Want to build my own 4-2-1, were do I buy the tube etc

[Urge]

Hi,
I am thinking of making up my own 4-2-1 manifold and exhaurst system.
can any one advise on what grade mild steel, and or stainless steel, as I have not decided on one or the other.
also, were can I buy the tube??
were can I have it bent???
were can I have the manifold flange cut??
I have kind of decided on the lenths and bore size, but could always do with other opinions of this as well.

[M400 NBL]

I used www.simpsonraceexhausts.com to make me an exhaust for my kit car. It may well be cheaper to have a company with all the equipment and materials do it for you. Otherwise they may sell you some tube.

I've used a company called metal and plastic in the past (sorry no details) that may be able to supply you with extruded tube, either straight or bent.

Hope this is of some help.

[Urge]

any one else have any ideas.
Also, who does one off lazer cutting for the manifold flange??
Thanks

[Fer]

Simpsons did the Stainless exhaust for my Westfield. Not cheap, but does look the business.

[Urge]

whats not cheap??
only thing with them is they weld the bends and it is in stainless steel.
nothing wrong in that, only I want the primerys in one peice, and secondrys in one peice so to speck.
was hoping to sand fill mild steel, then heat bend it.
Am I mad or will it be fun learning???

[ricola]

I bought mandrel bends in stainless and other bits from custom chrome in Nuneaton. In the past I have also bought similar parts from Jetex, Halfords sell Jetex parts so may be able to get stuff in for you..

Rich

[Urge]

any one know what the quality/standard should be for the tube if using mild steel???

[kayos]

The shop at Castle Coombe race track "Merlin Motor sport" sell jetex tubes, or Jetex have a web site, they are in Stratford I think. I have used these parts and they are good, but the price soon adds up.

[kayos]

Urge , if you are near Gloucester I have a manifold that may fit a Pinto engine (if thats what you are after) that you can have.

[Urge]

Thanks kayos
But it will not fit my car, it needs to be a one off made to measure thing.
but thanks anyway M8.
I am very suprised that i can find very little on the web about tube bending with sand and heat.
And about what grade mild steel to use for the 4-2-1.

[dern]

Have a look at this thread on the locost builders site for some ideas...

www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=53164

[Urge]

would still like to know were to buy the mild steel and what grade if any body knows???

[Fer]

Urge said:

whats not cheap??

£880 for a full exhaust in stainless, for a Pinto, $ into 1, with large repackable silencer.

IMO their customer service can sometimes be a little... abrupt, but quality product.

[chrisj]

I got loads of stainless bits from JP exhuasts in Macclesfield www.jpexhausts.co.uk.
Enough to build a pair of 4-2-1 manifolds and full system for a RV8 and it was about £380 for all the bits, to be fabricated by me.

Also this lot www.milneroffroad.com/PIPE.HTM do plenty of stuff at prices that seem pretty good.

A word of advice though, if you are going to use stainless make sure you back gas or purge the tubes when welding to protect both sides of the weld.

[Urge]

thanks chrisj and others,
But keep the help coming as no one seems to have the sizes I want!!!!!
got close with one company, but they never had any collectors for the sizes I wanted.
any one know of steel suplier???

[Seany88]

Hi mate, not sure if it'll help but I have 2 mandrel-bent U bends, 2.5" bore. They're stainless steel as far as i'm aware, though i'm not in the know about metallurgy! £20 each if you need, i'm in the West mids.

[Urge]

Thanks for the offer,
only I need sizes of 1 5/8 and 1 7/8 and 2 1/8
but thanks anyway

[chrisj]

I got lots of 1-5/8" bends and straight from JP, the rest was all 2" and 2-1/2", but I'm sure they'll be able to supply the other sizes you need.
Not sure about collectors as I'll be making my own, but I know Milner Offroad do 1-5/8" to 2" collectors in mild and stainless.

If you don't mind the shipping costs, this lot do pretty much anything you want, and the quality looks superb.
Plus there's some good tech articles on the site about manifolds.
www.burnsstainless.com/

Edited by chrisj on Thursday 12th October 12:28

[Urge]

Thanks Chris m8