Weld el on downpipe too???
 

Is it a bad idea? Maybe for about the first 6-18 inches.
What I know
1. I know the down pipe has a hard life.
2. I know it's pretty hot and stressed during racing.
3. I know many just weld thin SS or think mild steel.
4. I know factory turbos use thick cast pieces.
5. I know my down pipe failed during a race
6. I know nothing

Randy

Re: Weld el on downpipe too???
 

how exactly does a downpipe 'fail during a race'..

Re: Weld el on downpipe too???
 

I race this little ---- box on a frozen lake. It's kinda like roadracing with a rally style driving. We get bumps and have hit some snow banks too. The conditions are bad, that is why I would like to make a system last a whole year without DNFs because of turbo system failure. NO one has done it in 25 years of my club. Everyone else has super fast NA motors. I could waste a bunch of money on pistons, rods, camshafts. But the turbos are way faster when they are running.

My downpipe that was made from .075 mild steel with pretty smooth bends and all tig welded up. Just making laps in the middle of the race, I heard something change at about 7500 rpms. Well I finshed the race in 2nd place at half steam. After we looked at the pieces it looked like the downpipe just couldn't take the heat or stress. It just ripped of, in a weird way about 5 inches from the turbo outlet. END of day :7

Randy

Re: Weld el on downpipe too???
 

Got turbo bracing? and flex pipes after your down pipe?

Re: Weld el on downpipe too???
 

open down pipe above the front frame ftw

Re: Weld el on downpipe too???
 

I love the idea!!! I would have to read the rule book backwards to get it by the tech guy. The rule book doesn't say anything about which way you read it! >:D

The other thing I worry about is exhaust getting into the drivers compartment. We still have windows, and they are closed all the time. It's ------- cold with a window open at 100 mph in -10.

Randy

Re: Weld el on downpipe too???
 

Bracing is in the works, I have to start and finish my manifold sometime next week. Flex pipes and soild motor mounts, so that shouldn't be a huge issue.

Randy

Re: Weld el on downpipe too???
 

just keep it tucked away from the snow, straight down off the turbo would be the best because the exhaust would go out and at 100mph there wont be much that comes in plus to hit it with a snowbank your gonna have bigger problems the the dp falling off(like putting your rad back in.

Re: Weld el on downpipe too???
 

We tried running a straight back and a dump down after the shifter. My buddy after a hard 1.25 hours in during a endro didn't even know his name, because of the fumes that made their way back up. I talked to other guys about it and they all had problems too.

So we welded on a 3 inch oval pipe going to right ahead of the rear tire. No more problems (well sorta)

I was thinking more like the FWD drag guys have. Out the bumper on the right side.

Randy

Re: Weld el on downpipe too???
 

I have 5 spare radiators with me during race weekends because of the snow banks. I would mount that in the back of the car, but I'm not spending huge money on -16 an line to do it right. So we have spares.

Randy