked, never blew out. ZERO issues.
Engineers gave me 20 reasons it wouldn't work,
Worked perfectly.

I even had the entire system polished.

[GNon18s]

I had 4" alum exhaust on my turbo 86 mustang. Granted I didn't drive it everyday, I did drive the hell out of it.

90 right off the gt4788 turbo, down under frame rail, back to passenger A arm, dumped just past the A arm. Had two mufflers made, one was a fake, 4" alum inside 5" alum welded up! And a stainless burns muffler. V banded of easy changing

Never cracked, never blew out. ZERO issues.
Engineers gave me 20 reasons it wouldn't work,
Worked perfectly.

I even had the entire system polished.

Glad to hear it from someone who actually did it!!