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Making exhaust: stainless or chromed steel??
DanP - 8/3/06 at 05:18 PM

Hi Folks,

I've decided that I'm going to try to make my own exhaust system for my RV8 powered viento (the luego system costs £1000). I've never done much welding before but I'd like to give it a go. At the least I was planning on fabricating the headers/downpipes.

I have a set of exhaust manifold flanges for a rover V8 made in steel. I'm not sure whether to make the bits from stainless steel or from steel and have it chrome plated - I have access to a normal MIG welder.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to which route to take? any pro's or con's for either route? can chrome plating take the heat? would i be better off getting a local company to make me one?

Cheers.

Jon Ison - 8/3/06 at 05:30 PM

I had a system chrome plated (thru the back door on the cheap) and it all came off, can you make it up out of stainless then maybe get it welded by a pro using TIG ? I would.

big_wasa - 8/3/06 at 05:43 PM

Second that . Tack it and have it done by a pro

If you havnt done much welding thin tube is a lot harder than 1" rhs imho

TheKingofBling - 8/3/06 at 07:08 PM

I did a bit of exhaust fabricating, from the manifold collector to the can, the main problem i found was finding somebody with the facilities to bend large diameter tube, do some homework with the local fabricators and see what they can do.

Definatly get them to do the tig welding, its an art.!!!!!

froggy - 8/3/06 at 08:06 PM

give bouldy a shout he had a full system done for his v8 mk polished stainless for around 850 and it looks superb.if your not too fussed why not buy some cheap 4-1 headers and just have a single pipe coming through the body,that way you only have to buy a couple of bends and your silencers. dax want 1500 for their system

cryoman1965 - 8/3/06 at 09:07 PM

DanP, look for a company in Southampton called StealthSystems. They are based in Millbrook. Ask for Jon Holgate 02380631166 they design and make quality Exhaust Systems.

[Edited on 8/3/06 by cryoman1965]

AdamR - 9/3/06 at 12:06 AM

quote:
Originally posted by DanP
I have a set of exhaust manifold flanges for a rover V8 made in steel. I'm not sure whether to make the bits from stainless steel or from steel and have it chrome plated - I have access to a normal MIG welder.


Where did you get the flanges from?

I'm hoping to go the same route, using a selection of preformed stainless bends that I will tack together and then get tigged.

What concerns me a bit more than the fabrication is designing a decent manifold for the V8... much research to be done on this yet. Luckily I'm probably at least 1 1/2 years from requiring it

Fred W B - 9/3/06 at 05:57 AM

You might find what I did interesting - see here

v8 exhaust

If you send me an email address I can let you have a bit more detail.

Cheers

Fred WB



[Edited on 9/3/06 by Fred W B]

AdamR - 9/3/06 at 06:13 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Fred W B
You might find what I did interesting - see here


Good inspiration there.

Maybe my manifolds don't have to be shiny after all.... certainly much more confident fabricating in mild steel. Hmmm...

[Edited on 9/3/06 by AdamR]

DIY Si - 9/3/06 at 09:52 AM

Damn nice piece of work that Fred. Makes me glad I'm only attempting a manifold for a 4 pot! I'd prob mess that up and get angry with it, throw it across the garage and have to start again.

wilkingj - 20/3/06 at 08:01 PM

I think you will find that RPI engineering Linky Bit can make custom exhausts, and they are a Rover V8 specialst as well.

Chris Crane definatley knows his onions (and RV8's)


[Edited on 20/3/2006 by wilkingj]