From: ted@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu
Newsgroups: alt.autos.rod-n-custom
Subject: Re: Welding different metals for headers?
Date: 23 Nov 92 04:54:50 -0500
Organization: Carnegie Mellon Computer Club

In article <1992Nov19.161341.1876@ns.network.com>, jmiller@brew.asteroids (Jeff J. Miller) writes:
> First, thanks to everyone that has commented on this.  I have sent responses
> to mail I received but I have been neglagent in responding to items here in
> this news group.  Since this posting asked specific questions, I thought it
> was about time for me to reply.
> 
> In article 722177809@einstein, ausdal@ece.scarolina.edu (Thi Van Ausdal) writes:
>>I welded a bit with a MIG last year at a race car shop (a SMALL race 
>>car shop you've never heard of) and from what I could gather, you
>>can weld mild steel on mild steel, you can weld stainless to stainless
>>but at a higher heat setting.  You can do it fine, but I don't know 
>>how it'll last.  Is this for the street? Are you going to drag races?
>>If you're racing, it'll be okay because you'll be tech-ing the car 
>>every weekend anyway.  It's more of a hassle for a daily commuter
>>to crawl under and check it periodically.  I recommend practicing on
>>some scrap tubes of stainless and regular steel, and see what heat 
>>setting works best.  You ought to do well with it.
>>
>>What about the flange-to-pipes connection?  If you were going to use
>>mild steel there too, you're in for more fun.  Of course, if you can 
>>get stainless tubing, you can find some 3/8" plate to cut a flange 
>>from, too.  What application is this for?  Headers by Ed (a lot of 
>>different apps. for Detroit iron; others, too) or Stahl Headers (many
>>US, imports; top quality stuff) could supply you with a precut flange,
>>although I don't remember if either have stainless.   
>>
>>Good luck.
> 
> The application is to correct the intake and exhaust on a '36 Buick
> straight-8 that I have in a resto-rod that I've been working on for
> the last 3 years (labor of love).  Since this is such an odd beast
> it is impossible to find parts and I end up doing custom stuff to
> increase the performance.  The car is not intended for racing but
> simply as a nice car to cruise in.
> 
> Since this engine was originally an economy stump puller I don't expect
> to make it into a monster power machine but I still think I can pull its
> horsepower up some with better carb and exhaust setups and HEI.
> 
> I plan on using a straight piece of metal (stainless) that will be drilled
> to except exhaust and intake tubes.  In cruising through my local scrap
> dealer I saw some nice stainless tubes from handicap access rails that had
> a nice bend to them and also happened to look nice because they were stainless.
> I wanted to cut them up appropriatly and attach them to the straight metal that
> matches up to the engine.  Left over strait tubing would then be used in a
> similar manor to provide a mounting point for 4 side draft carbs.  The ends
> of the exhaust would go straight down into a large collector and then out to
> the muffler etc.
> 
> The setup might look something like this:  (sorry for the ascii)
>  
>   || || ||| || ||| || ||| || ||
>   || II ||| II ||| II ||| II ||
>   ||    |||    |||    |||    ||
>  _||____|||____|||____|||____||_
> |                               |______________
> |      collector                 ______________  to muffler
> |_______________________________|
> 
> The II represent carbs and I gave up trying to represent the metal that connects
> to the head.  Hopefully you get the picture.
> 
> I know the 8 into 1 collector is not the best but it certainly is better then
> the current 8 into 1 that has varying lengths with a max of about 15" and a min
> of about 2".  My tube lengths will be equal and about 24" in length.  I want the
> collector to be fairly large (I was thinking 4" but maybe thats incorrect??).
> Exhaust pipe and muffler will be 2 1/4" types.
> 
> Carbs will be fairly small but all four actuall add up to quite a bit more then
> the stock carb.  I looked at theoretical volumes and such and it looks like a set
> of 32mm carbs (probably motorcycle carbs) will meet my needs.
> 
> All in all, I expect to get better performance then stock out of this setup
> but I also am looking at an improved look under the hood.  I kind of like the
> idea of 8 shinny tubes with equally spaced carbs sucking air.
> 
> --
> Jeff Miller                 Network Systems Corporation
> Internetwork Group          7600 Boone Avenue North
> jmiller@network.com         Minneapolis MN 55428   (612)424-4888
> 


  Why not try to scrounge up some 4 inch stainless pipe for the collector?
Then you won't have to worry about welding plain steel to stainless... (I
assume that there will be a flange on the end like what is on headers which
will bold up to the exhaust pipe.)  Another thought:  Why not make two
collectors?  I'll try to to draw some possibilities...:>  All these are views
from the bottom.


Idea 1:
Allow both to come out the side to equal restriction on both banks.  
                :------------------------
                :  ----------------------
          ______:  : _________
         :         ::         :
         :_________::  _______:
                    :  ---------------------
                    :-----------------------

Idea 2:
Allow both to vent out middle again trying to equalize restriction in both
banks.           :-----------------------
                 :  :--------------------
        _________:  :   _________
       :          __:__:         :
       :_________:  :   _________:
                    :   :
                    :   :-----------------
                    :---------------------
Idea 3:
Less equal, but would be good if there's only side clearance on one side.
Allow the front to come out the side and run the rear strait out.
                :------------------------
                :  ----------------------
          ______:  : _________
         :         ::         :----------
         :_________::_________:----------

                    
Idea 3:
If there's minimal side clearance but some room in front...  Collectors 
would be equal even though one pipe would be longer.  Might be easiest to
make since both collectors exit out the end (therefore would be "pipe to 
pipe").
          _________  _________
   :---- :         ::         :------------------
   :  -- :_________::_________:------------------
   :  ---------------------------------------------  
   :----------------------------------------------- 


  I hope these give you some ideas at least!  Good luck! 
(Remember, dual exhaust at all costs!)  :>

          TED

Newsgroups: alt.autos.rod-n-custom