what metal is better?304 steel or. . .

[tsi4ya]

Am looking at the prices of Apexi down pipe and i notice that the GT is made from 304 steel and the other isnt. . .is it really that much of a difference? i mean. . .does that steel hold better for ghosty moddified dsm and the other is just for someone who just wants a little more push? thanks guys

 

[SlowSpyder]

Am looking at the prices of Apexi down pipe and i notice that the GT is made from 304 steel and the other isnt. . .is it really that much of a difference? i mean. . .does that steel hold better for ghosty moddified dsm and the other is just for someone who just wants a little more push? thanks guys

304 is stainless steel, it wont rust and it looks pretty. The other downpipe is just a coated aluminized steel which in due time will lose its coating and rust eventually

 

[tsi4ya]

aaaaah i see. . .so do u think it would be worth it to spend the extra money. .for the gt down pipe?

 

[GVR4592]

321 Stainless steel is better than 304 in exhaust applications due to it's ability to handle heat cycles beter. It will take a lot more cycles before it cracks.

 

[dsm-onster]

Actually, cheap ol' mild steel is the cheapest and easiest to "use". Add a coat of 500-1500* paint from a can at a local walmart and you're still SIGNIFICANTLY less expensive in costs. AND it looks nice as well.

I bought a few mild steal mandrel u-bends (easy, easy, easy to weld) and a bit of straight pipe and fabed up a great 3" turbo back for my T-bird TC and DSM. The TC has been running for years w/ a coat of black 1500* paint on the dpwn pipe and 500* black engine block paint for 3 1/2 years now! Zero rust. Full mandrel bent 3 inch piping to the exhaust tips.

 

[MaNGiNa24]

321 Stainless steel is better than 304 in exhaust applications due to it's ability to handle heat cycles beter. It will take a lot more cycles before it cracks.

A normal 16 gauge ss304 exhaust will never reach the point where it cracks due to too many heat cycles.

SS321 is more practical for exhaust manifolds and MAYBE turbo elbows/o2 housings.

Apexi N1's are junk, I've seen countless rust through the piping and it's INCREDIBLE that dumb ass dsmer's still buy these shitty exhausts. The GT series are stainless steel and will most likely outlast your car, the only problem is that the flanges as well as hangers are chromed mild steel and will be the weak points.

 

[kahlilj]

Not sure if I should ask this in a new thread or here, but since the original question is regarding stainless steel material I think it's on point:

Is there a difference between T-304 and SUS 304 steel? I've seen ads from different vendors & most of their headers are advertised as being one of these two types. Anyone noticed this before or checked into if there is a real difference?

Kahlil

 

[hereitcomes]

There is a weight difference. I have a 3" stainless turbo-back and it weighs less than my stock 2.25" exhaust. All of the welds are also stainless metal so those wont rust.

 

[suicidal2af]

SS will eventually rust.

Your stock exhaust was SS.

It will just take a hell of a lot longer than mild steel will.

Little bit of science for you: the rust-resistant properties in steel are a chemical reaction. It starts to corrode and creates a very thin layer of chromium oxide(that's ceramic to you non-sciency types). This prevent further corrosion.

HOWEVER, most elements or substances ending in 'ide' can break this coating down. Sodium chloride is one of them. Salt. Once it comes into contact with it, it breaks it down, and allows further corrosion to happen. It eventually rebuilds this coating, which helps prolong its life. This is why you don't see your stock exhaust start rusting until after 8 or 9 years, but a mild steel rusts through after 2.

 

[hostile]

SS will eventually rust.

Your stock exhaust was SS.

It will just take a hell of a lot longer than mild steel will.

Little bit of science for you: the rust-resistant properties in steel are a chemical reaction. It starts to corrode and creates a very thin layer of chromium oxide(that's ceramic to you non-sciency types). This prevent further corrosion.

HOWEVER, most elements or substances ending in 'ide' can break this coating down. Sodium chloride is one of them. Salt. Once it comes into contact with it, it breaks it down, and allows further corrosion to happen. It eventually rebuilds this coating, which helps prolong its life. This is why you don't see your stock exhaust start rusting until after 8 or 9 years, but a mild steel rusts through after 2.

Uhh no factory exhuast is going to be bare mild steel. It has a layer of aluminuzed atleast.

Rust is iron oxide, 304 or 321 stainless pipes do not rust in this manner.

 

[kahlilj]

There is a weight difference. I have a 3" stainless turbo-back and it weighs less than my stock 2.25" exhaust. All of the welds are also stainless metal so those wont rust.

Was this in reference to my question about SUS304 vs T304 material? or the original question?

Also, what is a good minimum (or maximum) material thickness for a header?

 

[hostile]

16 Gauge is good for a 321 header. If your making something on a budget that is easy to weld cast shc 10 304 weld els are a good choice.

 

[suicidal2af]

Uhh no factory exhuast is going to be bare mild steel. It has a layer of aluminuzed atleast.

Rust is iron oxide, 304 or 321 stainless pipes do not rust in this manner.

Stock exhaust(on 2G's anyway) was stainless steel. Search for my posts in another exhaust related thread where I proved it.