How To DIY Exhaust Pipe Bending | Hot Rod Forum

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ChrisMiddleron C Hi I am wanting to know if you guys have any advice on how to bend exhaust pipe for the DIY'r. I am wanting to build my own turbo setup for my mustang and was hoping someone had some decent ways to bend exhaust pipe without spending two thousand or more dollars on a pipe bender. Any threads or knowledge would be appreciated. Thanks, Chris #1 · Apr 3, 2007 Hi I am wanting to know if you guys have any advice on how to bend exhaust pipe for the DIY'r. I am wanting to build my own turbo setup for my mustang and was hoping someone had some decent ways to bend exhaust pipe without spending two thousand or more dollars on a pipe bender. Any threads or knowledge would be appreciated. Thanks, Chris Sort by Oldest first Oldest first Newest first Most reactions #2 · Apr 3, 2007 Here's what I have done: Make a good drawing with accurate demensions of what you want and take it to a muffler shop. Try to stay in the shop with the guy making it and answer any questions he has. You will probably get away for less than a sawbuck. #3 · Apr 3, 2007 most people i have seen do turbo hot parts by buying mandrel bends and welding it together. Jerome #4 · Apr 3, 2007 Chris, I have seen it done both ways, just depends on your equipment and knowledge. Good luck Brian #5 · Apr 3, 2007 Ok thank you guys I figure I will just buy some muffler shop scrap bends some other random bent pipes and piece it together. If I cant get a couple of areas ill just take it to the shop. Thanks guys, Chris #6 · Apr 3, 2007 You can pack the tubing with sand or some other firm yet pliable material, then make a jig and bend it without collapsing. The problem is you need a lot of leverage to bend the pipe, so you have to use rather long lengths to make your bends. Because of all the waste pipe, it's better to buy the bends then cut and weld. JC Whitney sells mandrel bends (no "crimp" on the inside of bends) in various angles. For headers make sure you get a few U bends at different radii. Then you can cut whatever degree turn you need. #7 · Apr 3, 2007

ChrisMiddleron said: Ok thank you guys I figure I will just buy some muffler shop scrap bends some other random bent pipes and piece it together. If I cant get a couple of areas ill just take it to the shop. Thanks guys, Chris Click to expand...

You have to buy mandrel bent els. Most muffler shops don't do mandrel bends. When you cut through non-mandrel bent els, you will have an egg shaped hole, not round. You won't be able to line this up properly with the next straight or partial el. Mandrel bent els have a virtually round cross section through the bend. That will allow correct alignment with the next piece. #8 · Apr 4, 2007 Best way is to purchase mandrel bent tubing and weld it together. I have not seen any local muffler shops that can bend tubing without crimping it. A mandrel bending machine is usually way out of a traditional muffler shops budget $$$$$. Vince #9 · Apr 4, 2007 The way most people do it is just order the bends from a supplier/store, you can get them in a U shape and cut out the sections and weld them together. #10 · Apr 4, 2007 (Edited) I bought some 3" mandrel bent pipe and a 3" x-pipefrom this guy (Ubendman) on ebay a couple years ago. I just did a search and he is still on ebay. Mandrel Bent Pipe I called him up and he is real easy to talk to and seems to be a pretty nice guy. I had him make 4 bends in 3" pipe with XX amount of pipe before and aft plus the 3" x-pipe I purchased on ebay. The grand total was $110 shipped from New York to California. Bob's Muffler (15 miles from me) wanted $40 per bend and seemed like an A** (or he had something stuck up it) when I talked to him on the phone. Several other's I've talked to have had the same experience with him. Here's a link to Ubendman's website: Link #11 · Nov 11, 2012 (Edited by Moderator) ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************* #12 · Nov 11, 2012 If you need 3 inch mandrel bent pieces Jere Stahl also sells Them.Ive also seen people cut pie slices out of straight pipe then weld them back together.Probably cheaper to have them made,unless you want to learn welding or enjoy welding? #13 · Nov 11, 2012 I bought mine from Summit. #14 · Nov 15, 2012 summit and jegs sell bends, u-bends, j-bends, of just about any size you could want. also jegs sells hooker exhaust pipe sleeves for welding and they sure make for a nice weld without any slag on the inside of the pipes. i'm currently building a set of 3 into 1 headers for my rocket III triumph motorcycle, and the headers will flow great because of no internal restriction from weld material. the hooker weld sleeves make for a really nice weld area on the outside of the pipes too. #15 · Nov 15, 2012 Bend it yourself? Why Not? I bought a tubing bender from Harbor Freight Cheap! And, it is cheap. But, if you are willing to spend your time upgrading its weaker points- it will work. I had to re-invent the set screws on the 36" diameter manual steel wheel that you turn like steering a boat. It takes a bit of strength. You get ability to make some tight bends. They also have a hydraulic unit. But, NOTHING beats a guy that has been doing it for years behind a professional hydraulic bending machine. If you are nuts like me- you will do it yourself. But, beating your brains out on poor equipment is a real character building experience. If you have plenty of time, and no money- here is an answer. Eventually, I converted my unit into a metal strip rolling press. Attached is a photo where I made it roll out Hispano Suiza running board strips. Good luck #16 · Nov 21, 2012 huge difference :cool:

#17 · Nov 21, 2012 And the OP posted this 5 years ago. Hopefully he has it done by now. #18 · Nov 21, 2012 RATS!! I did´nt see that.... :mad:

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