Tubular 02 hsng, ss or mild steel?

[Talonman]

Looking at tubular o2 housings, will a mild steel one hold up like the punishment or AHP? or should i definately go stainless?

 

[kooka]

DO NOT buy from ahp.

 

[DSMJim]

Nothing wrong with mild steel. It will not last as long in a wet climate however it's not really gonna get wet anyway where it's located. Mild steel will stay looking fine if you paint it with the proper stuff too. A high temp 1600+ deg paint will stay looking nice on it.

I painted my entire exhaust (which I made myself) with VHT caliper paint from the turbo back (I have no typical O2 housing anymore, just 3" straight from the turbo backwards) and its still silver and has not burnt off at all, and thats 900deg paint...

 

[icedearth15]

Yep DSMJim is right on this (go figure).

I have a Punishment Racing mild steel o2 housing and the paint that they put on it does flake off a little bit, but because of the 02's location it has not rusted at all. I have had it on for several months and through the winter. I painted my exhuast-everything after the 02 housing (except muffler) with high temp paint and it does hold up well on exhaust parts (no visable rust on outside).

 

[Talonman]

cool, did the punishment line up and bolt in without issues? Did you get the mig welds or pay a little more for tig welds? Would you recommend upgrade welds?

 

[hostile]

Stainless is stronger than mild steel, but if the welder makes it the right way either one of them will hold up fine.

You could also send it out to get aluminized or ceramic coated and it would still be cheaper than stainless.

 

[icedearth15]

I got the mig welded punishment racing 02 housing. It lined up perfectly. For what I paid for it you cant beat it. The only difference with the o2 housing is the flange where the downpipe bolts up to doesnt have threads like the stock o2 housing, so you need to buy some bolts. The welds good to me, I have not doubt this o2 housing will hold up to anything I can throw at it in the future.