intercooler piping on the cheap

[elyria_boy]

ok, so besides the obvious bling factor, is there any reason a guy couldn't use mandrel bent exhaust tubing to fab up custom intercooler piping? i've never really been one for chrome, so powdercoating is an option when it is all said and done. I also considered using header wrap to cover up the ugliness. any opinions would be great, or any other ideas. I have a set of smic's i want to plumb in asap and i'm a tightwad. also i haven't seen a cheapo option for smic pipes only front mounts.

[akotten]

I suppose you could, but if you're thinking steel, its going to be HEAVY

[Polygon]

Cheapest option is cutting and welding sections together. Mandrel bent would nice but expensive to have someone do it for you.

[tachyon]

You can do it, but unless you know somebody the cost will be high. To custom fab IC piping wouldn't be all that hard, but as a time/material job it won't be cheap.

If you do have somebody fab piping for you, the stock intercoolers have tubing that's 1-5/8 inch OD. The compressor outlets are each different... front I think is also 1-5/8 inch OD, rear has the female fitting that the stock hardpipe slides into with an o-ring.

The ends of the Y-pipe that connect to the intercooler lines are 1.75 inch OD.

Another option is the CX Racing kit for the stock sidemounts. You can check it out at CX Racing's site, where they sell it for $400 last I looked. One of our vendors, PMP - Price Matched Parts - sells it as well, for $300. Only issue there is that CX changed the kit some last year to give better fitment. I bought one from PMP in May, and they sent me... the old kit. Fitment on the old kit is poor. Really poor. So, if you go that route, ask PMP which they're going to sell you. They're good guys, if I had asked I'm sure they would have told me. I didn't ask. The new kit may not fit as well as it might, but it looks like it'll be better than the old one.

Good luck either way - let us know what you decide to do. I like the sidemounts too, altho I have DSM intercoolers not stock. But I don't want to lose my crash bar or fogs or both, so for the time being I'm sticking with the sidemounts.

[x2xtreme360]

If you're good at TIG welding aluminum, you could do it... but I'd imagine it may just be easier to spend $300 on the PMP piping.

[Polygon]

If you're good at TIG welding aluminum, you could do it... but I'd imagine it may just be easier to spend $300 on the PMP piping.

That being said, call Jason up and see if he'll do one with side mounts for you.

[Austin@STM]

Im guessing your talking about your average steel exhaust pipe. I wouldnt recommend it, it will rust and then you will get all kinds of debris inside your engine from it. It will also be rather heavy. If you want something cheap go with the cx racing piping kit. It fits decent has ok couplers and t-bolts, and then just get a good core to use with it.

-Austin@STM

[Atrosity]

I do not recommend using the CXRacing Hard pipe kit. I had so many compications and fitment issues, it was a nightmare.

I have my review written here.
http://3sforums.com/index.php?topic=797.0

[Polygon]

I do not recommend using the CXRacing Hard pipe kit. I had so many compications and fitment issues, it was a nightmare.

I have my review written here.
http://3sforums.com/index.php?topic=797.0

If it's anything like they're Y-pipe, I can understand that.

[Atrosity]

If it's anything like they're Y-pipe, I can understand that.

It is exactly like their y pipe.....never had to modify so much shit to make it work....wish i bought DNP but this is now working for me.