Custom Tubular Manifold

[turboglenn]

Ron, would 308 be only used when doing 304-to-304 then? Which rod would you use when doing 321-to-304?

Thanks,

Tim Z

You should use ER308L for 321 to 304 (it's made for 304, 308, 321 and 347 stainless.)

Your other option would be to use ER309L this is for bonding various alloys of stainless to each other or for joining stainless to mild steel. (mainly 309 and 309 clad and SS to mild)

Myself, I would use the 308, it's plenty strong enough for the application and bonding 321 to 304 sin't really a big deal, the differences in them are pretty minor.

The important thing is going to be to either back gas purge the inside of the joint with a continuous flow of argon while welding it or giving it a liberal coat of "solarflux-b" on the inside of the weld seam if you don't "back gas" it

 

[kicker91laser]

Good luck with the manifold and please keep us updated.

 

[Slippi84]

I have one of Jake's manifolds and the big difference is the thickness and the attention to detail not the grade of steel.

 

[redtsi252]

like I said TurboGlenn...I will be using all 304 schedual 10....

As to Slippi.....yea Jakes Manifolds are Bad ass...I just dont have that kinda money at this moment...if I did...i would not Hesitate...

Thanx again guys...I am just waiting on the parts

 

[turboglenn]

like I said TurboGlenn...I will be using all 304 schedual 10....

As to Slippi.....yea Jakes Manifolds are Bad ass...I just dont have that kinda money at this moment...if I did...i would not Hesitate...

Thanx again guys...I am just waiting on the parts

I wasn't trying to tell you what material to use, just giving some facts on what filler rods to use to weld whatever you decide to use. All the info in that post is just the #'s/ID for the filler rod to use.

IMHO, Sch. 10 t-304 stainless will work, and if your technique is good and you don't overheat the materials while welding you shouldn't have any issues with cracking as long as it's properly designed and one thing that REALLY helps is to add a small bracket from the turbo to the block ( i like to bolt mine to one or 2 of the bolts that hold the turbine and compressor housings on, then bolt it to the hole where the water pipe is at..there's one for the pipe and there's another more towards the front that both work well.

I haven't built my own tubular mani yet (unless you count the log types i've done or modding non turbo headers into turbo headers), but I have repaired quite a few and while i was in there doing it i made supports for the turbo to keep them from cracking again and it was very helpful on the cars i did it on. Make the bracket from some 1/8 to 3/16th 1018 steel or whatever you have laying around. I like the 1018 and other mild variants for brackets because they are easier to tweak into position if they are a little off, you make them from SS and here's no tweaking, just re-cutting, drilling or re-making it.

 

[Slippi84]

like I said TurboGlenn...I will be using all 304 schedual 10....

As to Slippi.....yea Jakes Manifolds are Bad ass...I just dont have that kinda money at this moment...if I did...i would not Hesitate...

Thanx again guys...I am just waiting on the parts

I hear ya trust me I know they're not cheap. I got lucky and got mine for a great deal jake def took care of me. If you were trying to go t4 there is a guy I know that is selling one for like 650 on here but that's still no chump change. Just like everyone has already says use Sch10 304 and you should be cool especially if you have a good old school welder

 

[redtsi252]

are you talkin bout bOOstedtalon2?....I kno I seen it...Awsome deal...But I can afford...it..then switch to T4...

 

[Slippi84]

are you talkin bout bOOstedtalon2?....I kno I seen it...Awsome deal...But I can afford...it..then switch to T4...

Yeah that's who I"m talking about. That is the same manifold I have.

 

[redtsi252]

yea i kno..gstracer99 used to have a T3 one...wish he still had it and didnt sell it...I have been lookin at JH's mani's since he put em on the website...they were once $599 if I am not mistaken

 

[gsxtasy]

yea i kno..gstracer99 used to have a T3 one...wish he still had it and didnt sell it...I have been lookin at JH's mani's since he put em on the website...they were once $599 if I am not mistaken

Paul's was a divided T4, I believe. His new setup is going to be sweet though!

 

[Slippi84]

Paul's was a divided T4, I believe. His new setup is going to be sweet though!

This is correct Paul's was a t4 as well. I"m not a big fan of the new setup idea but if it works it will def be unique.

Anyway yeah the price used to be low but like everything else supply and demand along with the cost of things.

 

[Shearer]

Ron, would 308 be only used when doing 304-to-304 then? Which rod would you use when doing 321-to-304?

Thanks,

Tim Z

308 has a bunch of uses. You can use 308 or 347 when welding to 321 to 304. 347 generally requires a stricter welding process though.

 

[1fastlaser]

I like this thread, definatly very good info in here. SUBSCRIBED!

 

[Slippi84]

308 has a bunch of uses. You can use 308 or 347 when welding to 321 to 304. 347 generally requires a stricter welding process though.

This is the man right here to ask about manifold making I think he makes a few on the side

I know for Ron, the best thing to use when making a manifold is a mouse a computer and a credit card

 

[Imback]

I would just stick with the 308 like shearer is saying. I use only 308 at my shop

 

[redtsi252]

I will do that

 

[turboglenn]

I would just stick with the 308 like shearer is saying. I use only 308 at my shop

Hmmm.. some how i recall recomending the same thing a page back, but no one listened. 308 is the most common of all SS filler and a very good one at that... use it and you'll be fine, BUT if you're going to join any of the above mentined alloys to to a mild steel or a less common SS alloy use the 309 for that weld only.