yo we pimped with pinstripes

 

i just used a cheap ebay intercooler kit and cut it to fit.

 

All of mine is mild I think, it's been powerdercoated inside and out though. If i had to do it again i would use aluminum because I can tig weld. For now though i'll be keeping the mild tubing because its complete and its a pretty blue PC.

 

how much do you think it would be to pay someone to tig weld your stuff if you made all the cuts?

 

Depends on how many cuts you have lol. Seeing how you're in NC, depending on what part of the state you live in i would say you could get all the welding done for $100 or less because it would be standard shop rate which is usually around 65-90 an hr. If you had lets say 4 pieces on each side and 2.5" tubing. It shouldn't take a shop more than an hour to do it. You could save costs by making each side two pieces and using a coupler though. It would also possibly make it easier for removal as well. Depends on if you still have PS and A/C on your car. If that stuff is removed you have all kinds of room and you could possibly run solid pipes the whole way.

 

Use PVC piping and I will punch you through the internet.

 

I've not seen anyone use PVC. I know i woulnd't use it.

 

Rough estimate, depending on the shop and how cool the guys running it are.... hmmm.... if you do all the prep but weld it? $10-25 per joint.

 

whats the benefit of welding over using silicone couplers? Just the fact that everything stays put a bit easier?

 

less chance of leaks, ease, cost (silicone & clamps are expensive). It's acutally good to have one or two, or atleast a hump hose so everything can move around a bit as the engine torques and the intercooler stays put.

 

I paid $150 which, I felt, was a complete rip off. The worst part is the welds don't look very good, for $150 I was expecting beutiful welds. I guess that's what I get for going to a place called "OK WELDING". (seriously that was the name of the place, it's in Davenport IA, don't go there)

 

next time go to an industrial welder, or someone who welds rod iron fences, or a good exhaust shop.

or buy a cheaper welder and make really bad welds yourself and be happy you can weld just as bad.

 

a friend of mine who races legends cars (actually, my ex's dad, whose son races legends cars (whose 14...wtf, and he has 4 race cars! lol...yeah)) anyway, has some welding equipment...if I'm welding myself would it be better to find SS or mild steel? As aluminum is hard to work with, or so I've heard?

I'm guessing the best place for the couplers would be at the inlets/outlets of the IC? give it some flex, and then near the TB and turbo?

 

Stainless Steel Tube from Intercooler to Throttle Body.
It will help insulate the cooled air coming from the intercooler.

Use Mild Steel or Aluminum from the turbo to the Intercooler inlet.
These materials will help give off heat rather than insulating it. Making it easier for the intercooler to do it's job.

 

What he said. I agree. Mild will be easier to weld and its alot cheaper if you mess up, though SS is way easier to weld than alum. If it's going to be your first time doing this you might lay it all out in mild if you just happen to have excess, then when you're positive you like your setup after running it for a while, go to the SS on the IC-TB side and alum. on the Turbo-IC side. I would hate to mess up expensive SS bends. You might just be a real bad-a$$ welder /fabricator though so go for it.

 

lol, I think I'll look into mild steel, see how it goes...most of the stuff on Ebay is SS/Aluminum...how should one go about procuring mild steel (this is stuff that should be painted/powdercoated isn't it?)

I did find couplers thanks to that other thread, I believe brianeack posted the links, thanks.

 

jc whitney most likely. try searching "mandrel bends" most places that sell SS, sell aluminum and mild steel as well.

 

I've seen a gsx with pvc intercooler pipes... they sucked.

 

This one is interesting......Check out the TT 351

 

here's the most useful places:
http://www.summitracing.com
http://www.jcwhitney.com
http://roadraceengineering.com/hackertweekerparts.htm