S/Steel or Aluminium IC Piping?

Doctor G · Post by **Doctor G** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:32 am

So what are the pro's and cons of either IC piping type?

mario_200sx · Post by **mario_200sx** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:39 am

I cant think of any major pros or cons.

Exept that ali does tend to corrode if you dont clean it on a reg basis.

SS i think is gona work you out a pretty penny!

Ali you also need to concentrate on what grade will work the best. For your cold pipe you will prob need a grade to repel the heat the best.

Thats what I think, can be wrong!!!

Vlade · Post by **Vlade** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:20 am

Ali piping is the better choice, but very few places can make up sets since welding Ali is bit more difficult than SS...

SS is heavy
SS heat soaks
SS is cheaper than Ali
SS can be make up by most exhaust places, they buy mandrel bends and just weld it up.

Even with those cons of SS i'm fairly happy with my SS setup.

mario_200sx · Post by **mario_200sx** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:24 am

I always thought SS was more expensive than ali??

Doctor G · Post by **Doctor G** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:39 am

My pro for SS was that it's easier to weld on a flange for say a BOV.
The con was it's heavier than Ali.

Cost wise it's the same cause I'm buying a kit from other side the pond. So the shipping on the SS kit will be higher. But it does look like the better quality kit of the two I'm considering.

Well, since this is not a drag car I shouldn't worry too much about weight I guess and just go with the SS. The stock piping is also steel so it cancels out some of the weight at least.

Thanks for the responses.

Vlade · Post by **Vlade** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:54 pm

Doctor G wrote:My pro for SS was that it's easier to weld on a flange for say a BOV.
The con was it's heavier than Ali.

Cost wise it's the same cause I'm buying a kit from other side the pond. So the shipping on the SS kit will be higher. But it does look like the better quality kit of the two I'm considering.

Well, since this is not a drag car I shouldn't worry too much about weight I guess and just go with the SS. The stock piping is also steel so it cancels out some of the weight at least.

Thanks for the responses.

Yeah just be aware that SS FMIC kits from abroad has paper thin piping from what I've heard they are also a bitch to weld flanges on for BOV's. On the other hand since they are paper thin, they are not that heavy... Ask Gary he has an import IC kit, so does someone else with an S14.

veecee · Post by **veecee** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:21 pm

mario_200sx wrote:Exept that ali does tend to corrode if you dont clean it on a reg basis.

huh? are you sure you have the right metal in mind???

mario_200sx · Post by **mario_200sx** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:27 pm

YES I DO!

WE HAD LOADS OF ALI ON OUR RACING CARS AND TRUST ME, IT DOES CORRODE....

I WAS THE ONE ON THE SHORT END POLISHING ALL THE ALI THE WHOLE TIME!!

widowmaker · Post by **widowmaker** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:57 pm

and if it corrodes from the inside? then you have funny stuff going through your engine...

mario_200sx · Post by **mario_200sx** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:10 pm

I dont even wana think about that!!!

Doctor G · Post by **Doctor G** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:33 pm

Now I'm happy I went SS....

As for the Ali corroding. It must be a poor grade of aluminium.

veecee · Post by **veecee** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:32 pm

thats what i was thinking.

yes ali corrodes, but its nothing compared to mild steel, iron, etc!!! a little bit of fine white powder on some aluminium is nothing compared to the holes that develop on cars that live at the coast!!!