Stainless Steel Exhaust

[richd]

I have a stainless steel Exhaust manifold and silencer (2 pieces), which join halfway down the body. The main bend is in the silencer section. My problem is that it is very tight to the body, and i would like another inch play in it. ie bend it out a little more. I've asked a few people who have all said that one cannot rebend stainless steel. Is this correct?

[Richard Salisbury]

Stainless steel work hardens more than mild steel, so it is much harder to re-bend it. Any additional bending after this work hardening can lead to cracks. If you really must bend it, use a welding torch to heat it locally before bending - (off the car, obviously!. But unless you have professional bending equipment, it will be very difficult.

I would avoid it if you can - falls quite close to the "too hard to do" category for my liking....

Richard

[Pmaltby]

hey,

if it is that important to bend the pipe do it properly and take all the measurments and angles that you need and take the complete system to a professional heat treatment place, might cost a bit and take a while but it is worth it in the long run.

[JulianS]

There was a similar thread about this a few months ago.

I went for the welding torch and muscle approach but only moved it a little (I was very anxious, but this was done by a chap who makes custom stainless exhausts and he was very persuasive!! ).

Seemed to work, no cracks yet but only low milage.

Julian

[mmmmdonuts]

I think I started a thread like this a while back.  I just got a beefier rubber absorber thing and left it at that.  Its still quite clsoe to the body, but as long as it doesn't touch and/or melt anything, does it matter?

[richd]

Thanks, so it does sound a little iffy. my only concern is that it is putting a strain on the manifold. maybe in time it will sort itself out with it's own heat ( Couldn't get it correct in the first place as I was fighting to beat the SVA (beat it by 4 days))