heavy85 Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Well I just got some Magnaflow spun cats for the LS1. Yeah it's primarily a racecar but I'm tired of smelling like exhaust every time I drive it. I have side exhaust so it's not a seal issue it just wraps around and in the window. Anyway, they arrived today and I'm amazed how light they are. Probably only a lb or two more than just the straight tube. So now I'm scratching my head how to install them. I've got dual 2.5" mild steel pipes but the cats are SS slip-on fit so the pipes will slip inside. Any ideas? Weld mild to SS? Some type of clamp?? Thanks Cameron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMWHYR0HEN Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I'd weld it then paint the welds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckolander Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 If I knew how to weld, I would weld brackets on and bolt everything together so that when/if you ever need to replace anything, it's unboltable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayolives Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Heavy85, Can you post pictures of your side exit exhaust? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Mild welds to stainless just fine. Found that one out on accident... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavy85 Posted March 4, 2009 Author Share Posted March 4, 2009 Mild welds to stainless just fine. Found that one out on accident... Really? I would have thought you needed another shielding gas or something but I'm ignorant here. Cameron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavy85 Posted March 4, 2009 Author Share Posted March 4, 2009 Heavy85, Can you post pictures of your side exit exhaust? You can see it poking out just in front of the tire. Basically dual 2.5 to x pipe behind tranny mount then roughly 90 degree to either side to straight through Magnaflows then a stubby 'tip' to take it somewhat out of the wheelwell. Sounds great and honestly is not too loud. It's on stands so if you want I can take a bottoms up picture. Cameron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 When MatMan bought that huge pile of parts we took the industrial shelving they were on. After the first trip in the back of a huge moving van one of the shelves broke. I borrowed a welder from the guy who was selling us the stuff and grabbed a couple pieces of scrap from his welding table to brace the shelves. Turns out I grabbed stainless (oops) and welded it to the pallet rack style shelving. Worked fine with a 220V Miller and I think 75/25 Ar/CO2. I'm sure it's still holding up 20 or 30 Z doors today... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turborust Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 You can see it poking out just in front of the tire. Basically dual 2.5 to x pipe behind tranny mount then roughly 90 degree to either side to straight through Magnaflows then a stubby 'tip' to take it somewhat out of the wheelwell. Sounds great and honestly is not too loud. It's on stands so if you want I can take a bottoms up picture. Cameron Cameron, I definitely would like to see some pics of your setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators RTz Posted March 4, 2009 Administrators Share Posted March 4, 2009 Jon's correct... welding MS to SS works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Filmjay Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 ...or you COULD just use some band clamps. Of course, I dunno if that's against any rules you might be up against. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavy85 Posted March 5, 2009 Author Share Posted March 5, 2009 Thanks for the feedback. Internet searching shows a bunch of heated debate on MS to SS. Most end up with theoretical you shouldn't do it vs 'well I did it and it lasted 10 ... 20 ... years ... offroad ... etc. Guess I'll try and see what happens. Sure will make them easy to install just hope they dont rob power. Per request here's a couple more pics Cameron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators RTz Posted March 5, 2009 Administrators Share Posted March 5, 2009 Cameron, MS to SS is not Gucci, but it will last as long as the rest of the system... you're not making structural welds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddiodanger Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Sweeeet ! the exhaust looks good. I love the frame rails. what size rims and tires are you running? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavy85 Posted March 6, 2009 Author Share Posted March 6, 2009 Sweeeet ! the exhaust looks good.I love the frame rails. what size rims and tires are you running? 15x10 w/ slicks in race trim 15x8 w crap 225's in street trim - need to work on that. Cameron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddiodanger Posted March 6, 2009 Share Posted March 6, 2009 cool beans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoNkEyT88 Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 To weld mild steel to stainless steel you could use a 309L fill rod. If you're TIGing, use pure argon, if you're MIGing, you could use 98/2 Argon/C02. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 To weld mild steel to stainless steel you could use a 309L fill rod. If you're TIGing, use pure argon, if you're MIGing, you could use 98/2 Argon/C02. I migged that stainless to mild with the standard Argon/CO2 mix of 75/25. That was my point. Mild steel wire, regular gas, welded it up no problem at all. I didn't even know it was stainless until the guy told me. I said "I didn't even know you could weld stainless to mild steel" and he responded "Neither did I." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMWHYR0HEN Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 I too didn't think you could weld the 2 together. I was tig welding some mild steel and accidentally used stainless filler rod. I showed my instructor and he was sort of surprised. I had asked him why and he told me it was an old trick used by some guys that believed using stainless rod on mild steel gave the weld more strength. Here's a pic of my stainless borla and stainless tip that was welded with my mig using steel wire. it actually welds pretty nice too. I think with a little finish to protect the welds they should last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted March 11, 2009 Share Posted March 11, 2009 I think with a little finish to protect the welds they should last. Yes, I think this is the point. The weld won't be stainless, so if there is going to be rust anywhere, it's here. For Cameron, I don't think it matters because the rest of the pipe isn't stainless. It will probably be less rust proof than the rest of the pipe if it is aluminized, but just spray the weld with some hi-temp paint and it should be functional if not as rust resistant as stainless to stainless with full argon, purged tubing, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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