Supercharger pipe bender?

SuperV8 · Post by **SuperV8** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 12:34 pm

I'm looking at getting some aluminium pipe bent to replace the temporary plastic and steel pipe you can see in the pic: 2.5" or 65mm dia
Anyone know anyone in the midlands that could do this?

Thanks,
Tom.

stevieturbo · Post by **stevieturbo** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 11:07 pm

Nobody will bend it. You'll need to buy various alloy bends and have them welded together.

If weight isnt an issue, stainless will be much easier and any decent exhaust fab place would be able to do it

ChrisJC · Post by **ChrisJC** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 6:54 am

Or do it all in steel with exhaust pipe sections, e.g. from Jetex.

Chris.

stevieturbo · Post by **stevieturbo** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:41 am

ChrisJC wrote:Or do it all in steel with exhaust pipe sections, e.g. from Jetex.

Chris.

Clamp/bolt together would never work reliably with boost. And mild steel isnt ideal from a corrosion point of view.

Stainless would be by far the easiest.

ChrisJC · Post by **ChrisJC** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 6:49 pm

stevieturbo wrote:
ChrisJC wrote:Or do it all in steel with exhaust pipe sections, e.g. from Jetex.

Chris.
Clamp/bolt together would never work reliably with boost. And mild steel isnt ideal from a corrosion point of view.

Stainless would be by far the easiest.

Fair point. Welded stainless sections of Jetex, a bit like my Landie exhaust:

That's 2.5" stuff.

Eliot · Post by **Eliot** » Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:37 pm

As stevie says buy an intercooling piping kit of ebay - BUT chuck the pvc pipe couplers in the bin and get it welded together once you have your layout.
The only issue i had, was that the pipes are clear coated in something very tough (powder coat i think) and you cant weld it unless you grind it back down to raw ally again.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-5-TURBO-INT ... 2eb35b2ec4

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:18 am

Hi
That inlet pipe seems to go a very long way around a hot engine bay, couldn't you make up a front entry plenum and save about 6 feet of inlet tract? would help throttle responce and keep the inlet charge alot cooler!
Best regrads
Mike

DEVONMAN · Post by **DEVONMAN** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:32 am

Or, is it possible to turn the plenum through 180 degrees and save some length. I've never checked the plenum bolts to see if they are symmetrical. Not sure if the trumpets are symmetrical also.

Cheers Denis

SuperV8 · Post by **SuperV8** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 11:01 am

Thanks for the points,

That kit on ebay looks like it could be an option, just a pity I only need about half of it! still could work out cheaper than buying seperate bends.

Yes I have spent many hours thinking about pipe routing. The problem is the bonnet has to be cut to allow the plenum to poke through and it already cut form my original 3.5 install. I have tried thinking of ways to fill in the hole I already have with something like mesh? but I think it would look funy.
Idearly I should buy a new bonnet, but that is expensive and the gel coat may not match exactly!

Maybe it would be easier to find someone who can fill in and colour match the hole in the bonnet?
Anyone know anyone who paints GRP?

Think i'll investigate again.

Tom.

Eliot · Post by **Eliot** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 11:48 am

DEVONMAN wrote:Or, is it possible to turn the plenum through 180 degrees and save some length. I've never checked the plenum bolts to see if they are symmetrical. Not sure if the trumpets are symmetrical also.

Cheers Denis

Yes you can spin them round.

stevieturbo · Post by **stevieturbo** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 11:59 am

A front entry plenum as suggested would be the most sensible option on many fronts.

Or flipping the lid 180deg a second best. Retaining the existing layout would be daft by comparison.

It would be relatively easy to make your own pipe from silicon and stainless without the need for any welding if you are unable to weld.

Not always as pretty, but often more practical.

Eliot · Post by **Eliot** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:57 pm

Those ebay kits come with poor quality couplings and clamps - they will be good enough to get it working, but be prepared to replace the couplings with proper silicon hoses (the ones supplied are pvc) and some decent clamps.
The pipes seem good though and you get a good selection for the money.

SuperV8 · Post by **SuperV8** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:38 am

I bitten the bulit! going to get the hole in my bonnet filled and rotate the plenum 180 degs, and then lower the trumpet base so I don't have to cut another hole in the oposite side!

Thanks for the suggestions.

Tom.

Eliot · Post by **Eliot** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:37 pm

I've got the photos for the factory westfield plenum mod. They have a heavy metal jig which they bolt the cut parts on and then weld it up:

I had quick play one wet sunday afternoon and its not difficult:

SuperV8 · Post by **SuperV8** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:41 am

Thanks Elliot, looks straight forward.
How does a 'westfield style' front entrance plunum effect air flow?
Does anyone know of any measurements that have been done?
Performance wise would the standard side entrance plenum perform better?

Tom.